Review: 'American Swamp Monsters'

One of the more depressing developments in cable television is the explosion of shows and specials devoted to folk tales and so-called "unexplained mysteries." Whether it's Bigfoot, the Jersey Devil or some other creature, these stories all have a couple of things in common. There are a lot of people who apparently believe in this stuff and no one has managed to come up with even the slightest amount of physical proof.

And if you're looking for mysterious creatures, there is apparently no better place to find them than in Louisiana's Cajun country. The local swamps might be haunting and unfamiliar to many Americans, but if television is to be believed, they are also the home for a seemingly unending supply of monsters and people who believe in them.

The Animal Planet special "American Swamp Monsters" is the latest program to dive into the subject and when I say it's no better or no worse than the other shows in this genre, that's not paying it a compliment. The hour-long special is a collection of tales from people who have had (or just heard of someone else having) an encounter with the Rougarou. And yes, that's just as crazy as it sounds.

Sort of a mash-up of Bigfoot and the Wolfman, the Rougarou is supposed to be a person who has been overcome by evil. They could be a member of your family or friend, but they've encountered an evil presence which has forced them into sprouting hair and forgetting to shave until the curse is broken.

The special uses some "eyewitness" stories and a lot of recreations to tell some stories that range from ludicrous to delusional. None of them seem remotely true, but apparently that's not the point. Just like those "Ghosthunter" shows that never seem to find a ghost, any TV program featuring the Rougarou is ultimately just going to be a lot of crazy stories and not much proof.

The last fifteen minutes of the special almost inexplicably are spent recounting the stories of possible vampires in New Orleans. The only connection between these stories and the ones featuring the Rougarou are that they both take place in Louisiana. But describing New Oreans as the swamp, seems to be a bit of a stretch.

So should you watch "American Swamp Monsters?" I suppose it all gets down to whether you believe. As for myself, I hapen to believe this special is a waste of time.

But maybe that's just me.