Bigfoot/Cryptozoology DVD Reviews Redux

Review: Ancient Mysteries: Bigfoot

Great and fair assessment of the subject matter, December 25, 2007

This documentary, originally aired in 1994 on A&E, was very well-done and was very fair as to its assessments of the Bigfoot Mystery. Luminaries in the Bigfoot field such as the late Dr. Grover Krantz, Peter Byrne, Scott Herriott, Al Hodgson and Roderick Sprague are interviewed about their research and their opinions on the hunt for these elusive creatures. Byrne was running the Bigfoot Research Project at that time out of Parkdale, Oregon, and is shown in the field investigating a sighting. Dr. Krantz is shown in his lab at Washington State University with his footprint casts and his Gigantopithecus model based on the jawbone of the mystery primate. Herriott's video (along with Darryl Owen's) are both shown, as is the Patterson/Gimlin Movie, with narration from Gimlin. Skeptical scientist John Crane is also interviewed about his opinions on the subject. This version is slightly different from the original, with Leonard Nimoy (In Search Of...) as the narrator, and some clips are edited a little differently, but overall it is the same one seen in 1994. It ends in Willow Creek, California during the Bigfoot Daze celebration with different townspeople giving their assessments of the reality of the creature, as well as the cultural influences Bigfoot has had through the years. I do recommend this documentary for anyone's Cryptozoology collection.

DVD Review: East Coast Bigfoot Conference 2004

This 3-Disc set is chock-full of terrific presentations from top Bigfoot and Paranormal researchers, some from Pennsylvania, others from as far away as California. Eric Altman, the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society Chairman, starts off the set with an overview of recent (at that time) activity in the Keystone State, featuring sightings and footprint finds, some of which are deemed hoaxes. Next, Daniel Perez gives an excellent presentation on the Patterson/Gimlin Movie, even inviting a 6'4" man up to attempt to duplicate "Patty's" walk (which the man attempts rather clumsily but does not measure up to the creature in the film). Rounding out Disc 1 are two short interviews with Perez and Altman, as well as a photo presentation of investigations by the PBS and Pennsylvania Researchers Organization (PRO) into different hotspots of activity. Disc 2 has two excellent presentations, first one by Bigfoot/Paranormal researcher Travis McHenry, who explains that he is not of the opinion that Bigfoot is paranormal, but believes people may be seeing ghosts of Bigfoot in SOME cases, and also that Bigfoot is not necessarily connected to UFOs just because a person sees a BF coming out of a spacecraft. Mike Frizzell of the Enigma Project gives an excellent presentation on some investigations he and his group conducted into activity in New Jersey and Georgia, the Georgia activity taking place over 40 years ago. William Dranginis is shown next giving a tour of his Bigfoot RV and the equipment he uses in the field. Disc 2 rounds out with interviews with McHenry and Frizzell and a photo gallery of the Conference. Disc 3 has two excellent presentations on ghosts by Rick Fisher and Rosemary Ellen Guiley, interviews with the two of them and the trailer for the DVD. The entire set is professionally done from top to bottom, absolutely top-notch, and all the speakers are clear and concise. Craig Hines did an absolutely excellent job on this entire set, and should be commended. EXCELSIOR!!!!!!

DVD Review: Spotlight on The Patterson/Gimlin Film: The M.K. Davis Theory

This documentary, produced by John Johnsen (Keeping The Watch) and M.K. Davis is very well-produced and professionally done. The first 10-15 minutes is devoted to different film stocks and the resolution which can come from each. Chromatic Aberration is also discussed. The theories and enhancements of Davis are shown next, with full explanations as to all of them, such as the humanness of the creature, humanlike lips, the explanation for the alleged saggital crest and other theoretical assessments on the possible humanity of "Patty." There is also a possibility of more than one creature being seen in the film as well. The historical perspective and possible origins of the Pacific Northwest Bigfoot is also discussed. M.K. also reads the preamble to his upcoming book he is writing on these theories and the history behind them. I do recommend this documentary if for nothing else, as a conversation piece. I would give it 3 1/2 out of four stars.

DVD Review: Keeping the Watch

This documentary is about six independent researchers, and it's a good one. John L. Johnsen interviews, edits, produces and directs this hour-long documentary, which follows Dan Jackson of Florida, former researcher, talking about his foray into Skunk Ape research (he is now retired from research due to a terrifying experience he had with a creature); M.K. Davis of Mississippi is profiled next, discussing his groundbreaking work into the Patterson/Gimlin film; Chanda (no last name) discusses her habituation research in Missouri, which seems to be controversial to some, but may be credible; Carol Solomon, also of Florida, who describes a dead cow she found which the buzzards wouldn't touch, as well as strange tree and grass formations she has found in her area; David Shealy of Florida, controversial researcher (and possible hoaxer) discusses his activity and research into the Skunk Ape. Lloyd Pye is interviewed last, regarding hominoids such as Bigfoot, Yeti, Almas and other mystery primates all around the world. He gives his uncensored opinions of these events. This is a well-done and well-researched documentary, and well-worth purchasing. It can be purchased at

Grendel Films

DVD Review: Hunt The Dogman

This is a truly creepy, unusual and well-done documentary, from John Johnsen and Grendel Films (Keeping The Watch, Spotlight On The Patterson/Gimlin Film: The M.K. Davis Theory). It begins with a look at a property where a house once stood in the state of Kentucky, which was the residence of Dogman researcher Barton Nunnelly, who tells of sightings of hairy creatures and black panthers in the area. It switches next to an interview with Bart's mother, Rose Jenkins, who describes some encounters she has had with a large half-man, half-dog creature, including a sighting she had through her window as a girl where she saw a creature with a white shirt on. Next, an individual only known as "Roy" is given an extensive interview in which he describes encounters he has had with the unusual creature, including a heart attack and near-death experience he had. He also says he saw a portal of some sort which the creatures could travel in and out of between dimensions, and also claims that the creatures communicated with him telepathically. Next, famed Dogman researcher Linda Godfrey is interviewed about her impressions of these beasts in Wisconsin and Michigan, as well as Texas, Alabama, Florida and other states. Next, a piece of footage known as the "Gable FIlm" is shown and examined, and is apparently being examined by M.K. Davis, who is extremely disturbed by it according to Johnsen. The film shows a large doglike individual running towards the cameraman, and we see a set of canine teeth bite down on the camera lens. The film is in the hands of an individual named Steve Cook, who has declared it a hoax. Next, an individual named Jan Thompson is interviewed about her encounters at Land Between The Lakes, also in the Bluegrass State, as well as a mysterious murder of an entire family in the area which allegedly took place in the early-'80's. Finally, night footage of a stakeout is shown, with no results. This is a very top-notch documentary, and carries on in the tradition of Johnsen's other two documentaries. I give this one 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

DVD Review: The Legend of The Honey Island Swamp Monster

This documentary, produced by author Dana Holyfield, granddaughter of Harlan Ford, who claimed to have seen a mysterious creature in the Honey Island Swamp area of Louisiana, is a good assessment of the activity going on in that area. There are several eyewitness accounts given, as well as track discoveries which take place during filming. Lloyd Pye is also interviewed giving his opinions and assessments of what the creature could be and also his opinion of one of the track casts, and also there is a visit to Ricky Hollifield (no relation) who shows the shoe that he showed to M.K. Davis and Jay Michael when they shot their documentary, but Holyfield points out that the casts she has are larger than the resin cast maker. Near the end of the documentary, there is a hunt for the creature in which we can hear it seemingly screaming, and a group of teens are partying with loud music going when they hear the screaming and decide to beat feet. Within the last few minutes of the documentary, a piece of film is shown of what could be the creature, but it is behind a grove of trees so it is really hard to tell. There is an enhancement shown of the film as well, but it sadly is no clearer. I would give this one oh, about a 4 out of 5 stars. I liked it.