Q&A: PRIMAL RAGE Director Patrick Magee on Playing a Legendary Creature & Bringing His Bigfoot Movie to the Big Screen

Looking to deliver a new twist on a feared and revered legend, Patrick Magee's new movie Primal Rage is coming to US theaters for one night only on February 27th via Fathom Events and Blue Fox Entertainment. To celebrate Bigfoot's return to the big screen, we caught up with Magee for a new Q&A feature to discuss not only directing Primal Rage, but also his time on set playing Bigfoot in a suit he created using skills acquired from his own impressive practical effects career.

Thanks for taking the time to answer questions for us, Patrick, and congratulations on Primal Rage. How and when did you and Jay Lee come up with the idea for your new movie?

Patrick Magee: It was a very long process. I have always wanted to make a Bigfoot suit. I initially started making the Bigfoot suit first, and simultaneously, I started to develop a story, to keep it small and simple. After a couple years of accumulating notes and laying out the structure, I handed my notes to Jay, and he turned them into a script. He added a ton, especially with the Native American element, as well as the hunters.

Where did filming take place for Primal Rage, and how long was your shooting schedule?

Patrick Magee: We shot Primal Rage where so many Bigfoot/Sasquatch sightings are: in the Pacific Northwest at the California-Oregon border in the Redwoods. Most of the film was shot over a two-year period. We shot for about two and a half weeks in February of 2015 and then another two and a half weeks in February of 2016. Additionally, there are several shots that made it into the film from our initial creature test in 2013, as well as a location scouting trip in 2014.

Have you always been personally interested in Bigfoot? Do you believe in the existence of the iconic creature?

Patrick Magee: Ever since I was young and saw Harry and the Hendersons, I’ve always been drawn to the character, and wanted to create the sinister, evil version of him. I am typically drawn to furry monsters. As for do I believe in him? I’ll believe in him when I see him.

Looking back at your time on set, what was the most memorable experience you had while making the movie?

Patrick Magee: Everything was great to shoot. It was a dream come true. Definitely shooting the big group scenes, with all of the performers, most of which I’ve known for several years, made it especially fun. Also, having spent so much time in pre-production and building the effects, it was great to see everything on set and functioning as designed and built.

There have been several movies made about Bigfoot or creatures like him in the past. How important was it for you to take a unique approach to this legendary monster?

Patrick Magee: It was very important. I felt like I had something different to offer, which I think is the only reason to do something like this. Being in control of the effects, I was able to give him a unique appearance, and from that, I was able to give him a unique background. The look gave him character. So everything from his background, his looks, and what he does is my style and take on this character.

Primal Rage has a bit of a Predator vibe to it in some of the action scenes. Did that movie or any other creature features inspire you while making Primal Rage?

Patrick Magee: Predator was a big influence, as well as the original slasher films, along with so many more. I am a product of the golden years of ’80s monster movies, so they all have influenced me in one way or another.

What was the most challenging or exciting scene to shoot?

Patrick Magee: I’d say the most challenging element of it, without a doubt, was getting our two leads, Max, played by Andrew Joseph Montgomery, and Ashley, played by Casey Gagliardi, into the position they are in, in the woods. The car crash scene and the water scenes were the most challenging elements to shoot, especially with a limited budget, it added extra stress and difficulties to get the the lead characters into their position. Both Andrew Joseph and Casey did a phenomenal job, as they had no stunt doubles and did all of their stunts themselves, including jumping into that freezing cold water, along with myself, and DP Jay Lee. There were moments of real danger shooting those scenes.

Primal Rage is coming to select theaters for one night only on February 27th courtesy of Blue Fox Entertainment and Fathom Events. What can viewers look forward to experiencing if they see Primal Rage on the big screen?

Patrick Magee: We shot this in an amazing location, and we shot it big, so expect to see great cinematic shots. We have a great, strong score by Ceiri Torjussen, and big, booming sound design, which should sound extraordinary in a theater, as well as excellent creature action and fun characters, with lots of blood and guts.

In addition to Primal Rage, what other projects do you have on deck that you can tease, and where can our readers follow your work online?

Patrick Magee: Currently, I am making a really cool beast for an Australian production shooting at the end of the year. I also have several smaller projects in the works, and am in development on two other scripts.
As for finding me online, I have a Facebook and a Twitter, but I am a big fan of Instagram. You can follow me @PatrickMagee and follow the movie @PrimalRageMovie.

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Check here to learn more about the US theatrical release of Primal Rage, which will be making its UK premiere at FrightFest on March 2nd.