Maneater (2009)

This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

I really wanted to like this movie. I feel terribly cynical trashing it, and that's why I'm giving it a middling 5. Actually, I'm giving it a 5 because there were some superb performances.

This film is so real. It treats its characters with so much care and sensitivity.

Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.

Harry Baily (Dean cain) is a profiler who is almost like a psychic detective. He lives in the small California town of Blackwood with his daughter Pearl (Lacy Phillips) and his wife (Shea Curry) who he is still waiting for her to come back from the store. A series of killings in town causes one to believe a Wendingo shapeshifter (looks like a Morlock) in on the loose.This is a basic 80's style horror film, a little humor, a little teen sex, a bad looking monster, and three minimum nude scenes. Guide: F-word, sex, nudity (Nikki Moore, Allison Kyler, Mercy Malick)

I probably wouldn't recommend this for general moviegoers, but this is an above-average production from the world of low-budget horror which displays some genuine effort and a refreshing level of creativity. The monster is an unusual one, drawn from Indian folklore and given an interesting motivation, with a grisly appearance that is used sparingly but to impressive effect. The mystery behind the killings includes a number of red herrings, and the ultimate revelation is the most sensible one. The plot isn't air tight, but this is fantasy, and overall the script is rather well-constructed compared to your typical genre entry. Acting quality varies, with star Dean Cain as the standout. Cain plays the troubled small-town police chief with conviction and makes the character's inner struggle not only believable but involving. The rest of the cast is good enough, though the story does suffer a bit due to several of the main characters frankly not being very likable, despite the fact I think the scriptwriter took some paints to make them more than the typical monster fodder. The director does well by emphasizing the eerie forest where several of the killings take place, creating several highly atmospheric moments. The climax could have been amped up a bit, but it still brings everything to a satisfying conclusion. An epilogue leaves an opening for a sequel which will probably never come, and while this is as bad an idea here as it always is it's not enough to spoil the rest of the picture. Maneater may not be the next horror classic, but it's not bad, and in many respects outshines most of its competitors. Fans of the genre who can appreciate this type of movie's strengths and forgive its minor weaknesses should enjoy it.

When I picked up this movie, I had no idea what it was about, or who was in it. I saw the DVD cover and decided to give it a go."Maneater" wasn't actually all that bad. It was, however, fairly mediocre, sad to say. There was nothing really unique that stood out in this movie.It is about an native American Indian legendary creature called Wendigo. It supposedly drags off the impure, sinners and bad people and kill them. I am not personally familiar with the legend of the Wendigo, so I had no expectations for this storyline. And I found it to be adequate enough, just interesting enough to still be entertaining.The effects in "Maneater" were alright as well, not top notch CGI and special effects, but still, they were working out well enough. However, the Wendigo itself sort of reminded me a bit of the Crypt Keeper from "Tales from the Crypt", though with odd glowing eyes. So it left me sort of in a dilemma; was this Wendigo undead or just some sort of creature?Initially when I saw Dean Cain in the lead role, I sort of though this would be bad, as I am (clearly) not a fan of his work. But he actually did alright in "Maneater", and it is great to see he have finally shed that "Louis and Clark" mantle."Maneater" wasn't really particularly scary, so if you are in this for a scary movie, then this might not be the ideal choice. The story is alright, but there are far better horror movies available. Having seen this movie now, I somehow feel like it was meant as a TV movie.

Dean Cain plays Bailey, a small town sheriff whose wife disappeared and who is now overprotective of his 17 year-old daughter. He is convinced that his wife will return. He also might have witnessed the brutal murder of a girl in his teens with whom he was frolicking out in the woods. His deputies are a heavy guy who gets to play the chaperone of Bailey's daughter; and an older American-Indian.Suddenly there's a brutal crime that reminds the Indian of something that happened long ago. Bailey realizes that it wasn't an animal attack but a human deed. Meanwhile a new teen guy arrives in town and Bailey's daughter falls for him, much the the chagrin of Bailey who wants her to remain pure.More people start disappearing and Bailey discovers in his research and through his nightmares and memories that what may be out there on the loose is a windigo, a shapeshifting human who devours and tears apart other humans and even starts eating itself. The old town's doctor who acts suspiciously when confronted by Bailey finally admits that in the past a windigo was in town but was eliminated.When finally the daughter and the boy are getting hot and heavy the windigo attacks but the sheriffs arrive in time. There's a surprise revelation as to the identity of the maneater.This is a very good horror movie, hampered a bit by a low budget. Fortunately they did use all the resources on gore and violence. Acting is good and so is the script. Cain's character in his obsession about his wife can be annoying. There's a gorgeous diner owner/employee who has the hots for him but he claims to be married. It's not clear sometimes if some scenes are flashbacks, memories, or nightmares. The sexy teens are particularly likable and fun. They are still innocent and full of nervous excitement at the prospect of love- unlike cynical city kids. Their interaction is very well portrayed. What is lacking is better equipment and better lighting to give the movie a better look. Overall a very entertaining movie for horror fans that deserves a sequel.