Is there any actual footage of Bigfoot in this?

No. The show uses 'Bigfoot' as a focal point for a suspect's testimony, but it's a true-crime documentary, not a nature show. Expect reenactments and maps, not monsters.

How scary are the reenactments?

They are more 'creepy' than 'scary.' Think moody lighting and slow-motion shots of the woods. There are no jump scares or gore, but the atmosphere is definitely heavy.

Does the show solve the case?

Without spoiling it, it's a 'fresh look' at an unsolved case. Like most cold-case docs, it provides new perspective and analysis rather than a definitive 'case closed' moment.

Is it okay for a kid who loves 'Expedition Unknown'?

Maybe, but be careful. Expedition Unknown is much more 'Indiana Jones' adventure-style. This is much closer to a 'Missing Persons' report. If they like the host, Jessica Chobot, they'll be interested, but the tone is far more somber.

Bigfoot Took Her – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Bigfoot Took Her

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

show2025

51%

WISE Score

A true-crime deep dive into a 1987 disappearance where the prime suspect blamed a Sasquatch for his own likely crime.

Bigfoot Took Her

show

PG13, 2025

51%

WISE Score

A true-crime deep dive into a 1987 disappearance where the prime suspect blamed a Sasquatch for his own likely crime.

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Screenwise Verdict

If you're expecting a fun romp through the woods looking for footprints, keep walking. Bigfoot Took Her is a standard true-crime documentary that uses the Sasquatch angle as a Trojan horse to talk about a tragic cold case. It’s well-produced, but the 5.2 IMDb rating feels right—it’s a bit thin on new revelations.

For parents, the 'Bigfoot' branding might make it look more kid-friendly than it is. This is a story about a missing girl and a predatory older man. It's handled with as much taste as Discovery can muster, but it's still heavy. Use it as a way to talk about skepticism and the 'stranger danger' realities that are often weirder than fiction.

Age Fit

This is firmly for the 14+ crowd. Younger kids will either be bored by the legal talk or genuinely creeped out by the reality of a missing teenager. It’s perfect for the teen who loves Serial or Dateline.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

It's a true-crime investigation into a teenage girl's disappearance. While it focuses on justice and facts, the subject matter is inherently heavy and centers on a likely murder, which doesn't exactly fit the 'wholesome' vibe.

Imaginative

The 'Bigfoot' angle is mostly a hook to discuss a bizarre defense strategy. It doesn't really push the boundaries of imagination so much as it debunk's a suspect's wild story.

Safe

TV-14 for a reason. There's no gore or jump scares, but the psychological weight of a cold case involving a missing 16-year-old and a creepy older man is a lot for younger viewers.

Enriching

It offers a decent look at how law enforcement handles cold cases and the importance of skepticism when dealing with the 'unexplained.' It's a lesson in how people use myths to mask crimes.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Jessica Chobot brings her usual 'Investigator of the Unexplained' energy, making the procedural parts feel more like an adventure than a dry lecture.
It's a fascinating case study in how urban legends can be weaponized by criminals to muddy the waters of a real investigation.
The show avoids being a 'monster of the week' filler and actually respects the memory of Theresa Bier by looking for the truth.
Great for teens who have graduated from 'scary stories' to wanting to understand real-world forensics and cold case logic.

⚠

What to Watch For

The 'Skip' guy is genuinely unsettling; his interactions with a 16-year-old are the real horror here, not the Bigfoot story.
It’s a three-part doc, and like many Discovery specials, it can feel a bit padded with reenactments that repeat the same three facts.
If your kid is looking for actual cryptid hunting, they’ll be disappointed—this is a police procedural in a fur coat.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the suspect chose Bigfoot as his 'witness' instead of just saying she ran away?"
"How do investigators tell the difference between a real lead and a story designed to distract them?"
"Does knowing this is a real-life tragedy change how you feel about the 'Bigfoot' hook of the show?"
"What kind of evidence would it actually take to prove a myth was responsible for a crime?"

Deep Dive

The 'Bigfoot' Bait-and-Switch

Discovery knows what they're doing with this title. By slapping 'Bigfoot' on a true-crime doc, they’re pulling in the Expedition Unknown crowd. But once you’re ten minutes in, you realize the cryptid isn't the star—the suspect is. The show follows the 1987 disappearance of Theresa Bier, who went into the Sierra Nevada mountains with a man named Russell 'Skip' Scurti and never came back. Skip’s defense? A Sasquatch snatched her.

Why It's Worth a Watch (For the Right Kid)

If you have a teen who is obsessed with 'unsolved mysteries' or true crime, this is actually a decent watch because it dismantles the paranormal fluff. Jessica Chobot and Robert Collier do a solid job of navigating the 'woo' while staying anchored in the law enforcement reality. It’s a great example of critical thinking in action. You get to watch experts look at a wild claim and say, 'Okay, but where is the physical evidence?'

The Boredom Factor

Let's be real: this could have been a one-hour special. Spreading it across three parts means you’re going to see a lot of the same grainy photos of the mountains and hear the same 'Skip' quotes repeatedly. It’s not 'prestige' TV, but if you're doing chores and want something playing in the background that prompts a few good conversations about evidence and logic, it fits the bill. Just don't let the 10-year-old watch it thinking they're getting a monster movie.

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