Exists is a 2014 Found Footage horror film directed by Eduardo Sanchez, co-director of The Blair Witch Project.
The film centers on a group of young college students who go on a summer vacation to an isolated woodland house owned by the uncle of the group's leaders, brothers Brian and Matt. However, on their way there, they accidentally strike an unknown creature. As the group finds themselves under attack, it becomes clear that said creature was a Bigfoot - and now it's out for brutal revenge.
List of tropes applying to this film:
- Ambiguous Gender: The Bigfoot's gender is never stated, nor is its child's.
- Ambiguous Situation: The ending. After realizing he and his friends accidentally killed the Bigfoot's child and blaming himself for the subsequent deaths, Brian surrenders to the Bigfoot and decides to let it kill him. However, the Bigfoot instead retreats into the forest; it's left unclear if it forgave him upon seeing his guilt or wanted to inflict a Cruel Mercy on him.
- Anti-Villain: The Bigfoot is only attacking the group because they accidentally killed its child in a hit-and-run without noticing. Brian loses his will to live upon realizing what they'd done, and tries to let the creature kill him.
- Asshole Victim: Subverted, oddly. Most of the characters start off as obnoxious jerks, but once the Bigfoot starts attacking, they quickly mature and show sincere compassion and empathy. Not that it saves most of them.
- Bald of Authority: Once things start going to shit, the bald Todd is the one who takes over as the leader.
- Bittersweet Ending: Very heavy on the bitter side. Everyone except Bryan is dead, but the Bigfoot spares him after seeing he is genuinely repentant. And of course, the Bigfoot's child is still dead, so even its victory is hollow.
- Black Dude Dies First: Subverted. Todd is actually the second to die, and only in the middle of the third act.
- Butt-Monkey: Bryan is pranked and mocked by pretty much everyone.
- The Cuckoolander Was Right: Bryan and Matt assumed Uncle Bob was crazy for his talk about Bigfoots living in the woods surrounding his property. Turns out they really should have listened.
- It Can Think: The Bigfoot seems like a mere raging beast at first, but it proves to be quite intelligent and a cunning opponent. It proves emotionally intelligent too; once it sees Brian is truly repentant, it lets him live and leaves peacefully.
- Monster Is a Mommy: The Bigfoot is after the group because they accidentally killed its child in a hit-and-run without noticing.
- Non-Malicious Monster: Double Subverted. Both the opening text and Brian stater that Bigfoots aren't dangerous unless provoked, but the characters dismiss this in light of the Bigfoot's savagery and violence. It turns out that they really are usually non-violent, but the main characters accidentally ran over this Bigfoot's child and it wants revenge.
- Tragic Villain: Bigfoot initially seems to be a mindless beast, but its actually lashing out over the death of its child.
