Review published 11th January 2026

Watch the official trailer.

Lake Mungo: A Grieving Family Confronts the Unexplainable

This is a mockumentary unlike anything you have ever seen, experienced, or witnessed before. Set in the year 2008, Lake Mungo tells the story of a sixteen-year-old girl named Alice Palmer (Talia Zucker) who drowned at a dam. After the tragic event, Alice’s family, consisting of her father Russell (David Pledger), her mother June (Rosie Traynor), and her brother Mathew (Martin Sharpe), try to move forward with their lives while continually grieving the loss of Alice. However, strange and unexplainable events begin to unfold in the family home, all suggesting that Alice is trying to gain the family’s attention.

Uncovering Hidden Truths: A Family’s Journey Through Mystery and the Supernatural

Desperate for answers, the family seek out the support of a local psychic and parapsychologist, who soon discovers that there was more to Alice’s life, things that no one ever knew about her. Rest assured, with a documentary and film crew present, everything about Alice’s past, the unexplained goings on in the home, and the conclusions surrounding Alice’s life will be questioned and investigated, and the truth of what really happened will be revealed.

Lake Mungo: A Haunting Found-Footage Thriller by Joel Anderson

Lake Mungo is a drama, horror, thriller. Most importantly, it is a found-footage-style film, shot to emulate a genuine documentary. The film was directed by Joel Anderson, whose other work includes only the short film The Rotting Woman from 2002.

A Tense and Unforgettable Mockumentary That Feels Completely Real

Without a doubt, the film’s greatest strength is its documentary style, which continues throughout the entire story and journey. This approach, and the information presented surrounding the strange, tragic, and unexplainable death, feels highly realistic and believable. If viewers were watching this film for the first time without knowing it is, in fact, fictional, many viewers would believe the story and find themselves tense throughout. I appreciated the attention to minor details throughout the film; it is, again, one of the most convincing mockumentaries to date. Where horror films like The Blair Witch Project convinced audiences that the found footage was real, this film achieves a similar effect as a fabricated documentary, with pacing and carefully timed reveals.

A Disturbingly Believable Mystery That Keeps You Guessing

Although the story is presented in the style of a documentary, the film delivers a compelling, deeply strange mystery that immediately draws audiences in from the opening act. Alice’s death, while tragic, is also highly bizarre, made even more questionable by the newfound ghostly and spiritual activity occurring within the Palmer family home. Are the supernatural sightings real or fake? Is Alice trying to contact her family? What really happened leading up to Alice’s death, and why?  The film introduces so many mysteries that you cannot help but become fully invested as everything unfolds. If you enjoy horror, there are plenty of tense, uncomfortable moments on screen, especially whenever the family captures something unsettling on camera. The performances, much like the documentary style itself, feel genuine and realistic, and when combined with the film’s careful presentation, the entire experience feels disturbingly believable.

A Hauntingly Real Mockumentary That Lingers Long After the Final Frame

Overall, Lake Mungo is a well-made mockumentary. The scariest element is how realistic the entire story feels, not to mention the many minor touches and extra details that make everything feel raw and genuine. There are several mysteries at play, and it is impossible not to be drawn in and compelled by the characters, leaving the viewer constantly desiring to understand the whys and hows behind what happened.  Lake Mungo is also an entertaining film that lingers long after it concludes, leaving you with plenty to think about. It was an experience that, for its time, felt new, creative, and unlike anything done before. This film earns my highest praise, and if you have never seen it, you truly should.

Lake Mungo (2008) is Now Available on 4K UHD thanks to Umbrella!

About the Reviewer

Peter Walkden

Film writer and curator with a deep passion for cinema, genre filmmaking, and physical media. Exploring new releases, cult favourites, and overlooked films, with a strong focus on atmosphere, storytelling, and the theatrical experience.

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