(NOTE: The following review will contain minor spoilers necessary solely for the discussion of plot and/or characters. If you’re the type of reader who prefers a review entirely spoiler-free, then I’d encourage you to skip down to the last few paragraphs for the final assessment. If, however, you’re accepting of a few modest hints at ‘things to come,’ then read on …)
From the film’s IMDB.com page citation:
“Centuries of reports of hair-covered creatures roaming Alaska have been uncovered. Yet, beyond the mysterious apelike animals that haunt the forests of the 49th state there exist numerous legends of horrific beings that blur the line between Bigfoot and something else. Something with a far darker agenda. Now, eyewitnesses and experts alike recount stories that will chill you to your bone. Stories that tie Bigfoot-like creatures to tales of mountain giants, and even missing people.”
Unlike many others, I don’t think one has to be an anthropologist, geneticist, or some other specialist to be fascinated with the topic of Bigfoot.
Frankly, they’re the stuff of legends from around the world as stories stretch back hundreds of years (into lore and beyond) of sightings and/or encounters with … well … with something big and hairy and unrecognizable. I’m honestly a bit more surprised that experts haven’t invested the time and scholarship to explaining how there can be so many similar ‘myths’ from around the world which defy conventional explanation. Even a cursory examination might suggest that something could be lurking in the wilds out there; if not Bigfoot, then what? And why won’t civilized minds go to lengths necessary to provide an explanation that’s both reasonable and rationally?
That’s why I have so much respect for the folks like Seth Breedlove and Small Town Monsters. They’re still trying to fill that gap between what’s known and unknown on a good handful of topics. Instead of treating the folks who’ve experienced these sightings with the usual scorn and ridicule, they hear them out. They collect data. They continue to seek out and explore some of the more bizarre phenomena that mainstream outlets practically refuse to exist. While that’s a sad commentary on our world-at-large, Breedlove and his collaborators deserve a modicum of respect for, at least, doing their due diligence with only the slim hope of uncovering the smoking gun.
Land Of The Missing plumbs the backwoods of Alaska, where literally thousands of people have either vanished or gone missing over the years. Any time there’s a vast region of unexplored territory, I think it goes without saying that many of these who disappeared have likely fallen victim to some of our planet’s harshest predators, but what about those who return with stories of what they saw out there? In this respect, Land Of The Missing feels a bit light on substance – there are only a handful of actual accounts in here, leaving the bulk of the incidents being stories only heard about and/or passed along by others. Hopefully, that won’t dissuade the crew from keeping their eyes peeled for more, as I’m quite certain there has to be more to discuss than these fateful few.
Don’t get me wrong: Missing does have one of Small Town Monsters finest accounts involving a trio out in the wild who discover that their small shack is not enough to keep what sounded like a small tribe of Bigfoot (Bigfeet?) terrorizing them up close and personal. It’s an incredible story – one that has clearly shaken the teller to his core – and I wish that there were more of that in here. A bit more digging – along with time for others to come forward – might prove that a further, more expansive feature is warranted. Until that time, this’ll have to do.
On The Trail Of Bigfoot: Land Of The Missing (2023) was produced by Small Town Monsters. According to a quick search of Google.com as of this morning, the film is available for purchase on Blu-ray or DVD from the Small Town Monsters website or is available to view via streaming on multiple VOD and other digital platforms. As for the technical specifications? While I’m no trained video expert – and having seen a good handful of Small Town Monsters’ productions – I can assure you that Breedlove and his crew keep getting better and better at capturing these environments as Land Of The Missing boasts some very picturesque cinematography of the 49th state. Lastly, as for the special features? Since I viewed this via streaming, there were no special features under consideration.
Recommended.
Like so many who so desperately want to believe in the issues of High Strangeness, it’s hard to make all that much of Land Of The Missing (2023). While Breedlove fills the screen with some of the best cinematography yet alongside some of the more interesting anecdotal tales, there still isn’t enough food on the table to make a full meal. There’s no denying the clout behind Small Town Monsters – they’re arguably producing some of the best documentaries still searching for answers from the realms of fringe events – but this one needed a bit more focus in order to truly rise above.
In the interests of fairness, I’m pleased to disclose that the fine folks at Small Town Monsters provided me with complimentary streaming access to On The Trail Of Bigfoot: Land Of The Missing by request for the expressed purpose of completing this view. Their contribution to me in no way, shape, or form influenced my opinion of it.
-- EZ
From the film’s IMDB.com page citation:
“Centuries of reports of hair-covered creatures roaming Alaska have been uncovered. Yet, beyond the mysterious apelike animals that haunt the forests of the 49th state there exist numerous legends of horrific beings that blur the line between Bigfoot and something else. Something with a far darker agenda. Now, eyewitnesses and experts alike recount stories that will chill you to your bone. Stories that tie Bigfoot-like creatures to tales of mountain giants, and even missing people.”
Unlike many others, I don’t think one has to be an anthropologist, geneticist, or some other specialist to be fascinated with the topic of Bigfoot.
Frankly, they’re the stuff of legends from around the world as stories stretch back hundreds of years (into lore and beyond) of sightings and/or encounters with … well … with something big and hairy and unrecognizable. I’m honestly a bit more surprised that experts haven’t invested the time and scholarship to explaining how there can be so many similar ‘myths’ from around the world which defy conventional explanation. Even a cursory examination might suggest that something could be lurking in the wilds out there; if not Bigfoot, then what? And why won’t civilized minds go to lengths necessary to provide an explanation that’s both reasonable and rationally?
That’s why I have so much respect for the folks like Seth Breedlove and Small Town Monsters. They’re still trying to fill that gap between what’s known and unknown on a good handful of topics. Instead of treating the folks who’ve experienced these sightings with the usual scorn and ridicule, they hear them out. They collect data. They continue to seek out and explore some of the more bizarre phenomena that mainstream outlets practically refuse to exist. While that’s a sad commentary on our world-at-large, Breedlove and his collaborators deserve a modicum of respect for, at least, doing their due diligence with only the slim hope of uncovering the smoking gun.
Land Of The Missing plumbs the backwoods of Alaska, where literally thousands of people have either vanished or gone missing over the years. Any time there’s a vast region of unexplored territory, I think it goes without saying that many of these who disappeared have likely fallen victim to some of our planet’s harshest predators, but what about those who return with stories of what they saw out there? In this respect, Land Of The Missing feels a bit light on substance – there are only a handful of actual accounts in here, leaving the bulk of the incidents being stories only heard about and/or passed along by others. Hopefully, that won’t dissuade the crew from keeping their eyes peeled for more, as I’m quite certain there has to be more to discuss than these fateful few.
Don’t get me wrong: Missing does have one of Small Town Monsters finest accounts involving a trio out in the wild who discover that their small shack is not enough to keep what sounded like a small tribe of Bigfoot (Bigfeet?) terrorizing them up close and personal. It’s an incredible story – one that has clearly shaken the teller to his core – and I wish that there were more of that in here. A bit more digging – along with time for others to come forward – might prove that a further, more expansive feature is warranted. Until that time, this’ll have to do.
On The Trail Of Bigfoot: Land Of The Missing (2023) was produced by Small Town Monsters. According to a quick search of Google.com as of this morning, the film is available for purchase on Blu-ray or DVD from the Small Town Monsters website or is available to view via streaming on multiple VOD and other digital platforms. As for the technical specifications? While I’m no trained video expert – and having seen a good handful of Small Town Monsters’ productions – I can assure you that Breedlove and his crew keep getting better and better at capturing these environments as Land Of The Missing boasts some very picturesque cinematography of the 49th state. Lastly, as for the special features? Since I viewed this via streaming, there were no special features under consideration.
Recommended.
Like so many who so desperately want to believe in the issues of High Strangeness, it’s hard to make all that much of Land Of The Missing (2023). While Breedlove fills the screen with some of the best cinematography yet alongside some of the more interesting anecdotal tales, there still isn’t enough food on the table to make a full meal. There’s no denying the clout behind Small Town Monsters – they’re arguably producing some of the best documentaries still searching for answers from the realms of fringe events – but this one needed a bit more focus in order to truly rise above.
In the interests of fairness, I’m pleased to disclose that the fine folks at Small Town Monsters provided me with complimentary streaming access to On The Trail Of Bigfoot: Land Of The Missing by request for the expressed purpose of completing this view. Their contribution to me in no way, shape, or form influenced my opinion of it.
-- EZ
RSS Feed