Windigo

Many years before, an indigenous Ojibwe tribe is performing a ritual which results in a man’s death from some unknown creature and a young girl screams.  Years later, the young girl, now an old woman feels like the creature that killed her father is back and after her.  She desperately calls her “granddaughter”, Claire (Tonantzin Carmelo) for help.  Clair travels with her teenage son and daughter, Ry (Marco Fuller) and Bree (Fivel Stewart) to rural Michigan to care for her ailing grandmother. While out looking for a Christmas Tree, the teenagers have a violent encounter with local meth dealers and Ry is nearly killed.  Having been bullied in school and with feelings of inadequacy next to his nearly perfect sister, Ry begs his grandmother to perform a ritual to summon the Windigo—an ancient Chippewa demon—to protect him and get revenge. However, the creature’s insatiable bloodlust soon spirals out of control, forcing the family to confront the consequences of their actions and seek a way to break the curse before they become its next victims.

The Windigo (2024), directed by Gabe Torres, is a supernatural horror-thriller that intertwines Indigenous folklore with contemporary issues. Released in limited theaters on December 29, 2023, and available for streaming from January 9, 2024, The Windigo offers a chilling exploration of folklore and modern-day challenges. The film delves into themes of identity, cultural heritage, and the complexities of familial bonds, particularly through Ry’s struggle with his mixed heritage and feelings of inadequacy compared to his sister. Critics praised the film’s atmospheric tension and effective creature design, achieved through a blend of practical effects and CGI. While some reviews point out that the film could have explored its themes more deeply, it has been praised for its sincere attempt to present an Indigenous horror narrative that resonates with contemporary issues.

I always find it interesting when researching films, seeing the vast variety of audience reactions to any given movie.  I have often mentioned that one should never judge others based on what they like or dislike as different things speak to different people in different ways and art is very subjective.  Reading the different audience reviews for this film is fascinating as it truly runs the gamut with some people loving it, others thinking it was okay, and still others absolutely hate it.  I really enjoyed this movie and thought it was well done.  Was it perfect?  No! The creature definitely looks like a guy in a body suit, but I appreciate the practical application as opposed to overusing CGI.  The atmosphere was appropriately spooky, and the story was very entertaining, and had some great performances, especially by Marco Fuller who embodies the tortured bullied youth vibe very well.  It isn’t too often that a film about Indigenous folklore is made well and using actual indigenous American actors to boot.  Fuller is an enrolled tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, Fivel Stewart has Blackfoot heritage on her father’s side and Tonantzin Carmelo is a Tongva and Kumeyaay woman and is actively involved in the pan-urban Indian community and considers herself a direct descendant of the original people of Los Angeles.  The film does take some creative liberties from the actual Wendigo or Windigo legend which does originate with the Ojibwe, Cree and Innu people.  Wendigo is a malevolent cannibalistic spirit associated with cold, famine and insatiable hunger, often possessing humans and driving them to cannibalism. It is a cautionary tale of excess, selfishness and gluttony and unlike the movie, it is not summoned as a spirit of vengeance but arrives uninvited consequently for crossing the line and violating taboos. The one through thread that is found in both versions is the creature’s insatiable hunger, although I do feel this could have been highlighted a bit more in the film and exhibited more in the summoner.  I was actually surprised at how much I enjoyed the film possibly because I went in with very low expectations and was given a competent and well put together movie.