Jewel Staite

Connor Fox

Susie Abromeit

Michael Aills

Matty Ferraro

Jerry Leggio

T.W. Leshner

Jess Sylvia

Alex Hardee

Arvilla Riddick

Wallace Merck

Douglas M. Griffin

Kennon Kepper

Lucy Faust

Sam Schulak

T.J. Toups

Lawrence Turner

Sam Medina

Shadoe Knight

Levy Easterly

Danny Broume

Ae Voight

Budd Bird

Michael Brossard

Shane Dufrene

Lee Kelly

Tyler Galpin

Jeff Galpin

Chris J. Fanguy

William Maursky

Daniel Carrey

Vanessa Hickey

Ben Jenson

Haily Nott

Danny Cosmo

Holly O'Quin

Stephen Perir

Kristin Garlington

Chris Hutchinson

Nichole Wlekinski

Amy Arter

Hank Langlois

John Black

Jule Fontana

Hunter Whalen

Jay Irwin

Justin Watson

Bily Salazar

Declan Riain

Alex P. Willson

Sergio Silva

Justin LeBlanc

Jared Talbot

Michael Capulli

Michael McGrath

Ruston Head

Mamae Bolton

Adam Cambre

Jonathan Cappel

Destin M. Herbert

Claire Hedlund

Renee Ragucci

Jillian Erickson

Dorrian Wilson

Carlos Savant

Levi Holiman

David Nash

Kip Taylor

Morey Butler

Justin Janowitz

Valerie Rodriguez

Jason Dotts

Alex Brazan

Cameron O. Galloway

Jesse Kees

Dean Treloar

John O'Bannon

Paul B. Knox

Jordan Lewis

Michael Russo

Clay Achee

Ryan Chase

Weston Ganucheau

Christopher Bremble

Brent Caballero

Laura Toplass

Shauna Leone

Steve London

Marie-Lou Gingras

Jeremy Woolsey

John P. Tarver

Justin Bursch

Mike Callaghan

John Portnoy

Nick Thurlow

Todd Williams

Brad Krevoy

Reuben Liber

Lee Sung Jin

Patrick Walsh

Sheldon Wilson

Horror

Science Fiction

Thriller

TV Movie

Mothman

Motion Picture Corporation of America

Upload Films

United States of America

_**Decent monster movie where the Mothman is linked to Shawnee leader Hokoleskwa (aka Cornstalk)**_

RELEASED TO TV IN 2010 and directed by Sheldon Wilson, "Mothman" details events in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where a group of friends hide the truth about the death of one of their friends. Years later, when one of the group returns to town (Jewel Staite), a supernatural creature with links to the unjust slaying of Cornstalk in 1777 preys on them due to their guilt of murder. Jerry Leggio plays the old blind man who has interesting insights about the Mothman.

Some people were disappointed with 2002's "The Mothman Prophecies" because it was a mystery/horror film that shot for art and depth (and, in my opinion, succeeded) when what they really wanted was a conventional monster movie. Well, "Mothman" quells that desire as it's a straight creature feature. Being a TV flick, though, it only cost $2 million while "The Mothman Prophecies" was a theatrical release that cost $32 million eight years earlier. As such, it's no surprise that the latter is the superior production. Yet that doesn't mean "Mothman" isn't worth checking out if you appreciate TV-budget monster movies now and then.

The prologue where someone inadvertently dies during youthful festivities in the woods is well done, except for elements of the cover-up. There's simply no reason that the teens couldn't have reported the kid simply drowned and they found the body. But it could be argued that they were young, dumb & drunk/high. I was too at one time.

I liked the whole fictional linkage of the Mothman to Hokoleskwa (aka Cornstalk), which showed imagination in the scripting. Jewel is a worthy female protagonist and I didn't have a problem with the no-name cast who surrounded her (Connor Fox, Jess Sylvia, Susie Abromeit, Michael Aills & Matty Ferraro).

As for the cartoony CGI monster, I actually found it kinda scary the first time I watched this movie (back when it originally came out) and even had a nightmare about it, which is something that almost never happens (these types of flicks rarely scare me, but I find them entertaining). Viewing the film again 7.5 years later, the monster isn't quite as effective as I remembered it, perhaps because a similar type of creature was used in the same director's superior "Scarecrow" (2013).

It goes without saying that you shouldn't look to this movie for much accuracy about the Mothman sightings in 1966 Point Pleasant, which culminated in the December 15, 1967, collapse of the Silver Bridge and the death of 46 people. The movie simply uses the Mothman lore as a springboard for its own story.

THE FILM RUNS 91 minutes and was shot in Denham Springs, Louisiana, and points nearby. WRITERS: Sonny Lee & Patrick Walsh.

GRADE: B-

English

Mothman with Jewel Staite airing April 24 on Syfy!