A wheelchair-bound man returns to the forest where he lost his wife ... only to find the site being patrolled by a massive Bigfoot-style creature.

If you're about my age and you grew up on "nature run amok" movies like GRIZZLY, PROPHECY, DAY OF THE ANIMALS, etc., then odds are you'll find a good deal to enjoy in ABOMINABLE. Toss in a surprisingly clever nod to Hitchcock's REAR WINDOW and a half-dozen screaming hotties, and you've got a popcorn monster flick that mixes the old with the new-ish, and does it in rather enjoyable fashion.

Horror nuts will have a solid ball with the cast assembled here. In addition to the strong leads from Matt McCoy and Haley Joel, we have folks like Lance Henriksen, Rex Linn, Jeffrey Combs, Dee Wallace-Stone, Tiffany Shepis and the late, great Paul Gleason. Cameo lovers, this is a monster movie for you!

Writer/director Ryan Schifrin (son of veteran composer Lalo Schifrin) strikes an amiable balance between old-school mayhem and old-old-school suspense. The flick doesn't blow its load too early, and by the time you get to see the titular beastie in all its glory, well, it actually looks pretty darn nifty. All in all, a fine little monster tale, not flawless by any means, but a flick obviously made with a good sense of fun and, more importantly, affection for the genre.

Video: The anamorphic widescreen transfer from Anchor Bay is really quite excellent.

Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 or 2.0. I opted for the former track, obviously, and had a fine time with the aural presentation.

Tons of good stuff: First up is an affable audio commentary with Schifrin, McCoy and Combs that'll prove diverting to anyone who liked the film or has an interest in low-budget horror-making. Also surprisingly strong is the 37-minute Back to Genre: Making ABOMINABLE, which covers the flick's backstory and includes interviews with Schifrin, creature designer Christien Tinsley, and actors Matt McCoy, Haley Joel, Rex Linn, Tiffany Shepis, Dee Wallace-Stone, and Jeffrey Combs. This is a well-produced and low-key little piece, one that covers the ABOMINABLE story from every concievable angle.

Also included are six minutes of deleted & extended scenes, a handful of outtakes & bloopers, several galleries of posters, stills & storyboards, a pair of trailers, and one final treat: Ryan Schifrin's USC student short, SHADOWS.

ABOMINABLE is a comfy little throwback-style horror flick, one that's full of fun and familiar faces, a strong sense of humor, and just enough blood-soaked mayhem to keep the gorehounds entertained. I dug it.