From footprints to eyewitness accounts to strange sonar readings, the History Channel’s show “MonsterQuest” deals with it all. Now in its fourth season, “MonsterQuest” is a show that goes deep into cryptozoology, the study of mythical animals that may or may not exist.
From Bigfoot to the Chupacabra, the show covers numerous sightings of “monsters.” Using evidence such as corpses, DNA, videos and photographs, the show weighs in on the possibilities of such creatures ever existing.
The team of experts that “MonsterQuest” relies upon, however, varies with each investigation – and with each monster they plan to investigate. Some of those included in the mix are hunters, former movie costume designers, artists, university scientists and animal researchers. All of them come together to prove whether or not evidence suggests a certain “monster” is real.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the show is the actual degree of investigation that goes into each claim. In a recent episode, a sculptor was brought in to recreate an eyewitness account of the Jersey Devil, and a Hollywood costume designer worked to dissect video footage of a Bigfoot sighting to see if it was authentic or simply a man in a monkey suit.
While the majority of episodes do delve into the mysteries of the unknown, there have been a few instances where the show takes a look at real phenomena, such as great white sharks.
In another recent episode, the MonsterQuest team attempted to investigate the apparent rise in the population of great white sharks. Through analyzing an assortment of data, the researchers gathered that an increase in the sea lion population is causing the great white populations to grow, which consequently has resulted in more sightings of sharks of this species.
Adding to the historical, investigative part of the show is a dynamic that makes it more viewable. The show does have the tendency, however, to overdo dramatization with eerie background music or outlandish renderings. At one point, the show goes as far as comparing the great white shark to a serial killer.
There was even a reenactment of serial killer stalking women in a dark alley to further emphasize the metaphor. The reenactment was a ploy to vilify the great white sharks.
Fittingly, the show draws a parallel between Steven Spielberg’s depictions of the great white in “Jaws” and actual sightings.
In addition to this lighter content, the show does actually provide viewers with some discussion of common-held beliefs about the ocean’s deadliest killer, including how and why great white sharks will attack humans. The team of experts even displayed how sharks will mistakenly attack humans when looking for prey.
The only downside is the reliance upon some cheesy 3-D animation used to depict actual attacks.
Despite this, the show is still worth viewing. Maybe it won’t make you a believer in Bigfoot or one of those elusive sea monsters, but then again, maybe it will. One can surely appreciate the time taken by the MonsterQuest team to investigate all of these fascinating mysteries.