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Timeline

Strange Wilderness (2008) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2008 · 87 min · English
Directed by
Fred Wolf
Starring
Steve Zahn, Allen Covert, Justin Long

Following the death of his father, wildlife TV host Peter Gaulke reluctantly takes over the family show. Facing cancellation and desperate to revive the program's reputation, Peter and his ragtag crew embark on a risky expedition to find definitive proof of Bigfoot's existence. Their search for the mythical creature becomes a chaotic and hilarious quest for stardom and a chance to restore the show's fading glory.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Strange Wilderness
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Strange Wilderness (2008)

Where can you watch Strange Wilderness? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Hoopla, YouTube Free and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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15 events in order · contains spoilers

Strange Wilderness Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Strange Wilderness (2008) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Introduction to Peter's Struggles

    The film opens with an array of bloopers from a wildlife show, showcasing the antics of Peter Gaulke's deceased father. Peter acknowledges his ineptitude as the new host of 'Strange Wilderness', struggling to fill his father's shoes.

  2. Show Cancellation Looms

    During a pivotal meeting with executive Ed Lawson, Peter learns that 'Strange Wilderness' will be canceled in two weeks due to declining viewership. Ed informs Peter that a new show featuring the renowned wildlife host, Sky Pierson, is in the works, leaving Peter in a panic.

  3. Quest for Bigfoot Begins

    Desperate to save his show, Peter reaches out to an old family friend, Bill Calhoun, who claims to have discovered Bigfoot in South America. Peter agrees to pay Bill a thousand dollars for the map leading to Bigfoot's location, hoping this will revitalize the show.

  4. Crew Changes

    Milas decides to opt out of the adventure due to his age, suggesting that Junior, Milas's stoner nephew, could take his place. This adjustment leads to the introduction of their questionable wildlife handler, Whitaker, an alcoholic mechanic.

  5. The RV Adventure

    The crew embarks on their journey in an RV, gathering more chaotic members including Peter's friend Danny and new PR agent Cheryl. Their unprofessionalism quickly turns the trip into a series of misadventures as they clash with both nature and each other.

    Where
    RV
  6. Danny's Costume Antics

    In a bizarre attempt to entertain, Danny dresses up in a giant sea lion costume which leads to unforeseen chaos. His antics culminate in a shark attack that injures him severely, draining the crew's remaining funds for treatment.

    Where
    Near the ocean
  7. Dentist Brawl

    After a fight with some local gangsters leaves Peter and Fred with knocked-out teeth, they find themselves at a dentist's office. Desperate to recover their finances, Junior steals a tank of nitrous, leading to a two-day chaotic bender.

    Where
    Dentist's Office
  8. Bill's Cabin and Betrayal

    Upon arrival at Bill’s cabin, Peter discovers that Bill has sold the Bigfoot map to Sky Pierson because he couldn’t reach Peter. Bill, paranoid and surrounded by cameras, reluctantly agrees to help by introducing them to a skilled tracker, Gus Haden.

    Where
    Bill's Cabin
  9. Turbulent Encounters

    Peter has a bizarre encounter with a baby turkey, which is comically followed by an attack from its mother. This incident unexpectedly earns Peter a reward from the government due to the turkey's involvement in a research study.

    Where
    Wilderness
  10. Border Troubles

    While attempting to cross the Mexican border, Peter and his crew infuriate border agents, resulting in a humiliating body search. This mishap showcases their inability to stay out of trouble as they push forward in their quest.

    Where
    Mexican Border
  11. Flight to Continue the Hunt

    The crew resorts to flying to continue their pursuit for Bigfoot. They meet Dick, who introduces them to Gus Haden, setting the stage for more chaotic interactions as they meet the tracker.

    Where
    Airport
  12. Gus's Betrayal

    Things take a turn for the worse when Gus robs the crew of their possessions and disappears with Cheryl. This shocking betrayal leaves them reeling and sets them back significantly in their quest.

  13. Discovering Danger

    The crew finds Sky Pierson and his entourage dead, indicating the high stakes of their wild expedition in the jungle. They realize the dangers involved in their search for Bigfoot are much more serious than anticipated.

    Where
    Jungle
  14. Climactic Showdown

    After all the chaos, the crew finally arrives at Bigfoot's lair. In a moment of panic, they shoot at Bigfoot in confusion, attempting to cover it up as a suicide, which leads to further discord within the team.

    Where
    Bigfoot's Lair
  15. Hope and Revival

    Just when Peter feels all is lost, Milas visits him, urging him to regroup and not give up on his dream. This heartfelt moment leads to a revival of 'Strange Wilderness', culminating in Ed's approval and bringing back a sense of camaraderie among the crew.

Last updated: October 28, 2024 at 17:43

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Timeline questions answered

Strange Wilderness Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Strange Wilderness (2008): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Peter agree to pay Bill for the Bigfoot map?

Peter is desperate to save his show from cancellation. After learning from Ed Lawson that Strange Wilderness will be canceled in two weeks to make room for Sky Pierson's new show, Peter clings to any chance to boost ratings. Bill Calhoun, an old family friend, claims to have discovered Bigfoot in South America. Despite the $1,000 cost, Peter sees this as his only option to find definitive proof of Bigfoot and restore the show's fading reputation.

  • bigfoot map
  • bill calhoun
  • save show
  • cancellation
  • sky pierson
Q2

Why does Milas leave the Bigfoot expedition?

Milas cites his age as the reason for backing out of the journey. He admits he's too old for such an arduous expedition through South America. However, he suggests that his nephew Junior could take his place as the cameraman, which leads to Junior joining the crew despite being a stoner with no professional experience.

  • milas
  • junior
  • expedition
  • cameraman
  • age
Q3

Why does Bill sell the Bigfoot map to Sky Pierson instead of Peter?

Bill couldn't reach Peter to confirm the deal before the deadline. Since Peter promised to pay $1,000 for the map but didn't deliver the money in time, Bill sold it to Sky Pierson instead, who presumably offered better or immediate payment. Bill's paranoia about being watched by cameras also suggests he was eager to finalize the transaction quickly.

  • bill calhoun
  • sky pierson
  • map
  • betrayal
  • phone call
Q4

What happens to Danny after he puts on the sea lion costume?

Danny decides to entertain the crew by wearing a giant sea lion costume near the ocean. His antics lead to a shark attack that leaves him severely injured. The crew is forced to spend their remaining funds on his medical treatment, significantly setting back their finances for the expedition.

  • danny
  • sea lion costume
  • shark attack
  • injury
  • funds
Q5

Why does Peter get attacked by a turkey?

While urinating outside Bill's cabin, Peter encounters a baby turkey. He apparently does something to provoke or disturb it, triggering its mother to attack him. The bizarre incident actually works out favorably for Peter when the government rewards him money because the turkey was involved in a research study.

  • peter
  • turkey
  • attack
  • reward
  • government
Q6

Why does Gus Haden rob the crew and take Cheryl?

Gus Haden, the tracker they hired to find Bigfoot, betrays them by stealing all their possessions and disappearing with Cheryl. This appears to be a simple act of greed and dishonesty rather than having any deeper motivation. The crew is left stranded and set back significantly in their quest.

  • gus haden
  • betrayal
  • cheryl
  • robbery
  • tracker
Q7

What do they find when they reach Sky Pierson's camp in the jungle?

The crew discovers Sky Pierson and his entire entourage dead in their camp. This grim discovery reveals the extreme dangers of the jungle and serves as a ominous warning about what could happen to them. It raises the stakes considerably and shows that someone or something is killing wildlife hosts in the area.

  • sky pierson
  • dead
  • jungle
  • danger
  • camp
Q8

Why does the crew shoot Bigfoot instead of filming it?

When Bigfoot finally emerges from his lair, the crew panics out of fear and confusion. Instead of capturing footage of the mythical creature, they shoot it multiple times, killing it. In a desperate attempt to cover up their mistake, they try to stage the scene as a suicide rather than admitting they shot Bigfoot.

  • bigfoot
  • shooting
  • panic
  • cover up
  • lair
Q9

How does Peter manage to revive Strange Wilderness?

After the Bigfoot disaster and Ed Lawson's rejection, Peter is ready to give up. However, Milas visits him at his apartment and convinces him to regroup with the crew and try again. This heartwarming moment leads the crew to reunite, film a new episode confronting the great white shark again, and ultimately secure Ed's approval to revive the show.

  • milas
  • ed lawson
  • revival
  • show
  • reunited
  • shark
Q10

Why does Junior steal the nitrous tank from the dentist?

After Peter and Fred get into a fight with local gangsters that leaves them with knocked-out teeth, they end up at a dentist's office. Desperate to recover their finances after the expensive dental work, Junior steals a tank of nitrous oxide from the dentist, leading to a chaotic two-day bender that further illustrates the crew's incompetence.

  • junior
  • nitrous
  • dentist
  • theft
  • bender
Q11

Why do border agents search Peter at the Mexican border?

While attempting to cross the Mexican border, Peter and his crew do something to anger or provoke the border agents. The exact details aren't specified, but their typical chaotic behavior leads to consequences. As a result, Peter is subjected to a humiliating body search by the border agents, showcasing another misadventure in their troubled expedition.

  • border agents
  • mexico
  • body search
  • humiliation

Movie threads

More Movies Like Strange Wilderness, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Strange Wilderness tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Chaotic Quest Comedies like Strange Wilderness

Misfits stumble through a high-stakes, hilarious mission destined for disaster. This list features movies like Strange Wilderness, where you'll find hilarious stories of misfit crews on doomed missions. If you enjoy slapstick chaos, stoner humor, and goofy characters bumbling their way through a high-stakes quest, these comedies deliver a similar fast-paced and irreverent vibe.

  • slapstick
  • goofy
  • absurd
  • chaotic
  • lighthearted
  • irreverent
  • Tone: light, irreverent
  • Pacing: fast, chaotic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows a simple, linear quest structure where a group's desperate goal serves as a launchpad for a series of comedic set pieces. Character growth is minimal; the focus is on the sheer entertainment of watching plans spectacularly unravel through a sequence of absurd and often self-inflicted disasters, leading to an improbably happy or redemptive conclusion.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped by their shared commitment to pure, lighthearted comedy. They prioritize fast pacing, a steady stream of jokes, and a tone that revels in absurdity and incompetence over any genuine drama, creating a consistently silly and entertaining experience.

Absurd Workplace Fails like Strange Wilderness

Professionals at the absolute bottom of their game, failing upwards in spectacular fashion. Discover movies similar to Strange Wilderness that capture the vibe of a ragtag team failing spectacularly at their jobs. These comedies feature bumbling professionals, workplace chaos, and a desperate quest for relevance, perfect for fans of irreverent humor and stories about glorious incompetence.

  • incompetent
  • workplace comedy
  • farcical
  • desperate
  • goofy
  • slapstick
  • Tone: light, silly
  • Pacing: fast, mishap-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern revolves around a group barely holding onto their professional lives. Their attempts to salvage a failing project or achieve a goal are constantly undermined by their own laziness, stupidity, or bizarre priorities. The conflict is primarily internal, arising from the team's dynamic and their comical inability to perform basic tasks, leading to a series of workplace-themed disasters.

Why they belong together: This thread groups movies by the specific vibe of professional ineptitude. It's defined by a light tone, fast pacing fueled by constant failures, and a cast of characters who are endearing precisely because of their lack of skill, making their minor victories feel like monumental achievements.

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Every angle

Strange Wilderness (2008) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Strange Wilderness in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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