Return to Boggy Creek (1977) User Reviews

"Don't you ever wear anything but jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeans?"

[utgard14 · 2/10 · 6 March 2014]

Three kids, including Diff'rent Strokes' Dana Plato, become lost in the swamp during a hurricane. A Bigfoot-like creature called Big-Bay-Ty comes to their rescue. Had he eaten them, the movie would have been so much better. Dawn Wells plays the kids' terrible mom. Her overwrought acting makes you wish Mary Ann had stayed on Gilligan's Island.

It's pretty insipid even for a G-rated movie. It's also mind-numbingly dull with terrible performances all around. Most of the supporting actors seem to be making the lines up as they go along. There's some of the worst music to ever be put forth by man in this movie. Have earplugs ready. Being a huge fan of The Legend of Boggy Creek, I was of course disappointed by this weak Disney "sequel" that has nothing to do with the original. That film's creator, Charles B. Pierce, had no association with this film. Pierce would go on to do his own Part 2 years later. The only thing to really say in that sequel's defense is that it's still better than this turd.

What a hunk of Disney-esque garbage!

[Chesna · 3/10 · 13 January 1999]

...not that all Disney films are garbage.

Anyway, I saw "Legend of Boggy Creek" first and absolutely loved the film. When I heard it had 2 sequels, I was ecstatic. I finally found a copy of this and watched it one night. I don't see how they can make a G-rated sequel to a horror film. The original is a movie/documentary about the Fauke Monster, and can scare anyone. "Return" is for kids and should not be watched by anyone. I don't remember the plot too well, as it's been quite some time since I watched it and I will not watch it again, but... It's about these hunters coming to town and they go looking to kill Bigfoot. Three little kids sneek out of the house to stop them. A big monsoon comes through. The hunters get hurt, are saved by the kids. Then they all hide out in a boat with a big piece of tarp on top and try to wait out the storm. Then all of a sudden, Bigfoot comes and does something really sick. I don't wanna ruin the ending for any of yas, but it's not scary. Well....

A great movie to sleep by!

[cidasi-dani · 2/10 · 11 February 2007]

I thought I had seen this movie, twice in fact. Then I read all the other reviews, and they didn't quite match up. A man and three young students, two girls and a boy, go to this town to study alleged bigfoot sightings. I still feel pretty confident that this is the movie I saw, despite the discrepancies in the reviews. Therefore I'm putting my review back: If you like the occasional 'B' movie, as I do, then Return to Boggy Creek is the movie for you! Whether it's setting the sleep timer, and nodding off to your favorite movie-bomb, or just hanging out with friends. Boggy Creek, the mute button, and you've got a fun night of improv. Look out! Is the legend true? I think we just might find out, along with a not-so-stellar cast. Will there be any equipment malfunctions at particularly key moments in the film? Does our blonde, manly, young hero have any chest hair? Will the exceptionally high-tech Technicolor last the entire film? You'll have to watch to find out for yourself.

Even as a wee child I would not have been into this movie

[horrorbargainbin · 18 July 2002]

The only parts I can stand now, or would ever have been able to stand, are scenes where the monster is on screen. He looks huge! Then again, never seeing the fury swamp beast's face is a let down, even if it's hidden to preserve the creature's mystique.

Most of the movie consists of the fishing adventures of three siblings. No thanks. As a childrens' film, it's still tame fare. I'd rather watch 'Harry and the Hendersons', the TV show.

So bad, it has to be seen to be believed.........

[Rod-29 · 1/10 · 2 June 2000]

Has to be one of the worst wastes of 35mm movie film ever unleashed on the public, the sequel to the at least entertaining pseudo-documentary original film "The Legend of Boggy Creek". Bad script, worse acting, etc., etc., Dawn Wells had to be hoping that Gilligan would come rescue her and take her back to the island just to escape from this piece of clap-trap.

In the end a movie that bored me as a child.

[Aaron1375 · 1/10 · 25 July 2009]

Never saw the original movie in the series...I only hope it was a much better movie than this or the sequel made in the 1980's as if it is not how were these two terrible sequels even justified. This movie had a really good lead in when they were advertising it to be shown on one of those old independent stations that are a thing of the past now. Anyways it looked like it would be a pretty good scary movie. It was, however, a movie that would make some Walt Disney movies look dark. Really, this movie was just a bunch of light fluff with virtually no boggy creek creature to be seen. The only real sighting is near the end when you see its shape during a very heavy rainstorm, other than that there is virtually no sign of the creature which was really disappointing as a kid. The story is basically the old evil hunters must kill anything they see and are after the boggy creek creature and kids are out to help it or just some random hairy guy in the woods that likes to pull random boats through the water. Not really worth watching I would however like to see the original, granted the maker of that would make the also bad boggy creature of the 80's, but he also made a very good slasher movie in the 70's "The Town the Dreaded Sundown".

Pure boredom for all audiences between 7-77

[Coventry · 2/10 · 12 December 2010]

It actually could be considered as a form of self-mutilation to watch all three of the "Boggy Creek" films in a row. The pace of these films is so incredibly slow that even a snail would fall asleep to it. Part two drops the documentary/narrative style of the original and tries to look more like a regular film. This approach generates a slightly better feeling of involvement, especially since the characters are good old- fashioned walking, talking hillbillies. Rest has more or less returned to the community of Fouke in Arkansas, until a tourist family spots a big hairy thing near the bridge of Boggy Creek. The grandchildren of one of the villagers are the first ones to encounter the monster up close and personal, when they go off venturing in their boat. For you see, "Return to Boggy Creek" is actually a children's movie, and a very VERY lame one, I may add. So the three kids are the main characters. They make a pact not to tell anyone what they've seen and decide to capture the monster themselves. Their quest takes quite some time, especially since the three little idiots are caught in a storm and the entire village gets worried about their disappearance. At this point I immediately thought: I hope this doesn't turn out the type of lame Walt Disney flick where the monster eventually saves the lives of the children and brings them back to their families. That would be really ridiculous. Well, I'm not going to reveal the ending, but rest assured it's a family film from start to finish. Don't expect any casualties or half eaten cadavers. There's hardly any suspense, but copious amounts pointless padding footage to compensate. Oh, and banjo music. Lots and lots of banjo music

Dawn Wells and Dana Plato

[PCC0921 · 4/10 · 20 September 2023]

This is the sequel to the more, critically accepted, docudrama, Legend of Boggy Creek (1972), about the Fouke Monster of Arkansas (a version of Bigfoot). The documentary aspect of the original film, is what critics felt gave Legend of Boggy Creek (1972), a better critical grade, even though, the film is still, very low-budget and a little thick on the hillbilly-ness. Return to Boggy Creek (1977), throws away the docudrama side of the film and creates an aura, comparable to a Swiss Family Robinson film from the 1960s. Touting even a lower budget, this ridiculous, G-rated, survival film, explores the fictional story, of kids in the bayou, stuck in a hurricane, who eventually are ....... wait for it ...... rescued by the monster.

Shot in Texas and parts of Louisiana, Return to Boggy Creek (1977), is a rough watch, especially since the only versions available for this film are muddy, poor contrasted, VHS versions on YouTube or streaming services. The film is a failure, however, I couldn't put Return to Boggy Creek (1977), on my Unwatchables list, so I am giving it an F. I still recommend seeing films I rated an F, because you have to see these films to believe them. Return to Boggy Creek (1977), still has some important aspects to it, that may draw some film fans into seeing it, especially when talking about its cast. This film stars Dawn Wells (Mary Ann Summers, just before she was Rescued From Gilligan's Island in 1978) and Dana Plato (Kimberly Drummond, a year before she joined the cast of the TV series, Diff'rent Strokes in 1978). There also is a couple silly folk songs that pop up in the film.

3.3 (F- MyGrade) = 4 IMDB.

good for kids

[furryguy · 10/10 · 5 May 1999]

i saw this movie when i was 13 and i really liked dana plato who later starred in different strokes as kimberly drummond . i don't think it's garbage .it was not meant to be a sequel to the documentary either . its just a cute kids movie about 3 children who go after men trying to find the boggy creek monster . the men get hurt and the kids rescue them with the help of the creature .haunting shots of the arkansas swamp and scenery were neat . this is a good movie for kids ,no real violence a few mild scares but good fun for the young kids.

How is this considered to be a sequel?

[lonnie-adamsjr · 6/10 · 3 June 2018]

Not sure how this is even considered to be a sequel to "The Legend of Boggy Creek" at all other than the use of the name "Boggy Creek". The original took place in Fouke, AR, this one however seems to take place in south Louisiana. You'll here several Cajun accents, people at the landing speaking French, yet not a single country accent. The monster isn't even called "The Fouke Monster", it is instead called "Big Bay-Ty". That along with names like "T-fish" and "Crawfish Charlie" would be typical Cajun nicknames.

It's not as bad of a movie as people are making it out to be. If you disassociate it from the original and view it as a standalone movie. When you take away the expectation of a sequel, it becomes your typical '70s campy movie.

I didn't mind it that much.

[ubik-11 · 7 November 2002]

I went into this one with low expectations so I wasn't disappointed. It's just a lame little Bigfoot movie for kids. Dawn Wells tries, but I think she emoted better on Gilligan's Island. I still love her, though. The kids are funny to watch, just because they're so unbelievable. Dana Plato (she plays Evvie Jo) ended up on her own TV series later on, and her acting was probably the best. Bruno's was probably the worst. We always crack up when he tells the kids he'll beat them at fishing. Best of all, it has a song. They sing it twice. For some reason, a lot of Bigfoot movies had songs. I don't know why that was. It's a decent song. It's not the best song in the world, but it fits the mood of this movie perfectly. Watch it when you're in a silly mood, or watch it with the kids and see what they think.

A charming and enjoyable Bigfoot children's movie

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 16 October 2006]

This charmingly pleasant and tenderhearted sequel to the hugely successful "The Legend of Boggy Creek" is a follow-up in name only. Stories abound in a sleepy, self-contained fishing community of a supposedly vicious Bigfoot creature called "Big Bay Ty" that resides deep in the uninviting swamplands of Boggy Creek. Two bratty brothers and their older, more sensible tomboy sister (a sweetly feisty performance by cute, pigtailed future "Different Strokes" sitcom star Dana Plato) go venturing into the treacherous marsh to check out if the creature of local legend may be in fact a real live being. The trio get hopelessly lost in a fierce storm and the furry, bear-like, humongous, but very gentle and benevolent Sasquatch comes to the kids' rescue.

Tom Moore's casual, no-frills direction relates this simple story at a leisurely pace, astutely capturing the workaday minutiae of the rural town in compellingly exact detail, drawing the assorted country characters with great warmth and affection, and thankfully developing the sentiment in an organic, restrained, unforced manner that never degenerates into sticky-sappy mush. The adorable Dawn Wells (Mary Ann on "Gilligan's Island") gives an engagingly plucky portrayal of the kids' loving working class single mom while Jim Wilson and John Hofeus offer enjoyably irascible support as a couple of squabbling ol' hayseed curmudgeonly coots. Robert Bethard's capable, sunny cinematography displays the woodsy setting in all its sumptuously tranquil, achingly pure and fragile untouched by civilization splendor. Darrell Deck's score adeptly blends flesh-crawling synthesizer shudders and jubilant banjo-pluckin' country bluegrass into a tuneful sonic brew. In addition, this picture warrants special praise for the way it uncannily predicts the 90's kiddie feature Bigfoot vogue by a good 15-odd years in advance.

Not that cool but not a bad film either.

[jp_91 · 6/10 · 2 February 2021]

"Return to Boggy Creek" is a soft sequel of "The Legend of Boggy Creek", starred by popular actors but with a low budget production, the filming locations are atmospheric but the script is bad, there is some good scenes and a cute ending. A horror film for kids, no more!

Beyond Awful Trip to Boggy Creek

[Michael_Elliott · 14 October 2012]

Return to Boggy Creek (1977)

1/2 (out of 4)

Horrible follow-up to THE LEGEND OF BOGGY CREEK has three children getting stuck in the woods while a hurricane blows through. While out there they run into a Bigfoot like monster known as Big Bay-Ty and unlike the legends, he's actually not harmful at all. Okay, who in their right mind thought it was a good idea to try and turn a drive-in hit into some sort of weird Disney movie? Yes folks, the monster here is actually a good guy with a big heart who helps the poor children when they are in need. I'm really not sure what the producers were thinking but this thing is just a complete disaster from the word go and for the life of me it never makes any sense as to what the filmmakers were trying to do. I mean, did they really think people wanted to see a Bigfoot movie trying to act like Walt Disney? I'm sure this could have worked but not when you handle it as poorly as this film did. For starters, the majority of the running time has the three kids sitting around either talking, fishing or not really doing anything. Two old folks sit around and talk about whether or not the monster is real. Two of the kid's mother (Dawn Wells) constantly calls the children her babies yet she has no problem with the young ones going into the swamp with deadly snakes and alligators. The editing is horrid, the music score awful and there's a really annoying title song running throughout, which will drive you crazy. The monster looks decent but sadly you don't get to see it too much and when you do it's usually at night. The only reason to check this out is if you're interested in seeing Wells outside Gilligan's Island or wanting to see Dana Plato who plays one of the children. RETURN TO BOGGY CREEK actually manages to make the first film look like a classic.

great movie

[jeromehazelwood · 10/10 · 12 August 2004]

i totally disagree.i thought that this was a great movie for kids.dawn wells from gilligans island,and promise shown of a barely then known dana plato.it was disneylike and for that it can hardly be disregarded as meaningless fluff.no it wasn't scary and wasn't meant to be.i wont ruin the ending.but it was unusual the way that it was done.i mean the kids characters were great and i didn't know what to expect in the end.the basic plot also had a lot more to do with these kids than you say the fact that these kids were expert fishermen is very central to the plot especially initially.it also helps them out of a jam towards the end.it also has the plus of not being overly long.i think it clocks in at under 95 minutes