Fear Itself: Episode 8 Skin and Bones

I'll say that this episode gets props over Deer Woman for at least having a prominent Native American character in a supporting role, in an episode about Native American legends. Based on my search of Wikipedia the actor is not from the same tribe as the Wendigo legend, but I guess it's at least effort. I'm not going to dwell too much on the origin of the legend, since like most folklore the details of the Wendigo vary from telling to telling, so asking if this episode is “accurate” would be pointless.

The premise of the story is that a rancher named Grady (Doug Jones) rides off into the wilderness for several days with a group of his friends to hunt, and comes back alone and sickly. His brother Rowdy (John Pyper-Ferguson), wife Elena (Molly Hagan), and children Derek and Tim (Brett Dier and Cole Heppell) are all concerned about his condition, but Eddie Bear (Gordon Tootoosis), an elderly Native American who works for them recognizes his symptoms. Grady has been possessed by a Wendigo, an evil spirit that takes over desperate, starving people and turns them into cannibals.

Doug Jones is in far less make-up than the roles he's best known for, but some simple touches are taken to make sure he looks distinctly inhuman. Most prominently, the Wendigo's teeth protrude forward like a snout. The effect easily puts him in the uncanny valley.

While the episode does make an attempt to show the Wendigo and Grady as separate entities, Grady is never shown as being at odds with the Wendigo. The implication seems to be that the Wendigo has already removed his inhibitions, and in their absence going on a killing spree with his enhanced strength and speed is completely natural to him. There is a scene where he goes through the motions of asking for help, but the scene lacks any sincerity. I'm pretty sure Doug Jones could have given it more weight if we were supposed to believe it.

The episode is primarily driven by family drama. We're given a strong implication that the two brothers both resent the other. Rowdy seems to think that Grady would have failed as a rancher without him, while we learn through Derek that Grady has taken a consistent loss on the ranch, and seems to view it as a pity project to keep his brother employed.

If the episode has a twist it's simply that Rowdy is the real father of Grady's children. You see this coming a mile away. After killing Rowdy, Grady forced his wife to butcher and cook him as stew, and even eat a bowl herself. Given that he's already killed Eddie Bear (yes, everyone in the episode uses both names when referring to him on every occasion), the decision to eat Rowdy specifically can only be driven by resentment. This is fury that's been building for years. There's only one source the resentment could come.

It's Grady's wife who eventually finishes him off. Grady attacks his sons, and reveals their real paternity. So, she shoots him, ending the episode, but freeing the Wendigo spirit to seek out new victims.

This isn't really the best episode. It's hindered by the fact that most of the actors aren't great, and Doug Jones spends a lot of time off-screen until near the end. I kind of wish he'd succeeded in killing the rest of the cast, instead of the two kills he got. He's easily the best part of this episode.

Director Larry Fessenden is known primarily as an actor, but has directed several films. Notably he'd directed two previous works about Wendigos (one a film, one a documentary), so they seem to be an interest of his. Either that or it's just a mind-boggling coincidence that he keeps getting picked to direct films about them. For this episode, he does an acceptable job, but nothing special.