Origins of a Monster Hunter
Posted by: Nick Redfern on June 9th, 2012
Every so often in my weekly Lair of the Beasts columns at Mania.com I’ll do a post on how a well-known figure within Cryptozoology got started in the field.
And, this weekend – as you’ll see at the link – I have focused on the life, research, writings and work of Kent, England-based author and investigator, Neil Arnold, the author of many books,, including Shadows in the Sky; Monster!; Mystery Animals of the British Isles: Kent; and Mystery Animals of the British Isles: London.
As you’ll also see, one of the things that prompted Neil to dig deep into the world of Cryptozoology was the 1970s classic movie, The Legend of Boggy Creek – a title that inspired quite a few others too.
About Nick Redfern
Punk music fan, Tennents Super and Carlsberg Special Brew beer fan, horror film fan, chocolate fan, like to wear black clothes, like to stay up late. Work as a writer.
The first cryptid I had ever heard of was the Loch Ness Monster. I first heard about Nessie back in 2006, or 2007. I was around 7 or 8 years old, at that time. The movie that first introduced me to Nessie was Scooby-Doo And The Loch Ness Monster, which was released in 2004. This movie first ignited my interest in the Loch Ness Monster. I then did some more research, at the library, and I figured out that the legend of the Loch Ness Monster was based on actual sightings. I then learned that there were other lake monsters, as well, such as Champ, in North America’s Lake Champlain. In one of the books that I read, it said that “the study of such creatures is known as Cryptozoology, meaning “the study of hidden animals””.
I then learned about other cryptids, too, such as the Bigfoot and the Yeti, or Abominable Snowman. I then learned of a few lesser-known cryptids, as well, such as the Mothman, the Jersey Devil, the Yowie, and the Ogopogo.
And, so, the origins of my interest in monster hunting were all sparked by that wonderful movie, Scooby-Doo And The Loch Ness Monster. And, ever since then, Nessie has always been my favourite cryptid, since it was the very first cryptid, that I had ever heard, about.