This week on Dark Corners, we're diving into the snowy mystery of a TV movie from the late 1970s called "Snow Beast." Written by Joseph Stefano, this film echoes familiar tropes, much like "Jaws," where the monster disrupts significant events, in this case, a winter carnival.
The film stars Sylvia Sidney, whose illustrious career spanned from the 1920s to Tim Burton's "Mars Attacks" in 1996. However, "Snow Beast" may not be the pinnacle of her film achievements.
In a chilling atmosphere, a mysterious creature is on the loose, leaving footprints and traumatizing witnesses, notably a young girl named Jennifer. The local authorities are torn between public safety and proceeding with their much-needed winter carnival.
Enter Gar, an Olympic skier who hasn't hit the slopes since his gold medal days. Alongside his wife, Ellen, they visit old friends and get wrapped up in the chaos that unfolds. As the monster continues its reign of terror, Gar is reluctantly thrust back into skiing, his old passion, particularly as personal dramas unfold involving Ellen and her old friend, Tony.
The intrigue ramps up as the film relies heavily on skiing sequences to pad its runtime, leading to many absurd situations, all while the characters grapple with their personal relationships amidst the monster threat.
The film moments lead to varied receptions, winning our 'Airplane Award' for mixing the mundane with the monster flick tropes. Ultimately, though some lives are lost, the skiing endeavors seem to reignite old flames and friendships.