The film claims to be a true story, detailing the existence of the "Fouke Monster," a seven-foot-tall Bigfoot-like creature that has reportedly been seen by residents of the small Arkansas community since the 1940s.

Several locals from the small town of Fouke recall their stories, claiming that the creature has killed many large animals over the years.

A police constable states that while driving home one night, the creature suddenly ran across the road in front of his car.

In a later sequence, culled from the actual newspaper accounts inspiring the film, the creature is shown menacing a family in a remote country house.

The preproduction, script and shoot were mired in controversy regarding the unethical behavior of the writers and directors towards the locals whose stories were used.

For years, The Legend of Boggy Creek was thought to be in the public domain and all VHS/DVD releases unofficial[citation needed].

The Legend of Boggy Creek was restored/remastered at the George Eastman Museum, Rochester, New York, & Audio Mechanics, Burbank, California, using many of the original elements.

Scene after scene of almost pristine wilderness is a visual feast ... its sheer honest ... rigid adherence to authenticity ... is highly persuasive that there is indeed, a “Fouke Monster.” It's scary and charming ..." Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock "... visually stunning and exciting ... Pierce manages to create a sense of foreboding that brings audiences up sharply ..." Goff, Daily Variety.

"... the film captures the eerie beauty of Arkansas’ primeval swamps and contains images of Southern American backwoods life unmatched in its rich rustic flavor since Robert Flaherty's Louisiana Story ... Pierce's photography accents the Arkansas swampland's incredible beauty and unsettling mystery ... an unusual blend of malevolence and melancholia ... eminently successful in giving the imagination a good healthy jolt and in ultimately celebrating the unfathomable mysteries of nature ..." Glenn Lovell, Hollywood Reporter.

Writer and director Daniel Myrick cited The Legend of Boggy Creek as an influence on his 1999 film The Blair Witch Project.

[citation needed] In 2010, Boggy Creek, a film with no narrative connection to the original or its 1985 sequel, was released as a straight-to-DVD movie.

It concerns a Bigfoot-like creature who attacks a group of teenagers that are vacationing in the fictional area of Boggy Creek, Texas.