Mothman

_**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-