You know that feeling when you're scrolling through a streaming service at 11:00 PM and stumble upon a title that sounds like every other horror flick, but the poster just... sticks? That was Hoax back in 2019. It didn't have the $100 million marketing budget of a Marvel movie. It didn't have A-list superstars on every billboard. But the cast of Hoax 2019 brought a weird, gritty realism to a story about a Bigfoot hunt gone wrong that most "found footage" or creature features totally miss.
It’s been a few years. People are still finding this movie on Prime Video or Tubi and wondering, "Wait, where do I know that guy from?" or "Did that actress actually do her own stunts in the Colorado wilderness?"
Honestly, the production was a bit of a grind. They filmed at high altitudes. It was cold. It was messy. When you look at the cast of Hoax 2019, you aren't just looking at actors hitting marks; you’re looking at a group of seasoned character actors and genre icons who actually survived a grueling indie shoot to make something that feels more like a 70s exploitation film than a modern CGI mess.
The Heavy Hitters: Adrienne Barbeau and Ben Browder
If you grew up on John Carpenter movies, seeing Adrienne Barbeau’s name in the credits is basically a seal of quality. She plays Joan Cantrell in Hoax.
Barbeau is a legend. Period. Between The Fog, Escape from New York, and Swamp Thing, she’s the ultimate "Scream Queen" who actually knows how to act. In Hoax, she isn't just a cameo. She provides the gravitas. While the younger cast is running around the woods getting picked off, Barbeau anchors the film with a performance that feels lived-in. Since 2019, she hasn't slowed down. She’s been doing voice work for hit games like Fallout 76 and showed up in the Creepshow TV series. She remains the gold standard for how to transition from a 1980s star to a working, respected veteran in the 2020s.
Then you’ve got Ben Browder.
Most people know him as John Crichton from Farscape or Cameron Mitchell from Stargate SG-1. He’s the sci-fi king. In Hoax, he plays Rick Paxton. He’s the guy trying to keep the expedition from falling apart. Browder has this specific type of "exhausted hero" energy that works perfectly here. Since the movie came out, Browder has popped up in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (as the Sovereign Admiral) and continues to be a staple at fan conventions. He’s one of those actors who makes everything he’s in feel about 20% more believable just by being in the room.
Brian Thompson: The Man of a Thousand Faces
You might not know his name, but you definitely know Brian Thompson's jawline.
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He was the Alien Bounty Hunter in The X-Files. He was Shao Kahn in Mortal Kombat: Annihilation. He was even in Terminator. In Hoax, he plays Chief Singer. Thompson is basically the go-to guy when a director needs someone who looks like they could crush a bowling ball with their bare hands.
In this film, he brings a looming, physical presence. There’s a scene where he’s just standing there, and you realize that even if there isn’t a monster in the woods, Brian Thompson is plenty scary on his own. He’s recently been involved in projects like The Tragedy of Macbeth, proving that even the "tough guys" of 80s and 90s action cinema have serious range when given the chance.
The Investigative Team: Cheryl Texiera and Hutch Dano
While the veterans bring the name recognition, the heavy lifting of the plot falls on Cheryl Texiera and Hutch Dano.
Cheryl Texiera plays Dr. Ellen Simon.
She’s the skeptic.
The scientist.
The person who actually makes the "hoax" part of the title matter.
Texiera’s performance is great because she doesn't play the "damsel." She’s smart, she’s capable, and she’s arguably the most frustrated person on screen. Before Hoax, she was a regular on Girl Meets World (playing Katy Matthews), which is a wild jump from Disney Channel to a bloody horror movie. She’s since moved into more producing and writing, showing that a lot of the cast of Hoax 2019 used the film as a springboard for bigger creative control.
Hutch Dano plays Justin Johnson. If you were a kid in the late 2000s, he was Zeke in Zeke and Luther. Seeing him in a movie where people are getting dismembered is a bit of a trip. But he pulls it off. He plays the cameraman/producer type who is way over his head. Dano has actually carved out a really interesting niche in indie horror lately, appearing in films like Disappearance and Zombeavers. He’s got that "everyman" quality that makes him easy to root for, which is exactly what you need in a movie where everyone is potentially doomed.
Why the Casting Worked (and Why It Almost Didn't)
Director Matt Allen didn't just pick names out of a hat.
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The goal was to create a team that felt like a real, slightly dysfunctional TV crew. They spent time on location in Lake City, Colorado. This wasn't a soundstage in Burbank. When you see the actors breathing heavy and looking genuinely cold, it’s because they were at 9,000 feet elevation.
The chemistry between Shoshana Bush (who plays Bridgette) and the rest of the crew is what sells the tension. Bush, who some might remember from Dance Flick or On My Block, brings a vulnerability that contrasts with the "tough guy" personas of the older cast.
One of the biggest hurdles for the cast of Hoax 2019 was the physical nature of the shoot. There are no "safe" spots in the high Rockies. If you're an actor like Matt Riedy (who plays Roger Fowler), you’re dealing with unpredictable weather and thin air. Riedy is a pro—you’ve seen him in The Judge and Modern Family—and that professionalism is what kept the indie production from spiraling.
The Supporting Players You Might Miss
- Anthony Ray Parker: Plays Benny. He was Dozer in The Matrix. Talk about a career! Having a guy who was in one of the biggest sci-fi movies of all time play a supporting role in your Bigfoot movie is a massive flex.
- Christopher Judge: While primarily known for Stargate SG-1 (and more recently as the voice of Kratos in God of War), he has a connection to this circle of actors. While not a lead in Hoax, the "Stargate" DNA is all over this cast, which helped the actors bond on set.
- Shawn Sims: Played the actual creature (the "Brute"). Most people forget there's a human under all that makeup and fur. It’s a thankless job, but without a physically imposing actor in the suit, the movie falls flat.
Realism Over CGI: A Casting Choice
A lot of 2019 horror movies relied on bad digital effects. Hoax went the other way.
By hiring actors who have "weathered" faces—like Thompson and Browder—the film leans into a 1970s aesthetic. This wasn't about "pretty people" getting lost. It was about people with history. People with baggage.
The casting of Brian Thompson specifically changed the tone of the movie. Originally, the script could have gone a bit more "campy," but Thompson’s intensity forced the rest of the cast to level up. You can't phone it in when a guy that big is staring you down.
What Happened After the Credits Rolled?
Since the release, the cast of Hoax 2019 has gone in wildly different directions.
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Cheryl Texiera has become a massive advocate for independent film production.
Ben Browder is still a king of the "B-movie" and Sci-Fi circuit, recently appearing in I Am Not Dumitru.
Hutch Dano has transitioned into directing and writing his own projects.
The movie itself has found a second life. It’s a "sleeper hit." In the world of SEO and streaming algorithms, "Hoax 2019" is a search term that keeps popping up because the ending is so divisive. I won't spoil it here, but let's just say the cast had to play some very "hush-hush" roles during the final act to keep the twist under wraps.
How to Follow the Cast Today
If you actually liked the performances and want to see more, here is the move:
- Check out Ben Browder on the convention circuit. He’s incredibly open about his time on indie sets and loves talking about the transition from huge sets like Stargate to the mountains of Colorado.
- Follow Cheryl Texiera on social media. She’s very transparent about the "hustle" of being a working actor in Hollywood.
- Watch Adrienne Barbeau’s recent guest spots. Even in her 70s, she’s doing some of the best character work of her career.
The cast of Hoax 2019 is a perfect example of what happens when you mix "old school" Hollywood grit with "new school" indie ambition. They didn't have a massive budget, but they had actors who knew how to sell a scene.
If you're looking for more grit, check out the filmography of Brian Thompson. Start with Cobra (1986) and work your way forward. You'll see the evolution of a character actor who essentially became the backbone of the physical threat in Hoax. Also, if you’re a fan of the creature-feature genre, look into the practical effects team behind the film; they worked closely with the cast to ensure that the interactions with the "monster" felt visceral and real, not just added in post-production.
Basically, the movie works because the people in it decided to take a Bigfoot story seriously. That’s a rare thing.
Next Steps for Fans: Go back and re-watch the final twenty minutes of Hoax. Now that you know who these actors are and where they came from (Disney, Sci-Fi epics, 80s slashers), watch how their "types" are subverted. It makes the ending hit a lot harder. Afterward, look up Matt Allen's interviews on the making of the film to see the behind-the-scenes footage of the cast struggling through the Colorado snow—it adds a whole new layer of respect for what they pulled off.