Review of Lake Mungo (2009) by Fiona N — 25 Dec 2009

Lake Mungo, a low budget pseudodocumentary, is probably the best Australian horror film you'll never see. The Palmers are your average family, living in small town Ararat, who visit the local dam for a swim and a picnic one day - and teenage daughter Alice drowns.

The family and the local community are devastated, working through their grief, when the Palmers start hearing strange noises, mostly coming from Alice's room, and even sensing a presence. Like any teenager Alice turns out to have had secrets, some of which are never fully explored or explained, so there's not a tidy resolution but much to think about instead.

Also, Lake Mungo refers to part of the answer to all that's gone before, but again doesn't explain - it just is. There is a lot to like in this film: the choice of film stocks and techniques, the soundscape, the use of time lapse photography, the details hidden in plain sight, exploration of grief in many different forms and stages, but mostly the performances.

Most of the cast are better known for work on stage or as directors/producers, and many are locals cast in a specific role. Overall this film is a fresh take, interesting, thought provoking and more than competent.

I'd much rather sit through it again and find more subtleties than sit through some of the mainstream trash like the American remake currently in the pipeline.