My Bigfoot Life, 2025.
Directed by Monika Gergelova and Daniel Lee Barnett.
Featuring Daniel Lee Barnett, Jeffrey Meldrum, James Fay, Ronnie Leblanc, Ranae Holland, Craig Lee Barnett, and Ryan Golembeske.
SYNOPSIS:
Documentary following the cryptozoologist exploits of a gifted autistic teen as he travels to the great outdoors in search of both Bigfoot and a greater understanding of the social networks of friends and family.
A charming documentary, My Bigfoot Life explores how people with passionate interests live with the challenges of autism and the vital role that friends and family play in making life that little bit easier.
The film focuses on Daniel Lee Barnett, a smart boy who happens to be living with autism, which impacts all of his life experiences. As a young child he suffered from selective mutism, a condition that meant he was completely unable to communicate. Any sort of social interaction would result in him shutting down entirely.
Daniel eloquently explains on camera the various things that can help with his condition, one of which is being in the heart of nature. Growing up in the southwest of England, close to the Somerset countryside, certainly had its benefits for the boy as he searched for signs of myths and legends deep in the woods. After discovering some strange, large footprints while walking with his grandmother, Daniel wrote to DNA analysis companies. One got back to him and offered to test the environmental content around the footprint for free. It came back with some indications of dog, squirrel, and… drum roll please… ancient ape.
Daniel soon gained expert status on the legendary humanoid creature of Bigfoot. The hard-working and persistent youngster quickly racked up thousands of followers on his YouTube channel and podcast. Daniel, who also co-directed the documentary, is certainly an impressive individual who has fought back against the symptoms of his diagnosis brilliantly. The film also shows him delivering a speech to 3,000 fellow Bigfoot investigators, something that many would have doubted was possible given his health history.
A key point in the film is when a group of fellow Bigfoot investigators from America’s Pacific Northwest—also known as Bigfoot Country—invite Daniel over to do some research in the woods. This dream opportunity nearly doesn’t happen, as Daniel has serious nerves and anxiety about aeroplane travel. Fundamental to Daniel’s continued love of life are his family—represented in the film by his father, Craig, who is fully supportive of his son’s passion for Bigfoot research. The friends and colleagues that Daniel has made through his work are also central.
An inspiring film that shows how one person’s life is improved by working with friends on a shared passion, the piece delves into the mystery and makes sure it burns bright in the dark of the woods. While it is undoubtedly a passion project, and those seeking a more balanced narrative on whether Sasquatch really is out there will need to look elsewhere, this is nevertheless a well-produced documentary with curiosity and humanity at its core.
Flickering Myth Rating – Film: ★ ★ ★ / Movie: ★ ★ ★
Robert W Monk
