This week on The Commentary Booth, Jamie Apps and Corrina Mabey swap the popcorn for bear spray as they dive into Grizzly Night, the 2026 survival thriller from debut director Burke Doeren.

Thanks to the teams at Hold Fast Public Relations and Eagle Entertainment, the duo got an early look at this gripping creature feature, available now on DVD and VOD in Australia.

But don't let the "creature feature" label fool you. Grizzly Night is less Cocaine Bear and more sobering docudrama — and that's exactly what caught Jamie and Corrina off guard.

Rooted in the chilling true story of the 1967 ‘Night of the Grizzlies’, the film recreates two fatal grizzly bear attacks that occurred on the very same night, just miles apart, inside Glacier National Park. It's a premise so wild that, as Jamie puts it, "if this were written as a totally made-up story, you'd be like — that's outrageous." And yet, it happened. Fact truly is stranger than fiction.

Jamie and Corrina unpack the film’s unusual tone, its grounded approach to storytelling, and the way it reframes the idea of who, or what, is really to blame. There’s talk of low-budget limitations, surprisingly effective practical and CGI work, and a few moments that don’t quite land, but also a genuine appreciation for the film’s message around conservation and human responsibility.

Highlights Breakdown:

- Breaking down the true events behind the 1967 “Night of the Grizzlies” and how the film adapts them.

- Why Grizzly Night leans more into docudrama than horror, and whether that works.

- The clever filmmaking tricks that sell the tension without showing full-on attacks.

- Exploring the film’s core message, shifting blame from animals to human behaviour.

It’s not quite horror. Not fully drama either. Somewhere in between, maybe a little messy, but worth talking about.

Corrina calls it her Bambi moment. Jamie calls it unexpectedly heartbreaking. Both agree: for a low-budget, straight-to-VOD release, Grizzly Night lands a message that is clear, important, and worth your time.

This week’s episode is brought to you by

Australian Wrestling Cards

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