Rare Sighting: Boar (2017)

My dear readers, while my profession obviously demands many an hour spent in the comfort of the indoors, I am still thoroughly possessed by the romance of a life lived in close proximity to nature. As a youth, I used to take many a trek through the forest near my parents’ summer estate and there I would see the most wondrous fauna and flora. I was entreated to appreciate these natural wonders all the more by curious woodland inhabitants whose faces would form from the leaves in the trees. They whispered to me in an ancient tongue with which I had no familiarly and yet its meaning burned quite clearly in my mind, its alien syllables rich with the wisdom of the forest. Every once in a while they would have need of something that only a metropolitan lad like myself could procure and given how kind they had been to me, it hardly seemed fair to turn down their requests for carbonated malt beverages, handsomely tailored caps and infants born with the mark of Raz’Thar, The Forgotten One. Although the punitive outcome from fulfilling their requests led me to spend much more time indoors, I still consider the overall experience rather rugged and enriching.

Bernie has little difficulty with regular-sized creatures

Bernie (Nathan Jones) is also a man who understands the appeal of a life tied close to the elements. A resident of the Australian wilderness, he spends his days hulking over the populace, tossing uncouth drunkards from the local pub and taking leisurely swims down by the creek. Though his means of income is unclear and his lodgings are humble, he seems the sort of chap who meets each day with a cheeky grin. The “Outback” may be an uncompromising terrain but at a height of nearly seven feet and no shortage of bulk, only a beast of unparalleled size and exceptional ferocity would seem to pose too large a threat for the likes of Bernie.

Of course, Mother Nature really has a ripping good sense of humor about these sorts of things and manages to toss just such a creature his way right around the time his sister and her family swing by for a visit. Though locals have circulated highly questionable accounts of a giant boar over a pint or two, no one of good sense gives them much credit until the animal abandons discretion and sort of pops up in broad daylight, brutalizing those unfortunate enough to be in its path. Bernie finds himself rather outmatched in the strength department for what must be the first time in his life but he still does his best to outpace the beast and ensure the safety of his family.

Much like its eponymous antagonist, Boar is truly a rare sighting. As any avid viewer of creature features will have noticed, most contemporary efforts have led to a steady increase in implausibility, an imaginative trend that has given us the Frankenfish, the Piranhaconda, the Sharknado and the mighty Crocosaurus. As a result, little screen time these days is dedicated to animals that bear a marked resemblance to their natural inspiration. The boar in this film is certainly quite big, about the size of an average rhinoceros. It is undoubtedly on the large side for swine and an alarming sight when out for a stroll but still outsized in outlandishness by any number of mutant hybrids and prehistoric gargantuans.

A feature devoted to a comparatively ordinary monstrosity is quite the curiosity in our present day and age. But the true marvel is the boar itself. The creature is a wonder to behold, as it is rendered entirely with practical effects. Its grandiosity is unmatched in a sub-genre that relies almost entirely on computer generated imagery. Seeing as magnificent a specimen as Boar out in the wild should be quite the treat for both amateur and seasoned nature enthusiasts.

Boar runs 96 minutes and does not possess a certified rating in the United States.