American Sasquatch: Man, Myth or Monster (Movie) Review

Missing 411’s Dave Paulides is back with American Sasquatch, a documentary that centers on the legendary Bigfoot.

Before we go any further, a disclosure. I am a fan of Paulides’ work, and have even donated to his latest Kickstarter. Though I don’t think that’s any different than reviewing a Halo game, and having bought previous titles in the series, I thought I’d mention it.

American Sasquatch

If you dabble in the realms of the paranormal, then you might well know the name Dave Paulides. After serving as a Police officer in California for decades, Paulides made the leap into the private sector. But instead of a destination, that career path led him in a wholly new and unique direction. Things took a turn for the odd when an employer asked the now-author to dig into a subject that was a little off center. And that, as you might’ve guessed, was the Bigfoot mystery.

Paulides went deep into the subject. Since the original days of his investigations, he has written several books on the subject, but didn’t stop there. Bigfoot turned into a gateway, leading to a whole new endeavor. To that end, he’s become one of the biggest (if not the biggest) names in the subject of missing people.

The interested can find a library of books from Paulides in that arena, with the Missing 411 series. And there’s more, with a content-loaded YouTube channel and a trio of films as well. There’s actually a fourth of those on the way too, with the just-Kickstarted Missing 411: National Parks. But before that new movie is even completed, he’s come back around to that big, shaggy guy.

American Sasquatch: Man, Myth or Monster, more or less seeks to tell a complete story. That means covering everything from the most iconic Bigfoot imagery, to the latest evidence.

Man, Myth, or Monster?

As noted above, American Sasquatch: Man, Myth or Monster sets up a bold premise. Its singular goal is pretty clearly to get as detailed into its subject as possible, complete with all the facts. Yes, facts. Though there are plenty of people who are well versed on it, there are many more who are probably looking at the previous sentence and wonder ‘what facts?’.

Well, get comfy dear readers. Because if you’re looking for compelling reasons to believe, this movie is has quite a few. And while there’s some theorizing done for sure, there’s also an encyclopedia of facts and information. The film delves into the whole of the issue in American Sasquatch, not just one angle. And as such, it explores both individual accounts and much more.

A deep dive into a complex topic

You might’ve heard the tales of hunters who’ve seen a Sasquatch, but what about First-Nations sources with generational knowledge? Have you heard from sitting members of Congress (Tim Burchett) on the topic? How about a skilled linguist who believes there’s an actual language being spoken in a famed audio recording?

Still not enough for you? What about footage showing a cloaked, Predator-like figure in the woods, and a DNA study that should arch the brow of anyone with an (actual) open mind?

All of that is, believe it or not, the more grounded elements in play, but the movie contains content that’s much more fringe as well. Orbs, UFOs, and dimensional-portals are all gone over and delved into. American Sasquatch: Man, Myth or Monster is packed with just about everything, and a little more.

It’s as close to a definitive exploration of the subject as you’re likely to find, and even surprised me in a few instances. As I mentioned in the lead-in, I like to think I’m pretty well versed, but killer teddy bears that faded into the ether was a new one for me. Yes, something very much like that is in American Sasquatch.

While it is loaded however, I did wish that some of the topics were more deeply covered. That’s kind of a necessary evil unfortunately, since if it was done the movie would’ve been hours longer. Still, the information present is so great that I just wanted more of it. I guess there’s room to grow for sure, if sequels are planned out for down the line.

High quality presentation

If you’ve seen some of the television docu-series’ that get into the paranormal, then you know how they tend to look and the tone they convey. Well, that’s not this. American Sasquatch: Man, Myth or Monster has a different look and feel, and holds a serious tone that can be rare in the genre.

The film is the opposite of over-produced too. And by that, I mean that you won’t find excessively over the top, dramatized segments included in it. Event the reenactments that are present are understated, and well done. American Sasquatch: Man, Myth or Monster feels more concerned with grounding the topic in reality and fact. For something like Bigfoot, that’s quite refreshing.

Don’t get me wrong, I like the aforementioned TV stuff too. Those shows can be a lot of fun, and even present some new twists and information at times. That said, it’s just cool to see something that goes the complete opposite direction. But be that as it may, this isn’t a dull flick.

The action shifts between locations heavily. So there’s always something interesting to look at and I never got bored. Aside from that, the film also rapidly mixes all of its different ingredients. There are limited recreations, real-footage, artwork, older and brand-new interviews, and some gorgeous nature shots of the terrain where Sasquatch have allegedly been seen. It’s a lot to take in, and the bulk of it is terrific.

Overall

Whether you’re into Bigfoot, UFOs, or the paranormal in general, there’s likely something in American Sasquatch: Man, Myth or Monster for you. The movie touches on so many disparate elements in its effort to present the facts of its topic, that it bridges various realms effortlessly.

It’s a terrific film that encapsulates not only the legend of Bigfoot, but the larger world that the creature might be a part of.

A copy of American Sasquatch: Man, Myth or Monster was provided for this review

American Sasquatch: Man, Myth or Monster
Release date: December 1st, 2025
Produced by: Dave Paulides, Henry Marx
Directed by: Gabe Torres