Epsom has no fear hosting primal premiere ›

Valentine’s Day brought screams instead of romance to Epsom Picturehouse as Craig Dowsett premiered his directional debut, Bigfoot: Primal Fear, on 14 February.

Dowsett began acting shortly after Covid and rose to prominence playing Winnie the Pooh in Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey, produced by Jagged Edge Productions. After the film’s success, he moved into writing and directing, seeking full creative control over his own projects.

Bigfoot: Primal Fear is the first independent Bigfoot horror film shot in the UK and features well known faces from the UK independent film scene. It also stars American Bigfoot expert Ryan “RPG” Golembeske from Expedition Bigfoot and DJ Brewster from Alaskan Killer Bigfoot.

The story follows a group of campers whose woodland getaway turns into a nightmare when they realise they are not alone and something is hunting them. Every step could be their last as they fight to survive. Click HERE for a trailer:

Made on a small, self-financed budget, the film relies on practical effects, fast pacing and plenty of twists.

Sitting in the audience, my eyes were glued to the screen. The film moved at such a pace it felt over in a flash, each scene building tension and keeping viewers fully engaged. I will now look at Epsom Common very differently. Who knows what might be living there?

“Having our very first red carpet event at Epsom Picturehouse is absolutely amazing,” said Dowsett. “Epsom is a fantastic place for red carpet premieres because it has the perfect balance of being intimate yet vibrant, bringing the local community together to celebrate independent cinema. Everyone had an amazing time and went away with magical moments. We will definitely be back later in the year for another premiere.”

The film will be released on streaming platforms later this year, with Dowsett encouraging audiences to support independent filmmaking in what he describes as a tough industry, adding that he hopes viewers enjoy the film as much as the team enjoyed creating it.

Romana Sustar