RATING: B+

Well Go USA presents a Torfoot Films production in association with Hardscrabble Film Company. Written and directed by Gene Gallerano and WIlliam Pisciotta. Produced by Jonathan Brownlee and Ross Meyerson. Cinematography by Joel Froome. Edited by Christina Bennett Lind. 

Stars Brittany Allen, Eric Nelsen, Jim Cummings, Elizabeth Cappuccino, Jonathan Brownlee, Christina Bennett Lind, Heather Lind, with William Sadler, and Corbin Bernsen. 

The snow creature is back with a vengeance in this fun homage to both horror and adventure films from the duo of Gene Gallerano and William Pisciotti.

It is the year 1947. Two explorers, oil tycoon Merriell Sunday and adventurer Hollis Bannister worked together on an expedition in the northern Alaskan territory. However, they have mysteriously disappeared and for quite some time, there have been no updates. When Ellie Bannister, Hollis’ daughter, begins to worry about her father and the mystery around his sudden disappearance, she is asked by Merriell’s son, Merriell Junior, to help him find their fathers.

With a local team, the scions decide to trek the Alaskan mountains in hopes they will find their fathers safe and sound. However, as the group progresses on their trek, they are not alone. They soon learn there is a creature among them and the monster, the yeti, is picking off the group one-by-one. Can Ellie and Merriell Jr. survive in time to find their fathers or will the yeti get to them first?

Fans of classic creature films, whether it’s the Universal classics or the independently produced films, will enjoy this film. Co-writer and co-director William Pisciotta was inspired to come up with the original idea after seeing many films involving the yeti, or the abominable snowman, if you will. Bringing the idea to Gene Gallerano, the duo have created a fun homage to the genre with the use of practical effects and with its 1940s setting, may remind people of Stephen Sommers’ The Mummy in the adventure aspect. 

Brittany Allen and Eric Nelsen are great as Ellie and Merriell Jr., the children of the missing. There’s no romantic interest between the two, which is a good thing because it just goes to show how tropey these kinds of films can be. And the film does feel like an adventure in the vein of The Mummy (the 1999 film) and the Indiana Jones films with the two leading a group of soon-to-be victims of the creature with the always exciting Jim Cummings as the standout in wild radio expert Booker 

While there may not be too much Yeti action that will attract some viewers, the practical FX and gore are quite the asset that can make up for it. There are some insane bloody moments including one where the monster kills a victim with his intestines held by another potential victim for a good few seconds before the chaos ensues. The appearances of legends William Sadler and Corbin Bernsen may also end up whetting some appetites in terms of viewership.

The Yeti is quite fun and has the feel of a classic creature feature meshed with some pretty good practical FX gore. The cast definitely helps drive the film and while there may not be enough Yeti action for some, the action and third act will make it up for sure. 

The film will be released in theaters on April 4 and 8 followed by a Digital release on April 10.