Watch The Beast of Bray Road
- R
- 2005
- 1 hr 25 min
-
4.1 (1,462)
In The Beast of Bray Road, Jeff Denton stars as a skeptical newspaper reporter named John whose skepticism is challenged when he's sent to investigate strange sightings and attacks in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. The first signs of trouble come in the form of a mutilated animal corpse, followed by a man who gets attacked by a vicious creature in the woods.
As the local sheriff and his daughter try to keep the public calm, John keeps digging for answers. He talks to witnesses and collects evidence, slowly coming to the realization that there might actually be a beast out there. The more he learns about the history of the town and its legends, the more convinced he becomes that the creature is real.
Meanwhile, Thomas Downey plays a local farmer named Red, who is dealing with his own brush with the beast. He lost his brother to an attack and has taken it upon himself to hunt down the creature and avenge his family. His obsession puts him at odds with the sheriff and John, who he sees as outsiders who don't understand the seriousness of the situation.
Sarah Lieving rounds out the cast as John's love interest, a waitress at a local diner who provides him with leads and moral support.
The film relies heavily on suspense and atmosphere, with scenes of the creature attacking its prey and stalking its victims through the woods. The Beast of Bray Road is portrayed as a hulking, humanoid figure with shaggy fur and glowing eyes. Its nature and origins are left ambiguous, with different characters offering their own theories about what it could be.
In addition to the horror elements, The Beast of Bray Road also explores themes of small-town life and identity. John is an outsider who has to navigate the social dynamics of a community that doesn't trust him. He learns that there's a fine line between being a skeptic and being disrespectful to the traditions and beliefs of a town.
Red, on the other hand, is a man who is deeply rooted in the town's history and mythology. He represents the danger of blind belief and the damage it can do to oneself and others. His grief and anger have consumed him, to the point where he's willing to risk everything to get revenge.
Despite its low budget and straight-to-DVD release, The Beast of Bray Road manages to deliver some effective scares and interesting characters. Its focus on character development and world-building helps it stand out from other creature features. While it may not reinvent the wheel of horror, it's a solid entry in the genre that deserves more recognition.
The Beast of Bray Road is a 2005 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.1.