BIGFOOT GIRL

BIGFOOT GIRL / CERT: E / DIRECTOR: JASON MILLS / STARRING: KIANA PASSMORE, TOM SEWID, JAMES TYSON / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW (US)

You may be mistaken in thinking from the title that this is some low budget schlock-horror monster movie. Fortunately, what we have is an engaging and intriguing documentary that follows a group going on the trial of the legendary Sasquatch on a remote location in Vancouver.

The titular female is Passmore, who saw something that can only be described as bigfoot as a child and has since become obsessed with finding out more and attempting to prove the existence of the ‘missing link’ in evolution. Joining her on the trip is Tyson, a parapsychologist who admits to be sceptical about a lot of things but is likewise interested in seeing what he can find.

The team meet up with Sewid, a Native Canadian Indian, who has a secret hideaway in the middle of the wilds of Vancouver Island. He comes across as an affable and knowledgeable gent and certainly tells a captivating tale and it’s hard not be swept along with his memories. He also displays a huge amount of respect for the creatures he’s encountered, even going as far as saying that he doesn’t want ‘man’s dirty diseases’ to get to the species and kill them off.

Peppered with talking head interviews with people who have claimed to have seen the big fella, this is a well-made and easy watch. None of the participants are made to look or appear to be crackpots, and the testimony is fascinating and quite often convincing.

Some dramatised footage illustrates some of the stories but the recollections would be equally effective thanks to the ominous music and the compelling nature of the content. It’s a shame that the crew spend so little time on the island as a longer period may have reaped bigger rewards.

Recommended for anyone with an interest in cryptozoology and the unexplained.