Sasquatch Sunset Actor Stalks New York In Full Creature Costume
Sasquatch Sunset actor Nathan Zeller put on his Sasquatch costume from the movie and wandered through Central Park near the American Museum of Natural History. The move, which saw the actor stalking residents and tourists, was a publicity stunt to promote the film, which is set for release on April 12. Zeller paired the 40-pound suit with platform shoes to give him more height.
Guerilla Marketing
Speaking about the unconventional promotion of Sasquatch Sunset, Zellner described walking around Central Park in full costume as a “good social experiment.” He explained that it was more fun compared to the usual formal marketing campaigns that accompany movies. A camera crew was also on hand to follow the costumed Zellner around New York.
Actor Christophe Zajac-Denek previously revealed that the cast of Sasquatch Sunset attended a boot camp to learn how to walk with the lumbering gait of a Sasquatch. The entire cast also wears full-body prosthetics and fur in the movie to give viewers an accurate depiction of these incredible creatures in their natural environment.
Mime Coaching
To help the Sasquatch Sunset actors prepare for their roles, Eisenberg enlisted the help of movement and mime coach Lorin Eric Salm, with whom he had previously worked to portray French mime artist Marcel Marceau in the film Resistance. Before filming began, Salm worked with the actors to establish consistent movements so they all appeared to be from the same Sasquatch species.
Taking cues from both primates and Bigfoot legends, Salm guided them in finding a balance between human and ape-like movements. This process involved studying animal behaviors, expressing emotions non-verbally, and imagining how a Sasquatch would interact with unfamiliar objects. It was during this time that the actors selected their vocalizations and forms of communication.
Surreal Cryptid Comedy
Sasquatch Sunset is a surreal comedy film directed by David and Nathan Zellner. David also handles writing duties. The story follows a Sasquatch family over the course of a year. The cast includes Riley Keough, Jesse Eisenberg, Christophe Zajac-Denek, and Nathan Zellner. Ari Aster serves as an executive producer.
Critics Enjoyed It
Sasquatch Sunset premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival in January, with additional screenings at the 74th Berlin International Film Festival and South by Southwest Film Festival. The movie has received generally positive reviews and currently holds a 79 percent critics rating on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. However, some criticized the project for being too focused on novelty.
Hailed As An Original Film
Icon Con Film Distribution secured the rights to Sasquatch Sunset in the United Kingdom and Ireland from Protagonist Pictures following the movie’s premiere at Sundance. In North America, Bleecker Street is set to release the project. Spencer Pollard, CEO of Kaleidoscope, and Janina Vilsmaier, Senior Vice President of Sales at Protagonist Pictures, negotiated the agreement.
Spencer Pollard expressed his enthusiasm for Sasquatch Sunset, describing it as the most original and captivating offering at Sundance, and looks forward to sharing it with audiences in the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Sasquatch Sunset joins the lineup of Icon Film Distribution, which includes other notable titles such as The Promised Land featuring Mads Mikkelsen, Baltimore starring Imogen Poots, and the family drama Bleeding Love with Ewan and Clara McGregor.
Source: The New York Times
