Cryptozoology Archives | Otaku No Culture

The Siege of Ape Canyon 100 Years Later: Rediscovering the Gold, Grit, and Ghosts of Bigfoot’s Most Famous Encounter

Cougar, Washington—the gateway to Mount St. Helens—anchors this century-old legend. Director Eli Watson’s film revisits the Siege of Ape Canyon through surviving family memories and quiet reflection, honouring how this local mystery became part of Pacific Northwest folklore.

Coming to VOD Nov 11
AppleTV, Google Play, and YouTube

Although the gold rush was technically over, a handful of prospectors — Fred Beck, Marion Smith, Roy Smith, Gabe Lafever, and John Peterson — believed there was gold to be found in The Siege of Ape Canyon. This area near Mount St. Helens was still relatively unexplored in the 1920s; little did these men know it was also home to creatures of legend. Mass sightings of Bigfoot did not begin in earnest until after their encounter. And even after the eruption of the volcano, speculation remains rife about how many survived—or whether any did.

While Indigenous lore regarding the Sasquatch receives little emphasis in this documentary, what director Eli Watson presents is a focused examination of how the legend has gained notoriety. Producer Seth Breedlove (Small Town Monsters) backs a production that privileges storytelling and folklore over rigorous anthropological framing.

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My Bigfoot Life and the Owlman Problem

My Bigfoot Life aims to explore one man’s entry into the Bigfoot hunting community, but it falters in execution. While Daniel Lee Barnett’s passion is undeniable, staged moments and questionable “evidence” weaken the documentary’s credibility. The result works better as a personal story of determination than as serious cryptid research.

Now Playing in Select UK Cinemas
Spoiler Alert

Although My Bigfoot Life is framed as a story about joining a larger community of cryptid hunters, I couldn’t help but feel something was missing. Somerset, UK, is steeped in supernatural folklore, and the film barely nods to it. Glastonbury Tor—long linked to King Arthur’s burial—and the Beast of Exmoor are famous fixtures of local legend. Including them would have rooted Barnett’s journey in a much richer cultural backdrop. Instead, the focus shifts away from a giant cat to the “world’s number one ape” (sorry, Kong).

I can’t fault directors Daniel Lee Barnett and Monika Gergelova for wanting to make their mark. This seems to be Barnett’s first feature-length project, and while the effort is obvious, the execution falters. Although his father is far more emotional about supporting his son’s endeavours, it’s best to take some moments in this documentary with a grain of salt. I recommend checking out his better-produced podcast, Mythical Legends.

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When These Cursed Waters Aren’t As Scary. Why Do We Love The Creature of Lake Okanagan?

Now available to view on Prime Video (USA) and purchase on the official website.

Small Town Monsters is taking a break by doing something different. Instead of searching for Bigfoot in Cursed Waters: Creature of Lake Okanagan, they are investigating the legends and recent sightings of Ogopogo! This creature that’s the mascot of Kelowna, British Columbia has been sighted several times in recent years, and it seems that’s holding steady.

Ever since it was “discovered” as early as 1872 (by settlers), and perhaps longer by indigenous tribes, what makes this documentary compelling is with what locals believe it represents. This work is better because what’s presented here differs from what Josh Gates offered when he visited back in 2009 (with the episode airing in 2010), and also the TV series Monster Quest.

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After Sasquatch Sunset, Perhaps It’s Best Not To Go Camping After All

Some people may prefer to stay indoors and avoid going camping in the Pacific Northwest after watching Sasquatch Sunset lest they want a Bigfoot Encounter!

Sasquatch Sunset Movie Poster I’m sure primatologists and cryptozoologists will say Sasquatch Sunset has the facts wrong. And when there’s no conclusive study, to guess at how they survived for this long is anybody’s game. But if you ask writer/directors Nathan and David Zellner about how their society works, what they offer is a movie designed to gross out rather than provide a proper look at.

The type of movie they made is a comedy of errors. Unlike those looks at Bigfoot culture you see on YouTube or History Channel, where it often feels like a Blair Witch film, what’s presented is very South Park. And the fact that Jesse Eisenberg, Riley Keough, and Christophe Zajac-Denek are convincing enough as hairy apes says something. There’s some humanity to be seen through the eyes, the only thing visible behind all that fur. But as for anything else, to understand this film requires a willingness to put up with these performers being very crude for the camera.

One positive thing I can mention is that it doesn’t intentionally try to scare. Had indigenous lore inspired this work and played more about the role between man and this culture, I’d enjoy this film more. After watching Kryptic (movie review), I’d put my money on this film than this one.

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[Fantasia 2024] The Search for Kryptic, or Should That Be “Who You Are?”

July 22, 2024 6:15 PM Salle J.A. De Sève
July 24, 2024 12:15 PM Salle J.A. De Sève

Art photographer-turned-filmmaker Kourtney Roy has a film that explores the stranger side of life and cryptozoology. And when she makes her stamp on Kryptic quite surreal, if not erotic, I’m quite curious. Also, when this movie takes place in Southern British Columbia, where I live, I have to take an interest!

I find nothing wrong with making a film with some suggestive pornographic elements. And that’s because of what’s presented. This film isn’t too different from Sasquatch Sunset, to which I’ll post a review later this week.

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[Fantasia 2024] In Ant Simpson’s Bookworm, It’s A Big, Big World

In this family film about bonds lost, it eventually get stitched back together. Bookworm is a fantastic Kiwi film about why “Fellowship” matters.

Bookworm Movie Poster — **Coming to theatres Fall/Winter 2024**

World Debut at
Fantasia Film Festival 2024
Thu July 18, 2024 6:30 PM
Auditorium des diplômés
de la SGWU (Théâtre Hall)

Elijah Wood must have enjoyed playing Strawn Wise, a has-been stage magician, in Bookworm. This hilarious family film by Ant Simpson sees him doing what I feel is his best Johnny Depp impression as a misfit father from America trying to do what’s right. Technically, Mildred (Nell Fisher is perfect in this role) takes the lead in this New Zealand adventure comedy, as she has a know-it-all attitude despite having lived a rather sheltered life. True to this film’s namesake, she’s a nerd.

And that’s not the reason Wise abandoned her. Although the backstory felt very compressed, I’ll be watching this film again as soon as it hits theatres later this year. That’s because I want to know how he heard about his wife getting ill. As for showing up out of the blue, he’ll have to convince more than one guardian that he’ll do what’s right.

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