New Film Reignites Bigfoot Debate

A documentary claims that the famous 1967 Bigfoot footage was staged, and reveals a rediscovered film showing a rehearsal of the trick. The new footage is unlikely to convince die-hard believers that the original is authentic.

Footage long considered proof of Bigfoot’s existence has a new explanation. The documentary Capturing Bigfoot claims that the famous footage shot by Roger Patterson and Robert “Bob” Gimlin was staged. To support the claim, director Mark Evans found a previously unknown film showing a rehearsal of the trick.

A Short Clip and a Long-Running Debate

On October 20, 1967, Patterson and Gimlin used a 16mm camera to shoot less than a minute of shaky, grainy video. It shows a figure believed to be Bigfoot walking through a forest in Northern California. Those who believe it was a hoax say a person in a costume was in front of the camera: the seven-foot-tall, fur-covered figure looks like someone taking part in a staged scene.

For many viewers, this explanation seemed obvious long ago. Bigfoot, like Nessie, the Yeti, the Jersey Devil and El Chupacabra, is considered a creature whose existence has not been confirmed. Yet the legend continued to attract attention. For nearly 60 years, those same 59 seconds have been analyzed and reviewed by cryptid enthusiasts and recognized experts alike—skeptics and committed believers in the Sasquatch.

Frame 352 from the Patterson–Gimlin film. Public domain.

Film of a Rehearsal

Capturing Bigfoot explores not only the origins of the footage, but also why it captivated the public in 1967 and continued to draw interest in the 21st century. At a time when distrust of authorities, science and visual evidence has reached high levels, the story of this clip has become part of a broader debate over which images can be trusted.

Variety describes the film in its review as an attempt to establish the truth once and for all. Evans discovered another reel of 16mm film: it shows a 40-second rehearsal of the famous hoax, shot in 1966. The reel had been kept in a safe for more than 50 years, and the footage had never before been shown to the public. According to the filmmakers, the recording is irrefutable proof that the 1967 footage was a carefully planned deception.

Capturing Bigfoot will arrive on Amazon Prime Video on October 20, the 59th anniversary of the release of Patterson and Gimlin’s original film.

Evidence and Belief

Even a convincing new discovery is unlikely to change the minds of the most devoted believers in the authenticity of the 1967 footage. In much the same way, scientific data and verifiable evidence do not always persuade people who believe in cryptids, UFOs or conspiracy theories.

Ultimately, the story comes down to two reels: according to the documentary, one records the staging, and the other its rehearsal. But which one counts as truthful evidence depends on whom you ask.