“Lake Mungo” is one of the most unsettling movies I have ever watched. The 2008 Australian indie film had a limited release. It’s a relative unknown outside the most devout disciples of the horror community.
Filmmaker Joel Anderson, who functioned as writer and director, is himself an enigma having produced virtually nothing else aside from this.
Set in Ararat, Australia, the film follows the Palmer family in the aftermath of tragedy. Alice Palmer (Talia Zucker) has drowned. This isn’t a spoiler – it opens with a 911 call to the medics. The remaining 88 minutes are told via a unique combination of (supposed) documentary, news interviews, and standard found footage.
What begins as the Palmer Family dealing with grief, soon dissolves into some deeper, unnerving occurrences. “Alice kept secrets.” One character says. Doors open at night. Noises are heard coming from her room. It’s a truly terrific horror movie.
Joel Anderson has Crafted a Horror Gem
The unusual way in which the film is presented adds to the chilling atmosphere. Most found footage films purport to be real events, so that’s nothing strange. The news footage, grainy video of the mid-ought’s, and unscripted interviews with the family and friends of Alice make us really believe what we are watching is real. I mean, actually real.
The opening shots depict chilling black and white photos. The in-movie pics and videos are old school pixelated messes that make the mind fill in the disconcerting noises that can’t be deciphered. The score works. While found footage is generally silent, it is the type of spooky addition that a project like this would include. And you won’t ever scream for a character to put down a camera and run.
We the viewer are watching a documentary that follows the Palmer Family in the wake of Alice’s death. Russell (David Pledger) stifles his sadness with his work. June (Rosie Traynor) refuses to accept that her daughter is gone. Mathew (Martin Sharpe) Alice’s brother, is a photographer who introduces a paranormal aspect with his cameras. Steve Jodrell portrays Ray, a psychic who befriends the family. They aren’t big or recognizable names, and it lends to the believability of the production. There are no weak links as each character hits their own respective marks with emotion and believability.
I Couldn’t Sleep
I watched the film and subsequent analysis videos. Then I foolishly tried to go to bed. And couldn’t sleep. I tossed and turned all night, before heading to the couch just before dawn to watch it again. This film, more so than others, requires a dark setting to fully enjoy it. I got more out of it the second time. And if it weren’t so tormenting, I’d go for a third.
“Lake Mungo” is a truly amazing horror film. It doesn’t have simple jump scares or overt demonic possessions. It relies on a slow and unsettling burn that lulls you into a state of malaise. You probably won’t feel its full effects until long after the movie ends.
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