A new documentary, ‘Capturing Bigfoot’, has emerged, shaking the foundations of the legendary Sasquatch narrative. For decades, the 1967 Patterson-Gimlin film—often touted as conclusive proof of the creature’s existence—has captivated audiences worldwide. However, filmmaker Marq Evans reveals that newly discovered footage could change the discussion surrounding Bigfoot entirely, suggesting that the iconic film is, in fact, a “remarkable hoax”.
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The Patterson-Gimlin film, which spans merely 59 seconds, has been viewed by billions of people and has played a pivotal role in fostering the multimillion-pound Bigfoot industry. In the original footage, an enormous creature nicknamed “Patty” is seen walking through a forest near Bluff Creek, California. Evans commented on the impact of the film, stating, “It truly captured the imagination of billions over the past six decades.”
The original footage, taken by Roger Patterson and his companion Robert Gimlin, has been a subject of intense scrutiny by experts from various fields, including biology and film studies. Despite extensive analysis, no conclusive evidence has previously emerged to declare the film as fabricated. That was until Evans received a significant email in June 2024 from Teresa Brooks, an instructor at Olympic College.
Brooks contacted Evans after finding a canister of 16mm film that had been stored for over fifty years after her father, Norm Johnson, passed away. Intriguingly, Johnson had been involved in the film department at Boeing and had connections to the infamous Patterson and Gimlin duo through his brother. Upon investigating, Evans discovered that Brooks’ father had developed the original Patterson-Gimlin film, which had taken the world by storm upon its release.
Evans shared that Brooks’ mother had locked away the film because of her suspicions that her husband was connected to a hoax. “She feared that Norm might get into trouble for his involvement in the project,” he explained. Following the advice of Brooks, Evans developed the canister and was astonished to find a 40-second clip filmed in 1966, which depicted what appeared to be a slightly thinner creature resembling Bigfoot.
What’s more, as Evans delved deeper, he deduced that this footage was essentially a trial run for what would later become the infamous 1967 film. He asserted, “This new footage represented a rehearsal that had never been discarded.” This revelation reignited the intrigue surrounding the initial film’s authenticity, propelling Evans to create a documentary that could potentially challenge longstanding beliefs about Bigfoot.
While piecing together the story, he spoke to residents of Yakima, Washington, where the Pattison-Gimlin film was created. His conversations led him to Bob Heironimus, who confessed to donning a costume to portray Bigfoot in the film. This unexpected admission provided significant momentum to Evans’s claims.
Interestingly, Evans discovered that Roger Patterson’s family was more open to discussing the film than he had anticipated. Patterson’s son, Clint, who had previously learned of the film’s fraudulent nature from his mother, was keen to share. Evans recalled Clint’s perspective, stating, “The lie had been hard on him, and he was ready to get out from under it.” This discussion unveiled an emotional layer to the story, revealing the tragic circumstances surrounding Patterson’s life.
The circumstances of the filming resonate even deeper; it was revealed that Patterson, who was already terminally ill in 1967, believed in the existence of Bigfoot and wished to leave behind a lasting legacy that could support his family. Evans explained, “He was leaving his wife and three children, looking for a way to provide for them financially after he was gone.”
Intriguingly, the final piece of the mystery involves the Bigfoot suit used in the film. Clint Patterson recounted an event where he witnessed his father burning the suit in a barrel, casting doubt on any remaining claims of authenticity regarding the creature.
As for the impact of ‘Capturing Bigfoot’, Evans suspects that it may be difficult for some people to reconcile evidence of a hoax with their long-held beliefs in the creature’s existence. “We aimed to focus on the story behind the Patterson film, not to disprove Bigfoot,” he stated. “However, for many who have personal histories and beliefs tied to this legend, it may be challenging to accept the new findings as fact.”
The documentary is set to premiere at the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film and TV Festival, where it will be screened until March 16, 2026. While Evans hopes the film will offer new perspectives on the debated history of Bigfoot, only time will tell how audiences will respond to this revelation.