Writer/Director Terry Weaver gives us the 2025 Horror/Mystery film The Beast of Trinity Texas. I’m here to tell you, this creature is not your dad’s BigFoot. This deadly serious film about a small town sheriff, and his battles, manages to entertain and keep the audience guessing.
The Beast of Trinity Texas Story
Sheriff Titus Ridge is a man with a gorilla on his back. Said metaphorical simian is an unhealthy dose of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder – PTSD. Ridge is a man with a violent past. A veteran, and a cop. One rush decision that ends with his shooting an unarmed man, and the loss of his family.
Titus, like so many others with PTSD, self medicates. His personal drug of choice? Alcohol. He struggles to control his inner demons. Meanwhile, back in the small town, a beast is killing people in his jurisdiction. While investigating the deaths, his estranged daughter resurfaces. The two prepare to fight this threat together.
The Main Cast
Terry Weaver is Sheriff Ridge.
Kyle Leatherberry is Corin.
Laynee Busse is Autumn.
Lance Henry is Ted Whiteman.
Lizzie Camp is Mariella.
Daryl Jones is Deputy Miles Devereaux.
A Quick Word About Cast
Terry Weaver looks a cross between Jeffrey Donovan and a younger, lighter, Kris Kristofferson; sans the ravaged complexion. He also lacks the Kristofferson “gravelled” dialogue delivery. Another actor who resembles someone else in the business, is Laynee Busse. She shares facial features with a personal favorite; Marley Shelton.
The Beast of Trinity Texas Works
Weaver, who writes, directs and acts in The Beast of Trinity Texas, is another cottage industry. He also executive produced this film. Everything comes together very well. Jordan Bradley is Cinematographer and Editor here. It is his work, along with Weaver’s direction, that makes this film a good “bet.”
The entire film, at just over two hours, moves well. The mystery of the events in the area are done very well. I was second guessing quite a lot.
The Beast of Trinity Texas Feels Familiar
Weaver’s film “feels” familiar. Slither, for example, also has a small group who fight a “Big Bad.” Nathan Fillion plays Sheriff Pardee with a tiny band of helpers who fight this threat. This 2006 James Gunn film, however, is drenched in comedy.
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a sheriff in a small town. It’s on the US/Mexico border. His small team take on a outside force of killers to save his town. Director Kim Jee-woon with his first US feature , slots a lot of comedy into the base of the movie.
These are just two examples of a formula, a “David vs Goliath” scenario. The lawman defending his home town had been around for a long while. High Noon, Rio Bravo, El Dorado and many other similarly themed westerns rode into cinemas the world over; “back in the day.”
Last Thoughts
The Beast of Trinity Texas also made me think about the 2014 Kevin Durand/Lukas Haas film Dark Was the Night. “Night” is set in a rural area as well and a very small team fights the evil.
Weaver’s film is also the third film I’ve seen with a Sasquatch in it. Sam Elliot, over on Hulu and The Bigfoot Club (2025). Elliot’s feature is a bit eclectic and “Bigfoot Club” is more fanciful in nature.
“Beast” is different from all of these aforementioned films; apart from the basic premise. While it does bring these other films to mind, Weaver his own spin on the tale. Successfully.
The Verdict
The Beast of Trinity Texas earns a solid 4 out of 5 stars. The film hooks the viewer from the start. The decision to play the over 126 minute film straight as a string works. The twist was a surprise and I enjoyed the film. It is streaming on Tubi, Fawesome, and Roku; all free. You can also rent it on Prime. I urge folks to give this one a go.
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