WFG RATING: B

Lightbulb Entertainment and Saban Films present a Four J Films production. Directed by Burke Doeren. Produced by Burke Doeren, Kellie Doeren, and Lauren Call. Written by Katrina Mathewson and Tanner Bean; story by Bo Bean, Mathewson, and Bean. Cinematography by Brian Mitchell and Ian Smart. Edited by Michael DeJohn and G. Mitchell Johnson.

Stars Charles Esten, Lauren Call, Oded Fehr, Josh Zuckerman, Matt Lintz, Ali Skovbye, and Brec Bassinger.

The true story of a fateful night in 1967 comes to life in this film that has some very convincing performances.

On August 12, 1967, at Glacier National Park in Montana, Julie Helgeson is a rookie park ranger who alongside Joan Devereaux try to prove themselves as equals amongst their male counterparts. Communications lines have failed due to a possible fire in the area and there is a bit of panic amongst the campers. However, they reassure everything is fine. But this is going to be a day that will not be forgotten.

Nine miles apart, there have been reports of attacks when campers wandered into forbidden territory. This led to the tragic death of 19-year-old Michelle Koons, who was attacked and killed by a grizzly bear. However, Julie had also disappeared into the fateful night, having been dragged by a grizzly. Joan and park ranger director Gary Bunney lead a search party of rangers and survivors to evade the predators as well as hunt them. How two attacks happened on one night was never answered but it resorted to a major change in national park wildlife forever.

Based on the true events that inspired Jack Olsen’s 1969 novel “Night of the Grizzlies”, this film has the title of what may sound like a horror movie. However, it is not a horror movie and is not really marketed as one. It is the story of two fatal grizzly attacks nine miles apart in the span of one night. The night of August 12, 1967, changed the landscape of national park wildlife forever and this is the story told from the points of view from those who survived and hunted the grizzlies down.

Charles Esten, a one-time comic personality, plays it straight as park director Gary Bunney and does a great job in an authoritative figure role, despite putting rookie ranger Robert to medial jobs. However, the highlight of the film is Lauren Call, whose Joan Devereaux attempts to make her presence known as an equal in the male-dominated world of the park ranger in the 60s. The Mummy’s Oded Fehr provides good support in the role of Father Connolly, who helps the group on the way and bring comfort to the victims as they are found with fatal injuries.

The film also delves into the events that led to the fatal attacks of Julie Helgeson, played by Brec Bassinger and Michelle Koons, played by Ali Skovbye. These are the only scenes where it gets that “horror element” as the rest of the film is a straight up survival drama that would change the course of rules involving national parks and wildlife forever.

Grizzly Night, despite the title, is not a horror film but the true story of a mysterious duality of fatal grizzly attacks nine miles apart in one night. The cast do a great job, especially Lauren Call and Charles Esten. If you’re into films based on true stories, you might enjoy this one.

The film will be released in the USA on VOD/Digital on January 30 and then in the UK and Ireland on Digital and DVD on February 2.