#24. Lake Mungo - Review

Lake Mungo screen

Lake Mungo is an interesting take on both the documentary and the horror genre. It is difficult to explain this film without spoilers, so I copied the synopsis on the film’s IMDB.com page to point I thought necessary:

            Sixteen-year-old ALICE PALMER drowns while swimming in the local dam. When her body is recovered and a verdict of accidental death returned, her grieving family buries her. The family then experiences a series of strange and inexplicable events centered in and around their home.

More than a straight horror story, this film sympathetically explores a family’s grief in the loss of a daughter and a sister. Young Alice Palmer’s parents and brother are all dealing with her death in different, often emotionally crippling ways. Her re-emergence only heightens the family’s despair. It is through this “re-emergence” the film really starts getting its hands dirty, systematically scaring the hell out of me, and earning its acceptance into last year’s After Dark Horrorfest.Lake Mungo After Dark Horrorfest 4

This is a documentary, and I will leave its authenticity to you, but I really feel the director’s choice to tell this story this way was genius. Through archived news footage, family video recordings, cell-phone videos, and one-on-one interviews with Alice Palmer’s family and friends, I was able to let go of any doubt or questions I had and just go along for the ride.

Lake Mungo is on Netflix Watch Instantly, and like Eclipse, a film I discussed earlier, it has absolutely horrible cover-art. The cover for this film not only has zero relation to the story, it also does nothing to spike my interest. So, do not judge this Australian horror film by its cover, because you may miss out on a entertaining experience. 

Coming Soon...

The Social Network poster

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Buried (2010) poster

ip Man posterLake Mungo After Dark Horrorfest 4Stalag 17 poster

#23. Remember The Titans - Review

Remember the Titans Poster

I am a sucker for sappy sports films. I actually cried during Hardball. Yes, that Hardball, with Keanu Reeves coaching the inner-city youth baseball team. I am not going to spend much time on this film, mostly because I have too much work to do before my Korea trip. I will say this film is worth watching, if you like sports films or Disney “feel-good” films. If your anything like me you WILL cry at least once while watching this movie, which is ok… no one is going to judge you.

Remember the Titans tells a very sweet story of the first integrated American high school football team. It is Disney, so at times the film can come on pretty strong with its themes, but I wouldn’t call it preachy, or even distracting. Denzel Washington, as always, is awesome, although I wouldn’t say this is new territory for him. The strong black man going up against the system is Washington’s bread and butter, but Titans is one of his best performances.Denzel Washington in Remember the Titans

I should also mention you do not have to like football to enjoy this flick, but it will probably help. The majority of the film takes place on the field, and the action scenes are well thought out and exciting. I am sure most football fans will enjoy this flick, since it treats the characters and the sport with more respect then something like Varsity Blues and keeps the teenage angst to a minimum, unlike Friday Night Lights.

Expect a few more of these shorter posts. I am going to try and catch up on the movies I have seen before I leave next Wednesday.