Not Your Typical Bigfoot Movie

Dallas Gilbert and Wayne Burton, friends from former steel town Portsmouth, OH, share the same dream: to prove that Bigfoot is real. Gilbert, a collector of Elvis memorabilia, doesn't care whether people call it Sasquatch, Yeti, Man of the Woods, or Skunk Ape; he's convinced the creature exists. As Gilbert says, “It's already been proven; it's just that society won't accept it,” and he's even sent copies of his photographs to the Discovery Channel and other science-related entities, but no one will buy them. Burton, a collector of eight-track cassettes, feels certain that if he and his research partner can provide definitive proof, “it's gonna take us right to the top.” As the documentary unfolds, it becomes clear that first-time director Jay Delaney is more concerned with his subjects' lives than their quixotic quest. When talking about his past, for instance, Burton states, “I'm a complete failure. I've never amounted to anything,” but as silly as his Bigfoot obsession might seem, it also gives his life purpose. Gilbert and Burton belong to a community of Bigfoot researchers throughout Appalachia who hold conventions and share sightings through websites and message boards, but their friendship faces a test when a national researcher comes to town, hoping to beat the two at their own game. Although a bit rough around the edges, this atypical Bigfoot movie is recommended. [Note: DVD extras include an audio commentary, the short film American Dream, deleted scenes, a guide to Bigfoot research, and a photo gallery. Bottom line: a solid extras package for an offbeat documentary.] (K. Fennessy)