GL84 Going through a shortcut in the woods, a family group get stranded in the area and must fend off a mother grizzly bear's relentless, retribution-fueled attacks as they struggle to survive the animal's continuous antics after accidentally killing it's cub.There wasn't a whole lot to this one that really works. Among the few good parts here is the fact that the film's rather brutal and relentless attacks provide plenty of highlights in here, as sometimes this manages to be quite entertaining and enjoyable due to the high-action content of the scene. There's some rather fun scenes here where it's going through some intense areas here with the initial attack on the bear that sets their ordeal in motion where they relentlessly gun down the one creature only to have the mate come upon it in a nicely touching scene while the other action scenes here come off really nicely. A thrilling chase through the woods to reach a sewer pipe for safety and several other rather fine set-pieces showing them trapped inside the car as it tries to get at them work well enough here, though the big factor of tying it into the revenge angle where it has to bring them back to the car gives this a somewhat more suspenseful that makes for the bulk of the film's positives. These elements, which are helped along by the use of a real bear in here, do make this a rather surprising creature feature at times and frustrating at others with a long series of flaws. The main feature here is the fact of this one featuring so little bear action that it's almost taken out of the whole film, which is a huge problem as to accomplish this the film manages to feature something so irritating and aggravating that this overcomes the positives mostly on it's own. The majority of this comes from the cast as this is a collection of some of the most unappealing collection of so-called friends around since they're constantly sniping at each other, belittling others' input to the situation and generally continuing to push their old feelings of success and accomplishments for much of the film here, then it spends the last twenty-minutes in an annoying twist that does nothing for the film as a whole with their adultery angle. It's not that fun to pile on an utterly deplorable trait like this onto people who are already this hard to hard so they're hardly fun to watch, and really brings the film down as a whole. Likewise, these bear-lacking scenes are further compromised by having the few attack scenes in here are filmed in such manners as to be absolutely indecipherable as to what actually happened. In addition to the usual jagged editing that effectively shakes around the visuals at disorienting angles or so rapid-fire edits that there's so many things going on it can't be accurately seen, there's also the fact that there's a digital haloing effect occurring on many scenes that look so amateurish and low-rent that it really blocks out the image as if the focus is entirely disoriented. The last flaw here is the fact that the film is generally so flimsy on the part of it's story that this one really seems flawed on numerous levels, being so flimsy as to be completely unworthy of a feature film of this length without tacking on additional material to boost it up or even answers the real question of what makes the bear capable of understanding the concepts of revenge and retribution. These here hold this one back considerably.Rated R: Graphic Language, Violence and violence-against-animals.

Wuchak "Bear" (2010) is a low-budget nature-runs-amok flick in the manner of "Prey" and "Black Water." Like those films, the plot is simple and the location confined. The plot consists of four people, a mini-van and an attacking bear, that's it. The location is the mini-van and the surrounding desert-like forest, that's it. A third shortcoming is that -- except for the first eight minutes -- the entire film takes place at night! (Thankfully, you can clearly see what's going on throughout).On the positive side, the story does stress characterization. In fact, the film gets increasingly more soap operatic as it moves along. On top of this is a very dramatic score along the lines of, say, "The Passion of the Christ" and all the actors give it their best shot.The film was shot in Angeles National Forest near Acton, CA, about an hour drive from Topanga State Park near Malibu, where "Sasquatch Hunters" was filmed. As such, there are some similarities: Both films involve a group of people being attacked by a large forest creature (or creatures), both take place in the same general vicinity, both have long stretches of night sequences, and both feature very dramatic scores. Regardless, "Sasquatch Hunters" is the better film, by far, because the plot and locations aren't one-dimensional. Another similar film is "Night Skies" since it also has a thin plot and the same general location (Santa Clarita), but like "Sasquatch Hunters" "Night Skies" is the better film, simply because it's not as limited in scope (take, for instance, the excellent ending to "Night Skies").At 82 minutes this is a short film, but like "Prey" and "Black Water" it's sometimes hard to sit through just because it's so one-dimensional. Fortunately, the character dramatics, the score and the REAL bear tend to hold your attention, but just barely.Despite its shortcomings, you have to respect director John Rebel because in many ways this is a respectable film made on a very small budget with a real bear and worthy actors. He did the best he could with what he had and it's a well-made movie, albeit one-dimensional and micro-budgeted.Some might understandably complain that some parts of the story are highly unrealistic. For instance, one of the members of the party leaves the rest at the mini-van to get help. He hikes for at least a couple of miles where he encounters civilization, and also the bear, which drags him all the way back to the mini-van! How did the bear drag him back to the vehicle? Did he have his leg in his maw or what? How come the guy showed no signs of serious injury from being dragged in such a manner for a couple of miles through hilly, forested terrain?Because of this, I don't think the film's really about the bear attack; it's only this on the surface. So what's it really about? This is a story about the serious conflict of two brothers and their babes. One appears to be successful and happily married while the other is a struggling rock musician hoping to make it big. Appearances aren't always reality and many truths emerge during the engagement with the bear. Will these awful truths further separate them or ultimately bring them together? Will they even survive? FINAL WORD: The thin plot and confined-location of "Bear" are a huge detriment, but it has some positive qualities that make it worthwhile, like the emphasis on characterization and the dramatic score. If you have a taste for films like "Prey," Black Water" and "Open Water" then you'll probably appreciate it, although it's the least of these.GRADE: C-

movieman_kev Four idiots get trapped in a broken down van by a grizzly bear after its cub is shot to death by one of the morons. In between bouts of bear attacks the intellectually stunted simpletons bicker among themselves.Not realizing that Roel Reiné wrote this, it all made sense how horrid it was. This was the guy, after all who wrote the abysmal Wolf Town and the utterly awful Blackwater. And while this isn't as big of a steaming pile as Wolf Town was (both movies share the same director as well, by the way), that's damning this film with the absolute faintest of praises. The bear, ironically, shows the most human emotions, and not so surprisingly, is the best actor of the film.

Paul Andrews Bear starts as two brother's Sam (Patrick Scott Lewis) & Nick (Brendan Michael Coughlin) are driving along the Californian highway, Sam's wife Christine (Katy Lowes) & Nick's girlfriend Liz (Mary Alexandra Stiefvater) are also there as they head for a steak house where Sam & Nick's parents are celebrating their wedding anniversary. Nick decides to take a short cut across a desert road & they pick up a flat tyre, just as they finished changing the tyre a huge Grizzly Bear approaches them & in a panic Sam takes out his gun & shoots it dead. Suddenly another Bear emerges from the forest & seems upset that it's mate has been shot dead, it charges at the four friends & they lock themselves in the car but the Bear pushes the car over. Stuck miles from anywhere with no phone signal the four travellers have to pit their wits against a huge Bear seemingly intent on killing them all...Directed by John Rebel you could describe Bear as being an extremely dull rip-off of Grizzly (1976), one might be tempted to label Bear as a standard creature feature but I never felt the makers were just trying to make a film about a killer animal & were trying to do something a little different & maybe a little bit more realistic. Unfortunately while it's intentions are noble Bear is crap, while the script tries to flesh it's character's out with lots of meaningful dialogue which is supposed to make us care for them the sub-par soap opera drama is poorly written & quite how all this dirty laundry about affairs, bankruptcy, jealously, alcoholism & pregnancy gets aired despite a huge Grizzly Bear trying to kill everyone is still a mystery. I just don't think that the situation these people find themselves in is a good time to talk over marriage problems & repressed feelings of anger & hate. I just don't. To it's credit Bear only lasts for 78 minutes with the end credits starting at about the 75 minute mark so at least it's fairly short even if none of those 78 minutes are particularly enjoyable or entertaining. I guess we were meant to feel for the character's as their emotions go from anger to sorrow to regret & guilt but I didn't really like any of them & that made it hard for me to sit through this, the repetitiveness of the story doesn't help neither does the tameness of it & the inclusion of several lines of dialogue that indicate that Bear's may be powerful spiritual beings seem out of place.Virtually the entire film takes place in the same single patch of Californian woods which gets very annoying, there are only four people in the entire film so if you don't like any of them it's hard watch to the end & there isn't even any decent carnage to compensate. All of the death's are tame & off screen, there's a tiny bit of blood splatter but that's it. The makers decided to use a real Bear (billed as 'Blue' in the end credits) which is good for realism but bad for the film as it just sort of walks around a bit & growls a lot, you just can't have your actors & a huge Bear in the same scene fighting or whatever so it's all quick flashes & implied rather than shown in any detail.Probably shot on a budget of about zero this was filmed on the Serengeti Animal Ranch in Acton in California. The acting was alright but I didn't like any of the character's.Bear is a dull creature feature that tries to be intellectual & show proper people in a terrible situation but the lack of excitement, some really unlikable character's & no pay-off at all means I doubt many find anything here to enjoy. I couldn't Bear it if I had to watch it again.