Lake Mungo is a wonderfully weaved story that draws you in and utilises atmosphere and fantastic casting to be that cult film that everyone should watch at least once. A perfectly crafted film that astounds you with how authentic it is.
When sixteen-year-old Alice Palmer tragically drowns while swimming in the local dam, her grieving family start to experience a series of strange, inexplicable events and become increasingly unsettled. Seeking out the help of a parapsychologist, they learn that Alice had been living through extremely troubling, disturbing times and hiding deep, dark secrets. Now they are desperate to know what haunted their daughter and what is happening to them. Does Lake Mungo hold the terrifying truth?
Lake Mungo is one of those films that sits with you long after the credits. A faux documentary that takes you on a journey and paces itself to absolute perfection. You read the premise, and you think it will be a by the numbers ghost film and anything but. Everything is done straight as an arrow, which helps the movie reach the audience’s emotions.
The difficulty of pulling a film off like Lake Mungo is so high that you wonder why we have never seen more writer/director Joel Anderson. This is something unique to say about a film that’s most emotional points are in simple talking head segments or voiceover over photos and handheld camera footage. Yet, these simple, non-polished elements reel you into believing everything you are seeing is true. If there were glossy footage, then doubt would seep in. It is why The Blair Witch Project and The Last Broadcast worked as well as they did. The understated nature of the score as well adds to the successful foundations that Anderson has built.
What shines is how great everyone in the film is. With mostly improvised lines throughout, we have characters who you would 100% believe were real. If you took away all mention of faux-documentary, there could be a struggle to believe these are actors. To a point, my partner was in the room as I was reviewing this disc, and for the longest time, she was of the belief that what she was seeing was true. I had her go in blind, and it worked tremendously for her.
That has to go down to the filmmakers’ work and the efforts of the cast. We believe this family and their devastation over the loss of Alice at all times. It is the simple things that work best here in Lake Mungo with these portrayals. The little pauses as the characters think of what to say to the “filmmakers” and the doubt in their eyes. You believe them fully. It truly makes you wonder how we have not seen anything as effective as this. The only other films that work as close as this are The Bay and the fellow Australian film that I adore, The Tunnel.
I think due to those two coming out a couple of years after Lake Mungo, that they were attempts to copy the formula (which they succeed at, by the way) of being as serious as it could be and not allowing any gaps of humour or over the top drama to seep in. Regardless, magic is created by this small cast as everyone pulls their weight; if one character comes across as false, then the entire film collapses.
Lake Mungo’s success is how horror works; of course, there are no jump scares or truly horrific moments, but it is a film that bases its horror on the atmosphere and story. This is a ghost story that uses the simplest of techniques to fill the audience with dread. Be it in the footage of the house where the camera lingers for just those few extra seconds to have the viewers eyes scour all over the screen to find out what we should be looking at. So when the camera zooms in on a different area, it shocks us that bit more.
What almost startles the audience is the heavy and wholly effective use of Alice’s found body. It jolts you immediately, and if that face doesn’t stay with you after the film, you are a better person than I. It is a haunting and heart-breaking image as right when we are with the family and hope for the best regarding Alice. Anderson throws that image right at our faces to not only shock us but to break us. The hope is gone for us, and all that is left is grief.
Grief is the theme that runs through Lake Mungo magnificently. At no point would we do what the Palmers do. Even when some members of the family do some questionable things, there is a reason behind it. We understand and feel their pain and their methods of dealing with it. Few films like this stand out as well as Lake Mungo does, as so few can grapple with such themes and make it work in this manner.
Yet, also roaming about Lake Mungo is the idea of loss. Not just about the loss of a person, but the loss of opportunity. This is especially so with June. A mother who was so affected by her relationship with her mother that it affected that with Alice. We see how the two would have moments of closeness in archive footage and how distant they would be. So when revelations come about, you can sense that if the said relationship were that bit closer, perhaps Alice would not have been in that position. The family drama side of this ghost story is what compels you and is the true lynchpin to its success.
Lake Mungo is a film with so many positives and stands up after multiple viewings that if you have not had the chance to see it yet, you are missing out on such a special film.
★★★★★
SPECIAL FEATURES
- Archive audio commentary by Producer David Rapsey and DoP John BrawleyNew audio commentary by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas and Emma Westwood
- Captured Spirits: an interview with DoP John Brawley
- Ghost in the Machine: an interview with Producer David Rapsey
- A Cop and a Friend: an interview with Actors Carole Patullo & James Lawson
- Kindred Spirits: Filmmakers Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead on Lake Mungo
- Hosting Spirits: Filmmaker Rob Savage on Lake Mungo
- Simulacra and Spirits: a video essay by film writer Josh Nelson
- Autopsy of a Family Home: a video essay by filmmaker Joseph Wallace
- Deleted scenes
The commentary with David Rapsey and John Brawley is rife with information with small nuggets about the mystery of where exactly Joel Anderson went. A man with an obvious eye for a story, Lake Mungo remains his only feature, and little else is known about him. Here we are informed that he was so disheartened by the lack of success of Lake Mungo that he tried to leave it behind, which is such a shame for such a director who made something so good. The rest of their commentary lets us know how detailed the production was, and for a film with so many turns, it had to be.
The next commentary ventures more into the meaning behind all of the events and locations and allows us to learn more about the interpretations that Lake Mungo offers. We have some interviews with the best being from John Brawley, who offers an absolute ton of information. We do have two actor interviews, yet none from the main four cast members, which is just as odd as the exclusion of content from Joel Anderson. Though we take what we are given and with a set like this, we have to struggle to find issues with it. Back to Brawley’s interview, we get a far sight more information here as he has more time to comment on specific things that he couldn’t in the commentary.
The next commentary ventures more into the meaning behind all of the events and locations and allows us to learn more about the interpretations that Lake Mungo offers. We have some interviews with the best being from John Brawley, who offers an absolute ton of information. We do have two actor interviews, yet none from the main four cast members, which is just as odd as the exclusion of content from Joel Anderson. Though we take what we are given and with a set like this, we have to struggle to find issues with it. Back to Brawley’s interview, we get a far sight more information here as he has more time to comment on specific things that he couldn’t in the commentary.
While I was originally dubious of Justin Benson, Aaron Moorhead and Rob Savage film pieces. They are wonderful inclusions here and help showcase how influential and important Lake Mungo eventually became. Both are equally unique enough to make them stand out enough and causes you to understand how special Joel Andersons film was. This is accentuated by the video essays that successfully attempt to break down what makes the film work as well as it does.
Most warrant their exclusion from being included in the feature with the deleted scenes as they offer little to the overall piece. But there is a scene involving a burglary that could have been included easily as then that would have allowed for one of the reveals to make even more sense. Though you get with that reveal, the filmmakers wanted to keep that as much of a surprise. One deleted scene involves more of a horror aspect to the film that, considering the piece’s tone, does not fit it at all, becoming a thankful exclusion from the movie.
LIMITED EDITION CONTENTS
- Rigid slipcase
- A perfect-bound booklet with new essays by Sarah Appleton, Simon Fitzjohn, Rich Johnson, Mary Beth McAndrews and Shellie McMurdo, interview with actor James Lawson by Alexandra Heller-Nicholas, plus rare behind-the-scenes photos
- Three collectors’ art cards
This set is so good that although I received a screener for review, I made sure to get my copy (well, two, and you will find out what we are doing with that second copy! Hint, it’s a giveaway). I haven’t had a chance yet to read the booklet of essays, but I will be sure to update this review!
In the end, a spectacularly atmospheric film that did so much right gets a Blu Ray that it deserves and while we could have done with the inclusion from the leading players to add more to it. This still ends up as something pretty special. If you like film and horror and ghosts, this is as essential a purchase as they come.
Pre-order Lake Mungo here.
Competition
For our first giveaway competition we have an absolute gem of a release. In celebration of Second Sights Films Limited Edition Blu-Ray release of the fantastic Lake Mungo, we have a region free copy to give away!
We have a review coming out on the 3rd of this box set, but spoiler warning, this is not one to miss out on due to the amount of great content involved. Below is all the information in the set that you should expect, and if you want to order said set, pre-order here. If you want to try your luck, well have a little gander below…
To win this copy all you have to do is give us a follow on our Twitter account (UpcomingOnScreen) and share this post or give us a like on Facebook (Upcoming On Screen) and share that post. Nice and simple! The competition will end 5pm GMT time on the 7th June.
Terms and conditions
1. Closing date 07-06-21 at 5pm GMT time.
2. No alternative prize is available
3. When the competition ends as indicated on this page, any and all entries received after this point will not count.
4. Winner will be chosen randomly and will be informed via social media.
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