"Pottersville" is a 2017 comedy-drama film directed by Seth Henrikson, starring Michael Shannon as Maynard, a general store owner in a small town called Pottersville. During a drunken night, Maynard puts on a gorilla costume and parades around town, scaring some of the locals and getting mistaken for Bigfoot. The sighting of the supposed legendary creature goes viral, attracting media attention, tourists, and even a reality TV show called "Monster Hunter" with Brock Masterson (played by Thomas Lennon) as the host.
As the town enjoys a new influx of visitors and money, Maynard struggles with guilt over perpetrating the Bigfoot hoax and lying to his family and friends. Meanwhile, his wife (played by Christina Hendricks) and best friend (played by Ian McShane) are also keeping secrets of their own. The tension builds up as Brock and his crew comb through the woods, looking for the elusive Bigfoot, while Maynard tries to find a way to come clean and make amends.
Aside from Shannon, Hendricks, McShane, and Lennon, the cast also includes Judy Greer, Ron Perlman, and Michael Torpey. The film was shot in upstate New York and was released on Netflix in November 2017. Critics gave mixed reviews to "Pottersville", with some praising its quirky humor and heartwarming themes, while others found it shallow and contrived. Nevertheless, it remains a memorable and unique take on the Bigfoot legend, blending comedy, romance, and drama in a small-town setting.
