Cry Wilderness (1987) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A boy follows a supernatural warning into the wilderness, where belief, danger, and protection converge around Bigfoot.

Story Structure — 6 Plot Phases

The Museum's Hidden Memory

A school field trip introduces the Bigfoot legend through a museum statue and a student's account of a previous encounter. Meanwhile, the Sheriff begins organizing a hunt in the park.

Key Events

• Museum Field Trip — Mr. Douglas searches for a separated student near a Bigfoot statue. Characters: Mr. Douglas Location: Natural History Museum
• Bigfoot Story Revealed — The missing student claims to have met Bigfoot during a previous park vacation. Characters: Mr. Douglas Location: Natural History Museum
• Sheriff Forms Hunt — The Sheriff rallies people to hunt an animal that mauled a deer. Characters: Sheriff, Jim Location: Natural park
• Purple Window Signal — Bigfoot appears outside a dormitory window in purple smoke. Characters: Biker Location: Boarding school dormitory

The Purple Warning

Bigfoot appears at the boarding school in purple smoke and warns that the boy's father is in danger. The warning drives the boy to leave school and return to the park.

Key Events

• Warning of Danger — Bigfoot warns that the boy's father is in danger and needs help. Characters: Biker Location: Boarding school dormitory
• Escape From School — After confronting Mr. Douglas, the boy runs away and hitchhikes toward the park. Characters: Mr. Douglas Location: Boarding school
• Hunter Joins Expedition — A big-game hunter hired by the Sheriff appears at the cabin. Characters: Sheriff Location: Park cabin
• Park Hunt Begins — The hunting party travels through the park in search of the dangerous animal. Characters: Jim, Sheriff Location: Natural park

Tracks Through the Ruins

The hunting party explores the park and discovers a strange ruin filled with modern objects. The supposed monster is revealed to be a tiger, but the expedition remains dangerous.

Key Events

• Park Hunt Begins — The hunting party travels through the park in search of the dangerous animal. Characters: Jim, Sheriff Location: Natural park
• Strange Ruin Discovered — The group finds a ruin containing crushed cans and a radio playing rock music. Characters: Jim, Biker Location: Strange ruin
• Bigfoot Watches Hunters — Bigfoot hides and watches the hunting party after it leaves the ruin. Characters: Jim, Biker Location: Near the strange ruin
• Tiger Identified — The animal being tracked is revealed to be a tiger. Characters: Jim, Sheriff Location: Natural park
• Return Toward School — Concerned that the hunt is too dangerous, the group sends the boy back toward school with Jim. Characters: Jim Location: Park trails

Red Hawk's Prophecy

Attempts to return the boy to school fail as he repeatedly escapes. At the lake, Red Hawk warns that Bigfoot must flee to the mountains to survive.

Key Events

• Return Toward School — Concerned that the hunt is too dangerous, the group sends the boy back toward school with Jim. Characters: Jim Location: Park trails
• Repeated Escape Attempts — The boy repeatedly tries to get away from Jim while traveling through the park. Characters: Jim Location: Park trails
• Red Hawk Appears — Jim and the boy reach a lake and encounter the ghost of the Native elder Red Hawk. Characters: Jim, Red Hawk Location: Park lake
• Mountain Warning — Red Hawk says Bigfoot must flee to the mountains or Morgan will kill him. Characters: Red Hawk Location: Park lake

The Lake of Judgment

The tiger is pursued into abandoned mining tunnels, where a collapse traps the hunter and Bigfoot performs a rescue. Morgan then pursues Bigfoot to the lake, where Red Hawk intervenes.

Key Events

• Tiger Reaches Ghost Town — The regrouped hunters follow the tiger into an abandoned mining settlement. Characters: Jim, Sheriff Location: Abandoned Western mining town
• Tunnel Collapse — A tranquilizer shot hits the tiger, while a tunnel collapses on the hunter. Location: Mining tunnels
• Bigfoot Saves Hunter — Bigfoot pulls rocks away and rescues the trapped hunter after a desperate plea for help. Characters: Biker Location: Mining tunnels
• Morgan Tracks Bigfoot — Morgan follows Bigfoot toward the lake after seeing the creature run away. Characters: Biker Location: Park trails
• Red Hawk Stops Morgan — Red Hawk blinds Morgan with the amulet as Morgan attempts to shoot Bigfoot. Characters: Red Hawk, Biker Location: Park lake
• Hunter Vanishes — Morgan stumbles into the lake and disappears after Red Hawk's intervention. Characters: Red Hawk Location: Park lake

Belief Made Visible

After Morgan disappears in the lake, the boy returns to school and submits his final exam. His glowing amulet enables Mr. Douglas to see Bigfoot.

Key Events

• Final Exam Returned — The boy returns to school and hands his final exam to Mr. Douglas before the holidays. Characters: Mr. Douglas Location: Boarding school
• Adult Belief Confirmed — The amulet glows orange, and Mr. Douglas sees Bigfoot in purple smoke. Characters: Mr. Douglas, Biker Location: Boarding school

Story Breakdown

• Museum Legend — The story begins with a school trip and a remembered encounter with Bigfoot.
  • Statue Encounter — Mr. Douglas finds the separated student staring at a Bigfoot statue.
  • Summer Memory — The student describes meeting Bigfoot during a previous park vacation.
• Park Hunt — The Sheriff organizes a dangerous search after an animal mauls a deer.
  • Sheriff's Rally — The Sheriff gathers hunters, including Jim, to search the park.
  • Dangerous Tracks — The expedition follows evidence of a large animal through the wilderness.
• Purple Messenger — Bigfoot's supernatural appearance creates the urgent need for the boy to return to the park.
  • Dormitory Signal — A flashing purple light and purple smoke announce Bigfoot's arrival.
  • Urgent Warning — Bigfoot warns that the boy's father is in danger.
• Ruins And Tiger — The hunt passes through a strange ruin before the supposed monster is identified as a tiger.
  • Modern Relics — Coke cans and a rock-playing radio fill the abandoned ruin.
  • Animal Revealed — The tracked creature is revealed to be a tiger rather than Bigfoot.
• Red Hawk's Counsel — A ghostly elder gives the boy a warning about Bigfoot's vulnerability.
  • Lake Encounter — Red Hawk appears at the lake and asks to speak privately with the boy.
  • Mountain Escape — Red Hawk says Bigfoot must run to the mountains to avoid Morgan.
• Tunnel And Lake — The hunt reaches its physical and supernatural climax in the mining tunnels and at the lake.
  • Bigfoot's Rescue — Bigfoot removes collapsed rocks and saves the trapped hunter.
  • Amulet Judgment — Red Hawk uses the amulet to stop Morgan from shooting Bigfoot.
• Belief Confirmed — The ending returns the boy to school while validating the power of belief.
  • Final Exam — The boy hands his completed final exam to Mr. Douglas.
  • Visible Bigfoot — The glowing amulet allows Mr. Douglas to see Bigfoot in purple smoke.

Directed by

Jay Schlossberg-Cohen

Key Cast

• Eric Foster — Paul Cooper
• Maurice Grandmaison — Will Cooper
• John Tallman — Jim
• Griffin Casey — Morgan Hicks
• Faith Clift — Dr. Helen Foster