Sasquatch

Sasquatch from Hulu, released in 2021, is a riveting blend of true crime and unsolved mystery genres, embedded with a significant amount of folklore and urban legend mythology. Directed by Joshua Rofé, the gripping documentary miniseries peels back the layers of an intriguing Northern California tale involving the purported involvement of a legendary creature - the Sasquatch or Bigfoot - in a grisly, unresolved triple homicide in the 1990s.

Spread across a trifecta of densely-packed episodes, the series tracks the path of investigative journalist David Holthouse as he dives head-first into the myth-shrouded wilderness of the Pacific Northwest's "Emerald Triangle," notorious as America's number one marijuana-growing region. The Emerald Triangle, with its vast forests and rugged terrain, has always provided a haven for counterculture dropouts, law-evaders, and even people purporting to be Bigfoot researchers. Hence, it forms the perfect backdrop for Holthouse's investigation.

Holthouse has made a significant mark in investigative journalism, often embedding himself covertly within dangerous subcultures to expose hidden truth. In 'Sasquatch,' his haunting past brush with a gruesome, unsolved crime story, one that has ensnared his mind for over twenty-five years, drives him back into the wilderness. His mission: to separate fact from folklore and unravel the truth about the "Bigfoot murders."

The series harnesses a pretty unconventional yet captivating premise: the murder of three men not by human perpetrators but by a legendary creature believed by some to prowl the woods of Northern California. This premise sets the tone for an out-of-the-ordinary narrative, firmly placing 'Sasquatch' outside of traditional true-crime parameters and into a melded zone of unconventional investigation, layered narrative non-fiction, and myth-dissecting expedition.

'Sasquatch' showcases a unique potency in the combination of genuine human interest storytelling, dark humor, and pop-culture fascination. Throughout its run, the miniseries presents a vivid array of characters, like hardened growers, self-proclaimed Sasquatch hunters, and unique rural inhabitants, each contributing to the overall story and adding to the series' mysterious ambiance.

What makes this Hulu miniseries an intriguing watch is its treatment of the subject matter. Rather than dismissing the believability of Bigfoot offhand, 'Sasquatch' takes a more nuanced tack. The series attempts to penetrate beneath the surface, inviting viewers to ponder on the sociobiological and psychological factors that cultivate beliefs in fantastical entities like the Bigfoot. It reflects an exploration of human behaviors, perceptions of reality, and the lengths to which legends and lore can influence our understanding and fear of the unknown.

Masterfully balancing between the literal and metaphorical, the series delves deeper into the heart of the forest and human fears, making viewers question if the Sasquatch is a real entity or a metaphor for the brutal and lawless culture of the region.

Working alongside this larger-than-life premise, 'Sasquatch' teases out the themes of fear, isolation, and violence that drive the lore and legends of an area as enigmatic as the Emerald Triangle. The unique atmosphere of the region, imbued with paranoia and menace, serves to amplify these themes.

In terms of execution, the series deftly combines interviews, narration, and animation to convey the plot's varied textures and moods. The illustrations, for example, bring the lore to life, presenting a visual rendition of the fear and intimidation that Bigfoot represents for many.

The series is also boosted by the extraordinary cinematography, capturing both the breathtaking vistas and menacing obscurity of Northern California's forests. This visual narrative, punctuated by moments of eerie silence and suggestive noise, amplifies the overall sense of suspense, painting a picture of the forest as an entity of both awe-inspiring majesty and intense dread.

Overall, 'Sasquatch' isn’t just a series about Bigfoot - it's a deep dive into the disconcerting depths of myth, deception, fear, desperation, and human credulity. It’s a sly commentary on our collective fascination with myths and our need to humanize those things we can’t easily explain. It’s an exploration of the murky line between the ordinary and extraordinary, reality and fantasy, and the personal and public intrigues surrounding a region imbued with folklore, counterculture, and mystery.