The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2018) User Reviews

Sam Elliott

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 1 October 2020]

Calvin Barr (Sam Elliott) is an old man living quietly in retirement. Well, he tries. When he gets robbed by three thugs, he has to beat them up to get back his car. He is a man with a mysterious past. He killed Hitler and he's recruited to hunt down Bigfoot in Canada to prevent the spread of a plague to the world.

Sam Elliott is a cinematic treasure. He is incapable of delivering less than a fascinating performance. As for the fantastical title, the story has some of that element but the filmmaking is not quite up to the outlandish promise. There are some great little scenes but they're not really linked together. I love some of the flashbacks like killing Hitler and proposal in restaurant. This movie needs something and I'm not sure what.

Great performances, it will leave you scratching your head though.

[darrenbjones · 6/10 · 29 September 2019]

In Empire Strikes Back, Luke is about to enter a cave, he asks Yoda what is in there. The answer, "Only what you bring with you." This is really at the heart of The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then The Bigfoot. The tale follows Calvin Barr, played in youth by Aiden Turner and in age by Sam Elliott, both of whom give outstanding performances. As a young man he is tasked with hunting down and killing Hitler, as an old man he's drawn into hunting down and killing The Bigfoot. But is that really what this film is about? I saw it as an allegory on aging, vulnerability and Alzheimer's but reading other reviews it clearly means different things to different people. From an allegory on America's fight against Fascism and then Communism, through a man rewriting his past, a weak man trying to give the mistakes in his life meaning, to a story about a man who genuinely killed Hitler and then Bigfoot. There are many other reviews that offer different readings on this film. This movie seems to hold up a mirror to the audience and you put your own meaning on it. What isn't up for debate are the fantastic performances of the cast, from Elliott and Turner, through to Larry Miller as Calvin's brother and Caitlin Fitzgerald as Maxine, Calvin's lost love. It's a mesmerising film and you'll debate what it's trying to say for a long time afterwards. It's definitely worth a viewing or two.

Not what you expect from a film with both 'Hitler' and 'Bigfoot' in the title.

[Pjtaylor-96-138044 · 5/10 · 6 December 2019]

Regardless of what the title may imply, 'The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot (2018)' isn't a campy, perhaps 'Nazi experimentation' based, B-movie. Instead, it's primarily a character study, a mediation on murder that, refreshingly, paints the experience as negative regardless of who received the bullet. Yet the piece is never quite sure what it is or what it truly wants to be. The two almost totally separate things I've just mentioned (schlocky B-movie and serious character study) seem to be fighting for screen-time. This, of course, creates an inconsistent experience. Sometimes it's great, sometimes it isn't. The quieter, more contemplative stuff is the most successful; it's an interesting take on an oft-wondered 'what if?'. Sam Elliot is generally fantastic in the lead role, delivering on the surprising nuance of his character with his typically 'all American' charm. Aidan Turner does a good job as his younger counterpart, too - although, he really can't pull off the moustache. The rest of the cast are typically decent but a few key players don't quite pull off what they need to. The design of the eponymous 'Bigfoot' is also bizarrely squirrel-like and evidently low-budget. Indeed, the action-based segments featuring it are the worst in the entire affair, even if they do connect thematically to the much better drama stuff. It's almost a shame that 'Bigfoot' is even involved, as the flick could've been a subversive look at war-time violence and a man who almost regrets doing what most people seemingly dream of. If a steadier hand where on its wheel, the film could've been a cult classic. As it is, though, it's just fine. It's good enough but nothing more, bogged down by a strange structure and an uneven tone. It mightn't be what most people expect, but I'm glad that it isn't. 5/10

It got me thinking... (Mild spoiler)

[vincent-devmail · 7/10 · 18 February 2019]

I didn't really expect something "serious" on the Hitler / Big foot thing. I would have guessed that the main character would go in some sort of weird mental state, imaginating all that, or suffuring from a mental disorder...

But no, it's actually serious and it feels plausible, at least for the Hitler part (it's rewriting history in a way), on Bigfoot, well, there's nothing real or factual to rewrite, so I just go with it, and it's fine.

It's definitely over the top, I mean the guy killed Hitler AND Big Foot !!! but I guess that's the point... Cause these two stories don't really matter that much, it could have been "The man who (insert something incredible here) AND (insert something even more incredible there)". The movie is really about choices, losses and regrets. Even the most formidable man on earth, capable of doing the most amazing things, can end up questionning his choices.

The way the story unravels really took me in. The flashbacks of the heroic actions contrast with the calm, slow and lonely life of the main character... And you start to wonder how such a great man can become an old, lonely, almost forgotten man.

Sam Elliot's character takes no pride in all his (incredibles) achievments, on the contrary, as his brother said, "He doesn't know pride" (or something like that), I felt it more like the choices he made ruined his life and there's more shame in that than pride. Sam Elliot acting is very convincing btw.

Greatnest is awesome sure.. but in the end, you're better of as an happy "average" then a great lonely old man.

This movie is not for everyone, but it got me thinking, I tend to be an over achiever (in a much more modest way of course) and it did resonnate in me. And that's my favorite kind of movie, the ones that stays in my head for some days...

Thanks for reading

Flawed but fascinating

[joannamaryward-49852 · 6/10 · 20 April 2019]

It has taken me a long time to decide how I feel about this flawed but fascinating movie. On the one hand, kudos to everyone involved for committing to a quirky heartfelt, genre-defying labour of love. On the other, there are swathes of one-star reviews on Amazon from people who feel short-changed and I've some sympathy with them. But not much. Perhaps the title wrong-footed them, but some of them seem to have missed the point entirely. Where to start? Spoilers are almost not a problem, because it does exactly what it says on the tin. The man, Calvin Barr (Sam Elliott) kills Hitler and then the Bigfoot. What is more interesting is what falls into the gaps in between. This is a slow-burning movie about regret and loss, as Elliott's character reflects on the killing of a monster and the realisation that while he can kill the man he can never destroy his poisonous ideology. The sacrifice he made to do so, in losing his young love, is something he must now feel was hardly worth it, with the far right on the march in the States and the erosion of common decency, which Sam Elliott so perfectly embodies. The scenes with the younger version of his character, played by Poldark's Aidan Turner (who more than passes for a young Sam Elliott) are among the most striking and poignant in the film. You almost wish director Robert Krzykowski had left it there. The later Bigfoot scenes seem clumsy and pointless, unless you buy into the symbolism. There's plenty of it and it always leaves you wondering. Better take it as the story of an old man wrestling with his demons, rather than a literal scrap with an actual monster. Special effects on this are almost comically bad, but deliberately so, as if the story's interests lie elsewhere and doesn't want us too caught up in the drama. The performances are universally great. Ironic that Elliott was Oscar-nominated for A Star is Born the same year, while this little gem of a performance slipped under the radar. Caitlin FitzGerald does her best with an under-written female lead, while Aidan Turner (scarily sexy in an S.S. uniform) shines as the diffident young man who killed Hitler. Ambition is no bad quality in a director and this is Robert Krzykowski's debut feature. You can't help but feel his reach may have exceeded his grasp on this. By all means watch and be bemused, or moved. But in either case, learn to pronounce Krzykowski, because this is a name to watch.

Bigfoot has small feet

[MarcoParzivalRocha · 4/10 · 24 February 2021]

The man who was in charge of assassinating Hitler now has a new mission: to hunt and eliminate the Bigfoot.

It's one of those films in which the title (almost) has nothing to do with the content.

The story uses the figures of Hitler and the Bigfoot practically as footnotes to explain a life of trauma and regret of a war veteran.

It can be read in a variety of ways, like the one that says that it's an allegory to the war against communism on American soil, or a criticism of the way ex-soldiers are treated by the state and the community.

For many, the duty of patriotism and of being instruments to fight the nation's enemies is present until their last days, and despite understanding this part of the message (in a certain way), it's not well incorporated in the narrative.

The editing is confusing, and bad in general, and the story is poor and nonsense.

The only good thing here is the relation between Sam Elliott's character and his faithful dog.

Sam Elliott shines in an uneven story

[umimelectric · 6/10 · 14 February 2019]

Great first half, even if it does bounce around a lot between timelines, though unfortunately that becomes a little tiresome the more the film goes on. Sam Elliott is fantastic, and he is truly the perfect actor for this role; I award this a 6.5/10 solely based on his performance, in a film that isn't quite sure what it is supposed to be, though ends up being more of a drama about a tired old man than anything else.

One Of Those 50/50 Flicks...Not As Bad As Some Reviews Here Though

[AudioFileZ · 5/10 · 10 February 2019]

With a title such as this it is wholly reasonable to wonder what this movie is about. I think some will still be wondering after watching it. It's definitely subjective I guess. What we do know is Sam Elliott plays a man who lost the girl due to a lot of circumstances along his life's path. I think his melancholy is due to that. He is living with regret. He has a keepsake box which must be very symbolic of it. It is dear to him, but he just can't get to the point of opening it. I'm not sure what is actually in it, but I have an idea which I'll just keep to myself as I think the interpretation of it is a big thing in the movie and it may be different things to different viewers.

A story such as this could have been done much more straightforward and I imagine many would rather see Sam in that role. It seems the writer and director is going for an artistic vision that not everyone will appreciate. It's clear in spite of the title and the events direct to it this is not a comedy or satire. It's something along the line of a man can achieve some very unbelievable things and suffer from giving up the personal important ones. He can be brilliant, smart, strong, and kind - even conquering and be lonely as he would rather not find himself one day with regrets that can't be reconciled.. This kind of story could have been simple and linear of course, but then we wouldn't have the title...and the artiness a few will enjoy.

This film, then, is only for those few, who will find the art in the telling of conventional late life regret in the most obtuse way here. Sam Elliott, as wonderful a treasure as he is, can't make it a great ride for everyone. But, he comes close even with the events the title alludes too taking a calculated left turn.

What's in that box?

[deloudelouvain · 6/10 · 17 February 2019]

When you see the title of the movie you think, what the hell is that going to be?, or that can't be a good movie with a title like that. But the truth is that it isn't a bad movie at all. I'm just not a big fan of movies that goes back and forth all the time. I just find that confusing and confusion is the last thing I need when I want to relax and enjoy a movie. So for me that would be the only negative thing to write about The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot. For the rest it's an entertaining story with a Sam Elliott as we know him, an old grumpy bad boy with a cheeky smile every now and then. The filming is good, you never get bored either, so worth a watch to me.

Just bizarre

[Leofwine_draca · 3/10 · 22 August 2020]

THE MAN WHO KILLED HITLER AND THEN THE BIGFOOT is a strange, tonally bizarre low budget character study of a larger-than-life figure involved in some very strange 20th century goings on. Sam Elliott, a big-name star who's rather better than the material, essays the role of a former assassin who finds himself hunting America's favourite cryptozoological creature, but this turns out to be a slow and introspective film for the most part with a minimum of cheesy and exploitative moments. It's also very dull, neither funny nor quirky enough to amuse, and not well written enough to convince as a "proper" film.

Despite the outrageous title, a slow character study centered on loss and regret...

[terrorfirmer-ie · 8/10 · 10 February 2019]

This is not the movie you might reasonably have expected from the title - while both killings are part of the movie, they play second fiddle to the story of a man who has sacrified everything for what he believes is in service of the greater good.

Really took me by surprise, Sam Elliot really delivers a superb performance, which is pretty much what the movie hangs on.

Yes, it's a bit bizarre to have a movie where the assassination of Hitler and killing of Bigfoot - by the main character - are mere sidenotes in a slow-burn character study....

But it worked for me, I can see why it wouldn't for others, but it's genuinely a good movie and not the b-movie schlock-fest the title implies.

"It's easy to fool the stupid and unwilling."

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 18 July 2019]

This is one of those films with such an absurdly outrageous title that you just have to see what it's all about, along the lines say, of "Snakes on a Plane" and "Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter". Turns out it's not so outlandish as one might expect, and actually compels one to think about the character of Calvin Barr (Sam Elliott), and the life he gave up to serve his country. His wistful reminiscence of the girl he left behind (Caitlin FitzGerald) casts a pall over the story and one might wonder why he couldn't have reconciled both of his relationships, the one with the military and the one with his true love. What was intriguing to me was when Calvin explained how he killed the 'real' Hitler, and not one of the surrogates that the German dictator employed to disguise his whereabouts. It had me thinking that maybe Brad Pitt went after the wrong guy in "Inglourious Basterds", just the way Calvin described it. Anyway, one could get really deep trying to understand this picture and what might be in the box, seeing as how Calvin went to the trouble of digging it back up after he had his brother (Larry Miller) bury it with his presumed corpse. What it said to me was that Calvin Barr wasn't ready yet to hang it all up, convinced perhaps that he didn't live a wasted life, while proclaiming to his trusted canine friend Ralph, "Another day, boy".

Time to hang it up Sam.

[gagerobert-29380 · 1/10 · 7 July 2019]

Absolute and complete garbage. Don't waste your time. I would have given this a 0 if I could've. Wooden acting and a storyline full of plot holes and don't get me started on the whole bigfoot nonsense. Given Sam Elliot's legendary status I was actually embarrassed for him watching this train wreck of a movie.

Woah. I think I really liked this movie? I think?

[jamesrblum · 7/10 · 5 June 2019]

This is a movie about loss and regret but I don't think it's Calvin's.

I'm pretty sure the whole thing is Ed's (Brother) coming to terms with losing the older, idolized brother that went off to war and never returned.

There's a lot of little things that make me think this but the dinosaur toy that returns with a tail, use of mirrors, and general child-like quality of Ed during all of their interactions make me really think that the story is told from his perspective.

Kind of a Fight Club meets Sixth Sense meets Inglorious Basterds.

It is easy to fool the stupid and the willing

[nogodnomasters · 7/10 · 17 February 2019]

The film is not as campy as the title would have you believe. Calvin Barr (Sam Elliot) is retired from the military service with a life filled with regrets. In his flashbacks (Aidan Turner) is was a WWII operative who does kill Hitler. Even if you kill a man, you don't kill his words or ideal. Hitler's death meant nothing to the war. Now he is tasked to hunt and kill "The Bigfoot" because he poses a threat as a plague carrier. Okay, this was the campy part.

The secret of the film was a wooden box Calvin kept under his bed. He teases us by almost opening it. Good soundtrack to a rather depressing film with limited action.

Guide No swearing, sex, or nudity.

Trying too hard

[momcilo-korea · 4/10 · 9 February 2019]

The movie has everything it needs to be a really good movie: acting, cinematography, directing, editing, score but somehow manages to mix it up completely wrongfully and the final product is a messy incoherent piece of "art". Throught the movie it felt like the music was trying too hard to evoke emotions out of nothing.. I was wandering what was the director trying to say throughout this movie. It's a shame things got so messed up as a final product.

I liked it... but it's not for everybody

[Wizard-8 · 7/10 · 10 May 2019]

With the title that this movie has, one may be expecting a lot of absurdist humor, as well as plenty of action and/or gore. But viewers who approach this movie with those expectations will likely be disappointed. For starters, there's not much attempt at humor, and the few humorous touches are very brief and very low key. As for gore, there's almost none of that. And as for action, there's only a few minutes of actively hunting Hitler, and even less of hunting Bigfoot. Instead, the movie is much more of a character study of the title person, showing a somewhat tortured individual who has some big regrets from his past. This is, I admit, executed in a VERY slow manner, where not much happens for much of the running time. Also, at the end, there are a few unanswered questions that really demand an answer. Yet for me, the movie worked all the same. The slow unfolding of the troubled past of the "man" was very interesting, even if it was very serious and without action or swiftness. And Sam Elliott gives a great performance, showing pain (physical and mental) and struggle. If you are prepared for a deep character study and not in great demand for B-movie schlock, don't let the title throw you off, and give this movie a try. It's not perfect, but few movies are.

Don't understand the positive reviews

[stegasaurob · 1/10 · 1 October 2019]

As many, many other reviewers have said, this is a long, slow, boring, mess of a film. It's absolutely terrible. It has two of my favourite actors in it, but even Sam Elliot and Aidan Turner can't save this movie.

It's so bad I thought it must be a Netflix Original.

The man who...whatever

[mhiggott · 6/10 · 3 February 2020]

A finely crafted, quirky, well acted film, starring Sam Elliot as the Sam Elliot character, that has a deep and meaningful message despite the title. Or maybe just a film trying hard to be deep, meaningful, and at the same time quirky, but drowning in schmaltz. Either way, it was intriguing for a while, but my interest waned long before the end.

What happened to Sam Elliot's chin?

[Ghenghy · 4/10 · 9 February 2019]

Did it get shot off in Road House or something.

Excruciatingly slow, painfully stupid, boring beyond words except for the exceptional production quality.... too bad about the script, sentimental propagandist nonsense.

Bigfoot gets a tip of the hat from the Walking Dead. One of the worst movies I've seen in the last ten years.

Allegory of america

[jerusha-77407 · 8/10 · 19 February 2019]

My mother gave me this insight (she's a genius). This movie is an allegory of the US and the struggle against first the nazi's and then communism. See dialog between young Barr and the Russian who shaves him. Calls him Mr. America. Says they will be cursed and do not truly know each other. Will be enemies? Gin versus vodka. He kills hitler, but does not feel he's accomplished his mission. The man killed did not kill the idea. See the rock he cannot get out of his shoe. Fast forward. Flag pin (American government) asks him to kill THE Bigfoot, not a Bigfoot. Something that will destroy the world. A virus that will spread to the whole world (communism). Must be nuked. Barr is immune (the American soldier/patriot). Others are too old or too young. His (the bigfoot's) footprint is not THAT big. He breaks a pinky and loses an ear (the curse from the Russian, but not fatal blows). The Bigfoot is not an animal. It is a zombie-like evil. He tries to show mercy (they won't get your body buddy) only to have the evil turn on him again. Evil must be met with brutality. Once he is vanquished, the American soldier feels his mission is complete (rock out of shoe). The soldier (uniform and medals) was buried. See dates on tombstone. Very close to Russian revolution then fall of Soviet Union. However, the "box" was dug up again for the American soldier to stand guard "one more day". The fight does not end. The American soldier cannot rest. So many other symbols. Just food for thought. I can't find anything to corroborate, but everything fits. Very thought provoking and enjoyable film. More there to be uncovered with the brother and girlfriend (those left at home). Sam Elliot is excellent.

I was expecting a comedy...

[samleviking · 6/10 · 2 March 2022]

...and end up watching this pretty slow paced drama about a extraordinary man living an extraordinary life.

Sam Elliott is as good as he's always been, leading almost by himself this film, that's has quite the Forrest Gump feel to it. More than a movie, it is a tale.

Pretty classic in its narration and image, "The Man That Killed Hitler and Then Bigfoot" surprises by the atmosphere it gives, the sadness of its character and the world he lives in.

A good film.

Total dross

[via-helena · 1/10 · 20 April 2021]

What an unutterably nonsensical, incoherent and incomprehensible steaming pile of dung. I've got a feeling an 8 year old wrote it.

All those positive reviews, how? Emperor's New Clothes or has someone been orchestrating the positive reviews?

It's such a shame that an actor of the stature of Sam Elliott was hoodwinked into starring in this, it will diminish his legacy.

What's in a name?

[NestorTheGreat · 7/10 · 11 July 2022]

You'd think with a title like that you'd know what the film was about, but you'd only be half right. Yes the title happens throughout the movie, but it's about much more than that fantasy!

Sam Elliott always steals the spotlight whenever he shows up in a film, and here he's the lead and sparkles in the limelight! His voice: his innate ability to say anything in a calming, soothing tone is only eclipsed by his majestic moustache and his gentle mannerisms. In this film he used all his charms to convey the troubled veteran battling demons deep within.

Even his fighting is slow, calculated and poised to kill. When he speaks it may seem minimal, but like his punches, they hide mountains of emotion and stories. Luckily for us, he speaks plenty through the film: be it his younger persona or today's Calvin, and each word uttered carries 100 more meanings we may be fortunate to understand in the flashbacks. That's where the first part of the title occurs, in non-sequential flashbacks triggered by old ages' foundness to reminisce. And through these seemingly random flashbacks we get a better understanding of the Calvin today: An old man living alone frequenting a bar with a troublesome object he cannot remove from his shoe.

When he is needed to prevent the end of the world, he declines, in his angry-old-man persona. But after chatting with his barber, he may just answer the call, and find it was really his calling.

A sentimental film contrary to what you may infer from its title. A tear jerker if, like me, you see the loniless he portrays in yourself. And heart-warming, too, if you share the bond he has with his barber. An unexpected result for a title that makes you think of wars, Rambo or Predator! A comforting look at getting old, too.

A great film

[Lordknows262 · 7/10 · 20 March 2019]

How was this not given the attention it so deserves, I found myself instantly interested in this mans life and all the pain and misery he had endured in his long life. The story is very entertaining, do yourself a favor and treat yourself to some golden age of movie making escapism.