What are you reading?
Michael Familant edition!
Bigfoot or caveman... You're in trouble either way in
Night of the Demon
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Back in December I attended the screening of one of the most bonkers movies I've ever seen: Night of the Demon. 97 minutes of unrated mayhem centered around tales of a creature they called Bigfoot, but which more resembled a huge caveman with a penchant for tearing people's limbs off and whipping them with their own intestines. A delightful shlockfest with as many laughs as there are gory death scenes... and there's a LOT of those!
Shoutout to Justin Bacolo, the Creative Director at Fathom Press for setting the evening up, complete with a Q&A with Bigfooter Michael Familant afterwards. Familant travels the country giving lectures, taking people on camping trips and, of course, searching for Sasquatch. He gave a great talk and the Q&A was fun, engaging and intriguing so I reached out to him several months later and asked: |
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1. What are you reading and/or what was the last thing you read?
Although I do not consider myself an avid reader, the most recent book I spent time with was Fans First by Jesse Cole. I initially came across Jesse through a series of interviews that began appearing on my social media feeds. As the owner of the Savannah Bananas, he speaks frequently about leadership, fan engagement, and the importance of creating memorable experiences. What stood out to me was not just his success, but the professionalism and intentionality behind the way he interacts with his audience. His philosophy centers on putting fans at the heart of everything he does, and that approach resonates with me. Even in my own work — whether I’m at events, presenting, or meeting people who follow my content — I try to bring that same level of respect, enthusiasm, and genuine connection. |
Jesse Cole's book Fans First
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Harry and the Hendersons... Classic!
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2. Were you interested in Sasquatch as a child, and if so did you have a favorite Bigfoot book or movie?
As a child, I wasn’t particularly outdoors‑oriented. I was very much an indoor kid — give me a TV, a video game, or a movie and I was perfectly content for the entire day. My interest in the outdoors, and in Sasquatch specifically, didn’t develop until much later. The turning point came during a camping trip when rocks were thrown toward our group from a distance and with a force that didn’t align with anything a person could have done. That moment pushed me to start asking questions and exploring possibilities I had never considered before. It opened the door not only to the Bigfoot phenomenon, but also to a genuine appreciation for being outside, investigating, and experiencing the unknown firsthand. When I formally began diving into Bigfoot research around 2011, Harry and the Hendersons quickly became my favorite Bigfoot‑themed film. It’s lighthearted, iconic, and remains one of the most recognizable portrayals of Sasquatch in popular culture — a fun contrast to the real‑world investigations I would eventually pursue. |
3. You had an experience out in the wilderness that really got you started, but was there a specific piece of Bigfoot media (books, movies, etc) that really pushed you to dedicate yourself in the pursuit of the elusive creatures? Are there any that you particularly enjoy at the moment?
While my initial interest in Bigfoot came from a direct experience in the wilderness, there absolutely were pieces of Bigfoot‑related media that helped solidify my commitment to pursuing the subject more seriously. After that first encounter, I wanted to understand what other people had experienced, how they interpreted it, and what kind of evidence had been documented over the years. That curiosity naturally led me into the broader world of Bigfoot media.
One of the earliest influences was the classic film Harry and the Hendersons, which I revisited once I began researching in 2011. Even though it’s a lighthearted portrayal, it sparked a sense of wonder and reminded me that the idea of Sasquatch has been woven into our culture for decades. From there, I began exploring documentaries, eyewitness accounts, and field‑research videos that focused more on the investigative side of the phenomenon. Those resources helped me understand that people from all walks of life were reporting similar experiences, and that there was a serious, methodical approach behind much of the research.
Today, I still enjoy revisiting a mix of entertainment and investigative media. The lighter films keep the cultural side of Bigfoot fun and accessible, while the more research‑driven documentaries and field reports continue to inspire me to push deeper into the work. They remind me that there’s still so much we don’t know — and that the pursuit itself is just as meaningful as the answers we’re trying to find.
While my initial interest in Bigfoot came from a direct experience in the wilderness, there absolutely were pieces of Bigfoot‑related media that helped solidify my commitment to pursuing the subject more seriously. After that first encounter, I wanted to understand what other people had experienced, how they interpreted it, and what kind of evidence had been documented over the years. That curiosity naturally led me into the broader world of Bigfoot media.
One of the earliest influences was the classic film Harry and the Hendersons, which I revisited once I began researching in 2011. Even though it’s a lighthearted portrayal, it sparked a sense of wonder and reminded me that the idea of Sasquatch has been woven into our culture for decades. From there, I began exploring documentaries, eyewitness accounts, and field‑research videos that focused more on the investigative side of the phenomenon. Those resources helped me understand that people from all walks of life were reporting similar experiences, and that there was a serious, methodical approach behind much of the research.
Today, I still enjoy revisiting a mix of entertainment and investigative media. The lighter films keep the cultural side of Bigfoot fun and accessible, while the more research‑driven documentaries and field reports continue to inspire me to push deeper into the work. They remind me that there’s still so much we don’t know — and that the pursuit itself is just as meaningful as the answers we’re trying to find.
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4. You are currently in the middle of a year-long tour throughout a good chunk of the country. Every area has its own Bigfoot legends and local creature lore, but are there any squatchy cryptids that especially stand out to you?
During this year‑long tour, I’ve had the opportunity to travel through a wide range of environments, each with its own history, folklore, and regional interpretation of what people call “Bigfoot.” What has stood out to me most is how every area has a creature that reflects both the landscape and the culture around it. Even when the names change, the underlying descriptions often share striking similarities. Certain regional cryptids do rise to the top. In the Pacific Northwest, for example, the classic Sasquatch stories are deeply rooted and supported by generations of consistent reports. In the South, you encounter legends like the Skunk Ape, which fits the terrain and climate of the region. Up in New England, where I’ve spent a lot of time recently, the sightings tend to involve more elusive, fast‑moving figures in dense, mountainous forests — creatures that seem perfectly adapted to rugged, heavily wooded terrain. What fascinates me is that these regional variations aren’t random. They often align with the environment, the available food sources, and the way people interact with the land. When you look at the reports through that lens, you start to see patterns that go beyond folklore. Those patterns are what keep me engaged. They suggest that while the names and details may shift from place to place, people across the country are describing something that behaves in remarkably similar ways. |
Beyond the Footprints tour dates 2026
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5. There are often sightings of Bigfoot corresponding to sightings of UAPs/UFOs, and even instances where people claim to see the two phenomena interacting. Do you think there is a connection, and given that the government has been releasing UAP files lately, do you expect them to touch on Bigfoot at some point as well?
There’s no question that many witnesses report seeing UAPs and Bigfoot activity in the same general timeframe or location. Those accounts come from all over the country, and they’re often from people who don’t know one another and have no reason to coordinate their stories. Because of that, I don’t dismiss the overlap outright — but I also don’t jump to conclusions. In my work, I try to separate what people experience from what we can verify, and right now the connection between the two phenomena is still an open question.
What I can say is that both subjects tend to occur in remote, low‑population areas where unusual things are more likely to go unnoticed or unrecorded. When you combine that with the fact that both topics carry a lot of cultural weight and personal interpretation, it’s easy to see how the two can become intertwined in people’s minds. Whether that means there’s an actual relationship between them is something that would require far more data than we currently have.
As for the government’s recent release of UAP files, I think it’s encouraging to see more transparency around unexplained aerial phenomena. However, I don’t expect those disclosures to extend into Bigfoot research anytime soon. The two subjects are handled very differently, and Bigfoot reports have historically been viewed as a wildlife or folklore issue rather than something tied to national security or aerospace monitoring. That said, if future UAP releases ever did touch on unexplained biological encounters, it would certainly be interesting — but I’m not expecting it.
For now, I focus on what I can document in the field: physical evidence, eyewitness testimony, environmental patterns, and the behaviors people consistently describe. Those are the areas where progress is most likely to be made.
There’s no question that many witnesses report seeing UAPs and Bigfoot activity in the same general timeframe or location. Those accounts come from all over the country, and they’re often from people who don’t know one another and have no reason to coordinate their stories. Because of that, I don’t dismiss the overlap outright — but I also don’t jump to conclusions. In my work, I try to separate what people experience from what we can verify, and right now the connection between the two phenomena is still an open question.
What I can say is that both subjects tend to occur in remote, low‑population areas where unusual things are more likely to go unnoticed or unrecorded. When you combine that with the fact that both topics carry a lot of cultural weight and personal interpretation, it’s easy to see how the two can become intertwined in people’s minds. Whether that means there’s an actual relationship between them is something that would require far more data than we currently have.
As for the government’s recent release of UAP files, I think it’s encouraging to see more transparency around unexplained aerial phenomena. However, I don’t expect those disclosures to extend into Bigfoot research anytime soon. The two subjects are handled very differently, and Bigfoot reports have historically been viewed as a wildlife or folklore issue rather than something tied to national security or aerospace monitoring. That said, if future UAP releases ever did touch on unexplained biological encounters, it would certainly be interesting — but I’m not expecting it.
For now, I focus on what I can document in the field: physical evidence, eyewitness testimony, environmental patterns, and the behaviors people consistently describe. Those are the areas where progress is most likely to be made.
Michael Familant answering questions after the movie
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Bonus: You have hundreds of videos on your YouTube channel, a lecture series, and your expeditions were written up in the Spring 2020 edition of Weird NJ. Do you have any plans to write a Bigfoot book?
A book is definitely something I’ve thought about, especially as the body of my work has grown. Between the hundreds of videos on my YouTube channel, the lecture series, and the coverage of my expeditions in publications like Weird NJ, I’ve accumulated a decade’s worth of field experiences, eyewitness accounts, and lessons learned. There’s certainly enough material to fill a book — probably several. That said, if I do write one, I want it to be more than just a recap of past expeditions. I’d want it to offer real value to readers: a blend of field methodology, personal narrative, regional patterns, and the philosophy behind why people continue to search for these creatures. My goal would be to create something that speaks to both seasoned researchers and people who are just discovering the subject. So yes, a book is on the horizon. It’s less a question of if and more a matter of when — and making sure that when I do it, it reflects the same level of care, curiosity, and respect for the phenomenon that I bring to my fieldwork and presentations. |
For info on booking Michael or for media requests please email [email protected]
and check out Fathom Press for all your vintage horror needs!
and check out Fathom Press for all your vintage horror needs!