REVIEW: In the woods of Loveland, Ohio, beware of ‘Frogman’
Photo: Frogman stars Nathan Tymoshuk as Dallas Kyle, a man trying to find the truth about a mysterious cryptid. Photo courtesy of Rotting Press / Provided by Sapkar PR with permission.
If one doesn’t take the new found-footage horror movie Frogman too seriously, then it’s a blast. This film, directed by Anthony Cousins and produced by Rotting Press, is now available on VHS and streaming platforms, and apparently it’s based on real accounts of the Loveland Frogman in Ohio.
In the movie, a 12-year-old named Dallas Kyle captures remarkable footage of Frogman while on a family road trip. This large frog is hanging out in the weeds on the side of the road, and Dallas is right there to grab a few grainy seconds. The video becomes a sensation, but there are many who doubt its authenticity, thinking the whole episode is a hoax. Fast forward to Dallas all grown up as an adult, still reeling from the many doubters out there, and he’s determined to go back and find Frogman with a film crew by his side.
The premise for Frogman lends itself nicely to the found-footage subgenre. There needs to be a compelling reason why the cameras are rolling, and making Dallas and his friends documentary filmmakers allows for the suspension of disbelief … to a certain point. Like with most found-footage flicks, there’s always some head-scratching on why and how the camera is still rolling.
The movie has the mood and tone of many cryptid features that have come in the past. This is essentially a Bigfoot film, but with a frog standing in for Sasquatch. There’s even a parallel between Frogman and the classic film The Legend of Boggy Creek. Both are raw, grainy movies that focus as much on the creature as the locals who live near the creature’s habitat.
Kudos to Frogman’s cast, which features Nathan Tymoshuk, Chelsey Grant, Benny Barrett and Justen Jones. They make the proceedings somewhat believable, although largely gone are the days when audience members actually believe the found footage is actual found footage. The Blair Witch Project, still the best in the subgenre, ruined that for everyone who followed. Cousins also deserves credit. He expertly directs the film, which he co-wrote with John Karsko.
The scares are minimal, but there are some unexpected developments about the origins and mythology of Frogman, which will keep audiences guessing until the very end … or until the tape recorder runs out of film.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Frogman (2023). Directed by Anthony Cousins. Written by Cousins and John Karsko. Starring Nathan Tymoshuk, Chelsey Grant, Benny Barrett and Justen Jones. Running time: 80 minutes. Rating: 
