Co-written and directed by Tyler Transue and Chris Ruppert, “Creature of the Pines” made its world premiere on April 10, 2026, at Panic Fest. The film joins the recent wave of found footage horror presented as mockumentaries — a crowded subgenre, but one this film navigates with enough confidence to earn its place.
The story centers on Pine Hollow, a stretch of forest deep within the New Jersey Pine Barrens with a long, troubling history of disappearances. Officials have long attributed the vanishings to lost or fallen hikers, but others point to something far older and more sinister, rooted in the region’s Indigenous history. When a trio of friends disappears—leaving only one survivor—a group of documentary filmmakers uncovers evidence that suggests the legend is very real. The story unfolds through a blend of recovered recordings, news clippings, “expert” commentary, and police interrogation footage.
The film doesn’t reinvent the genre, but it executes it well. The horror leans heavily on atmosphere and dread over jump scares and gore, which seasoned genre fans may find familiar, but the craft behind it is evident. The pacing is notably tight; at just under 90 minutes, it never overstays its welcome.
Among the performances, Paul Hood is a standout as Dr. Samuel Harlan, a cultural anthropology expert whose anecdotes about past cases and the region’s Indigenous history anchor much of the film’s lore. Though not a central character, Hood’s portrayal feels remarkably authentic — a quality that is genuinely rare in this type of role and goes a long way toward selling the mockumentary format.
The creature design deserves particular praise. When it first appears, it’s genuinely unsettling. The ambiguity of its early appearances is the film’s most effective horror tool, making it somewhat disappointing when it becomes more visible later on. A little more restraint there could have elevated the film’s scariest moments even further.
For fans of found-footage and mockumentary horror, “Creature of the Pines” is well worth catching on the festival circuit or beyond. It is a confident, well-crafted entry that respects the intelligence of its audience, and that creature design alone makes it one to remember.
