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Lake Mungo
R2 - United Kingdom - Second Sight Review written by and copyright: Leigh Riding (3rd August 2011). |
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The Film
 Lake Mungo is n Australian mock documentary which, for purposes of making me look better at writing synopses than I am, we are going to be calling a bona fide true documentary. The ensuing document concerns the death of sixteen-year-old Alice Palmer, who drowned while swimming in the titular lake.When her body is recovered and a verdict of accidental death returned, her grieving family buries her. However, the family begin to experience a series of strange and inexplicable events dotted around their home. Understanably shaken, the Palmers seek the help of psychic and parapsychologis Ray Kemeny, who throughought the documentary's timeline, discovers that Alice held many secrets, all of which lead all the way back to the lake where she met her demise. Well yes, we've been here before. The mockumentary horror is not a new concept, let's not lie to ourselves. The template created by the infamous Orson Welles 'War of the Worlds' radio broadcast has left a trail of breadcrumbs throughout the history of horror, with the controversial (and still creepy) BBC 'live programme' Ghostwatch being a notable influence on the infamous 'Blair Witch Project' which in turn rekindled the current popularisation of the genre. But where that was a mostly effective piece of work, blending 'found' footage of the experience with 'pre-credits' documentary style talking head interviews with actors authentically playing locals, the film also felt it had to add traditional horror movie scares to draw in the audience to something a little more mainstream. Since then, the film market has been awash with these types of films. However, the line between docudrama and traditional Hollywood scares is a pretty bold one, and the films are becoming diluted. 'Paranormal Activity' is a particular culprit, blending CCTV-style 'real' footage with jump scares that break the fourth wall and thereby rendering the film unbelievable. And don't even get me started on 'The Last Exorcism' and it's blending of CGI monstrosities and camcorder footage. At the logical conclusion to the genre, accomplished spanish Zombie flick 'REC' took the concept and turned it into an amped-up and polished action/horror flick that moved like a shiny bullet. But now we have 'Lake Mungo', which takes the genre back to it's roots, and then some. There will be many people who will be disappointed with 'Lake Mungo', and not because it's a bad film.It's because it isn't a film at all. It's pure documentary. There are no jump scares, no dramatic set ups, no setpieces. It's presented as authentically as possible. However, it doesn't mean there are no paranormal events in the film, but they are incredibly subtle and underplayed aside from a pivotal event in the film that chills to the bone rather than make you throw your popcorn in the air. In fact, I'd say the film is probably more arthouse than any of it's predecessors, as it really has no traditional narrative. 'Lake Mungo' is very subtle, so much so that you may not realise how well crafted the thing actually is. It's such an authentically presented and put together piece of work, that I'm sure director Joel Anderson (who also wrote the film) will not get get the kudos he deserves. The performances are also spot on. This kind of film is incredibly hard to act, as just a little too much performance gives the game away. But here there are no winks toward traditional acting... I believed these people were real. But again, it's all down to taste. One man's realism is another's flat and uninteresting. 'Lake Mungo' is an oddity. As much as I enjoyed it for what it was, I can see why people won't like the film. As there is no traditiomal plot or exposition, there are many unanswered questions, it's generally a quiet affair with no real heart thumping moments required from the horror set, and the whole thing has a languid pace, and many people will find they are simply watching a fully fledged documentary as opposed to a satisfying theatrical experience. And I would totally agree. I could imagine this being a disasterous experience on a cinema screen to be fair, but on a TV screen, it totally works. For those willing to immerse themselves, 'Lake Mungo' will offer quite a few treasures, but I feel it will have a very select fanbase.
Video
While not exactly something you would use on your new HD TV to your friends, the 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer does it's job selling the myriad of different film techniques pretty well. The different styles - grainy talking heads footage, camcorder footage, CCTV footage, mobile phone footage... they all have differing quality, black levels, levels of grain, and in the case of the aforementioned mobile footage even pixellation. But it all appears to be presented in the way each style was intended, and nothing suffers any more than it's original source really should. Much like the movie itself, in it's own subtle way the transfer quietly but effectively does it's job without showing any cracks in the facade.
Audio
I'm not entirely sure why, but aside from the efficient and functional 2.0 surround track that does the job fine, there is also n additional 5.1 Dolby Digital track included. It's very hard to see why multiple tracks are needed; there is really nothing in the way of ambient effects, only a very sparse and occational piece of score, and a hell of a lot of heads talking. For the record, both tracks do the job well. Dialogue is nice and clear, again dealing with multiple filmic formats as well as the image does, and the tiny bits of score dotted around pop out quite nicely. I suppose the 5.1 is a little thicker and warmer, but the rears aren't really used at all. there's not much to choose between the two.
Extras
Second Sight is a rather new company, and this is the third DVD I own from them, the other two being 'Warlock' and 'Dobermann', and much like the other two, I am disappointed at the complete lack of extras on offer. Not even a trailer?? Or even the simple pleasure of subtitles? It's a shame. Although in this instance I suppose the lack of behind the scenes filmmaking information does add to the concept of the film itself, it doesn't hide from the fact that Second Sight would do well to provide a bit of dressing to their catalogue.
Overall
'Lake Mungo' is doomed to be that simple copout for a critic, a 'Marmite' film. personally, I think there will be people who will think it is unscary, dull, and without a climax, and not getting what is expected of this sub-genre in this day and age. But there will be the other camp, including myself, who will discover a hidden gem, a creeping, languild tale that will drift you along with a quiet dread and leave you chilled for a while after. For those of an artier mindset this is recommended viewing, but I can totally understand that it is an aqquired taste.
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