On the Trail of Bigfoot: The Discovery is a documentary that follows The Olympic Project and their “discovery” of finding structures along a ridge. Some of the group believes these defy logic and point at being nests or massive beds made by Bigfoot. Throughout the film, we’ll hear not only the theories behind these “nest sites” but also some peoples personal encounters with what they believe to be the elusive being.

Sasquatch or Bigfoot is a cryptid that’s known all throughout the world. Even more so in the pacific northwest of the United States. Countless people have tried to get definitive proof of its existence, and yet there has been nothing beyond glimpses or muddled footprints of what could be the elusive creature. In Northern Washington there is a group that was formed for the sole reason of getting that concrete evidence. The Olympic Project, which operates out of the Olympic Peninsula, hence the name, believes they may have found the confirmation people have been looking for.

Documentaries usually fall into two categories. They teach you about something you’re interested in or shed new light on a subject, as is the case with Planet Earth or Ghosts of the Abyss. On the other hand, they could also just be seen as an echo chamber and as affirmation to what you already think. On the Trail of Bigfoot: The Discovery fall into the latter. Ultimately if you are a sceptic, you won’t be presented with evidence that will make you change your mind. It’s clear that the crew and members of the group stand by what they are doing. Even if the “definitive evidence” is anything but definitive.

From a technical standpoint, On the Trail of Bigfoot: The Discovery stands out. The lush backdrop of the Pacific Northwest is on full display. It really is a sight to behold. The interviews are clear and easy to hear also. Small Town Monsters has the talent and skill when it comes to putting all this together, that much isn’t up for debate.

Reviewing documentaries can be tough as there is a certain amount of disconnect needed so the reviewers’ personal views doesn’t muddle the view of the film in question. This is where I found myself, while I could see that on the technical side of things, this is a well-made movie. But when it comes to subject matter, I found it lacking. The questions asked were pointed to a specific direction and the evidence presented throughout is shaky at best and pareidolia at worst.

On the Trail of Bigfoot: The Discovery is entertaining if anything else. And if you are interested in cryptids and what goes into researching them, this isn’t a bad film to check out. With that said, if you’re a sceptic or want an unbiased look into the search for Sasquatch, then your hunt continues. If you fall somewhere in the middle, it’s hard for me to recommend this but if you REALLY want to watch a documentary about Bigfoot, you could do a lot worse.

4 out of 10