My Bigfoot Life is a touching documentary exploring how passion creates community, allowing one’s true self to shine. It’s a piece that is as much about the highs and lows of growing up as it is about finding evidence of the unknown.
★★★★☆
My Bigfoot Life follows the story of Daniel Lee Barnet, a cryptozoologist, podcaster, researcher and author exploring evidence of Bigfoot in the UK and US. He is also 15 years old.
The documentary is both a heartwarming and uplifting piece of work, narrating Daniel’s life as he attends night expeditions to seek out clues of Bigfoot’s whereabouts and scientific evidence of the unknown in southwest England. The film is at its strongest when it depicts Daniel’s passion for cryptozoology and the community he has subsequently found through this passion. It emphasises how loved Daniel is, both by his family and the Bigfoot community, as they encourage him to pursue his interests to the fullest of his ability.
Daniel also has autism, which comes with its strengths and challenges. We are provided with some insight into how it has helped him to become the person he is today, fueling his determination to do the thing that he loves the most—investigating Bigfoot with like-minded individuals. He is portrayed as brave, inquisitive and a caring young boy. Yet the documentary also shows the more difficult side of operating in a neurotypical society as someone with autism, the realities of having to constantly mask just to get through the day. The directors do an excellent job of allowing Daniel’s perspective to be understood.
This is not a typical run-of-the-mill Bigfoot documentary—it doesn’t just exist for the thrill of catching Bigfoot on screen, instead highlighting how the shared community of believers experience the ecstasy of finding evidence of a great mystery that has such a hold on our culture. Beyond that, it shows how passion should be nurtured and encouraged in children and teenagers. Engagement with interests are instrumental to self-actualisation.
The film also speaks to the importance of engaging with nature, rather than just spending hours inside, scrolling. Daniels’ route in life is unconventional—most teenagers spend five days a week at school, while he is encouraged to explore the world and find his own adventures—but it’s a route that brings him happiness.
The Verdict
My Bigfoot Life is a well-done documentary connecting the intersections of cryptozoology, neurodivergence and community. My Bigfoot Life reveals some of the mysteries of Bigfoot’s existence but, more importantly, reminds us of the importance of following our passions.
Words by Ayomide Asani
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