Lake Mungo (2008) Poster, Synopsis, Trailer - Ghost Movie Raw Review

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. Profoundly unsettled, the Palmers seek the help of psychic and parapsychologist, RAY KEMENY. Ray discovers that Alice led a secret, double life. A series of clues lead the family to Lake Mungo where Alice’s secret past emerges. Lake Mungo is a mystery, a thriller and a ghost story.

Director: Joel Anderson
Writer: Joel Anderson (written by)
Genre: Horror | Mystery | Thriller
Tagline: If you’ve never seen a ghost… Look closer.
MPAA: Rated R for a scene of sexuality, and brief gruesome images.
Runtime: Germany:89 min (European Film Market)
Country: Australia
Language: English
Color: Color
Aspect Ratio: 1.85 : 1
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital | Dolby SR
Certification: USA:R (certificate #45644) | Australia:M | Netherlands:16
Filming Locations: Ararat, Victoria, Australia
Company: Mungo Productions

CAST

Talia Zucker … Alice Palmer
Rosie Traynor … June Palmer
David Pledger … Russell Palmer
Martin Sharpe … Mathew Palmer
Steve Jodrell … Ray Kemeny
Tamara Donnellan … Marissa Toohey
Scott Terrill … Brett Toohey
Chloe Armstrong … Kim Whittle
Charles Armytage … Bob Smeet
Claire Astbury … Girl In Cinema
Jason Ball … Police Diver
Helen Bath … Helen Bath
Dr. Phillip Boltin … Dr. Kenin Slatter
Kimberley Bumpstead … Meredith Grbic
Stephanie Capiron … Kylie Connor
Marcus Costello … Jason Whittle
Robin Cuming … Garret Long
Scott Dower … Police Diver
John Dunn … Funeral Director
Laurie Dunn … Funeral Director
Natasha Herbert … Cathy Withers
Jida … Buttons
Richard Kelly … Richard Brooks
James Lawson … Frederick Rosskamp
Tania Lentini … Georgie Ritter
Glenn Luck … Steve Wilkie
Tammy McCarthy … Annie
Kirsty McDonald … Genevieve Trudeau
Sara Moroney … Nadia
Frank Nyhuis … Police Diver
Carole Patullo … Sargent Drouin
Judith Roberts … Iris Long
Michael Robinson … Douglas Withers
Roberto J. Salvatore … Emergency Call Operator
Anika Steel … Alice Double
Cameron Strachan … Leith Ritter
Courtney Te’ray … Kate Hepnell
Simon Wilton … Clive Roy Best
Barney Wursthorn … Police Diver

RAW IMDB REVIEW

With all this hype about the good, yet overrated Paranormal Activity, Joel Anderson’s debut film Lake Mungo lies forgotten. This is a total shame, seeing as this is much better, and way creepier. Lake Mungo really is a very simple film, it follows the Palmer family as they deal with the loss of Alice (their daughter/sister). It is filmed in a documentary style, in which the family/friends/work associates are interviewed by an unseen person, with pictures and video footage shown as well. Eventually we discover Alice had many secrets, and the family try to find out about them and if they had anything to do with her passing.

Lake Mungo (2008) Trailer

The plot does not sound enticing, in fact, it sounds rather plain, however, this is not case fortunately. The documentary style really suits the film, and the actors are incredible and almost seem like they are not acting at all. The scares spaced throughout are genuinely freaky, and really got under my skin. Anderson makes sure the atmosphere is kept dense throughout the whole film, making every minute feel ominous. However, Lake Mungo does not just focus on the horror, but also how the family deals with the grief, and what they are willing to believe and do to help each other and themselves. The scenes in between the supernatural images and occurrences focus on how each family member (and some friends) deal with all that happens, and it is done in a refreshingly realistic (not over-blown, sentimental, or dramatic) way. There are a few twists along the way, and the final scene is very well-done, and will stay with you for a long time. Do yourself a favour, go see this movie, support movies which are actually good and don’t rely on cheap scares.

Recently my awesome homeland have been releasing some damn good horror movies (see Wolf Creek, Rogue, Black Water, Dying Breed, Lucky Country) and Lake Mungo is one of the best.