"The Sasqualogist" [MidWest Weird Fest]

by Joseph Perry and Mike Imboden

In our “The Good, the Bad, and the Verdict” film reviews, Joseph and Mike give their thoughts on a slice of cinema. For this installment, it's writer/director/star Joseph Granda’s The Sasqualogist.

Synopsis

In the Colorado Rockies, a researcher (Joseph Granda as Butzer) and his young protégé (Brandon Swartz as Marty) track a Sasquatch, uncovering the emotional depth of their adventure and the influence of fatherhood.

The Good

Joseph: Granda has crafted an intriguing character study of curmudgeonly university professor turned cryptozoologist Butzer. Though The Sasqualogist is not a flat-out comedy, there is plenty of humor that ranges from the cynical to the dry to the satirical. Indeed, the film sends up the different belief — and nonbelief — systems surrounding Bigfoot, and extraterrestrial life gets its shots, too, as do some other Fortean themes.

Mike: The Sasqualogist treads a careful and fine line between the different belief systems surrounding Bigfoot. Is he a “missing link” tree-ape or some type of mystical being or even of alien origins? While not the focus of the story, Granda still presents a good argument for each through the characters of Butzer and Marty — as well as some day-hikers Butzer takes on a “Squatching expedition” (a segment which presents some rather funny situations itself). The acting by Granda and Swartz is good with both turning in nuanced and believable characters that especially shine as they interact with one another.

The Bad

Joseph: Butzer and Marty are, by design, often unlikable characters, and for some viewers, they and their complicated relationship can come off as grating. How invested viewers get in the characters’ arcs will go a long way in determining how much enjoyment they find in The Sasqualogist.

Mike: I had a somewhat difficult time finding much to like about the main characters as they navigated their “daddy issues” in their roles of surrogate father and son for one another. I also found some of the pacing to be a bit slow, but admittedly that is something that may have been influenced by my difficulty in becoming truly invested in the characters.

The Verdict

Joseph: Aficionados of high strangeness should find plenty to enjoy with The Sasqualogist. Wry humor abounds, and Granda turns in a solid performance as his cantankerous cryptozoologist character.

Mike: The Sasqualogist presents an entertaining look at a ‘Squatch’ tracker and a young man who wants to help and learn from him. While some may find the pacing a bit on the slow side, there’s enough going on to keep things interesting, from engaging performances to a script that covers a lot of ground surrounding the Bigfoot mythos.