Incident at Loch Ness

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B     Extras: B     Film: C

 

 

How does one take a program like Incident at Loch Ness…. it is a documentary?  A film?  A mockumentary or a film making fun of the mockumentary in general?  Perhaps the whole purpose of this is to create an enigma for the audience to simply wonder for themselves.  The titles state almost exactly what we are dealing with as a crew is sent out to explore the legendary sightings of The Loch Ness monster. 

 

It is probably fair to say that your experience with this film in general will probably be dependant on how you feel about the documentary genre in general.  Are you the type that wants straight up facts or do you like a bit of fiction tied in as well as person agenda and/or opinions.  I hate when people say that documentaries are intended to be unbiased because you cannot make a film and not have a particular side, or a particular focus.  From the moment that you look through the lens of the camera you are cutting off that image from the rest and therefore putting an agenda into what you are creating.  You are making a story based on what you capture and then what you edit together to explore your narrative. 

 

Now, when dealing with something that is mythological in general, what facts really have any concrete evidence?  Well, watch and find out if you dare!  Interestingly enough the film stars famed German director Werner Herzog and a few other people simply playing themselves including Kitana Baker (a former Playboy playmate) and Zak Penn, the director of the film.  This is Penn’s first directing effort although he has been responsible for writing Last Action Hero (1993), Behind Enemy Lines (2001), X2 (2003), and Elektra (2005).  While he does have some serious writing credits to his name and will also be writing the upcoming Spy Hunter and X-Men 3, there is no question this might be his last film to direct. 

 

For me, I kept waiting for Werner Herzog to start directing the film midway through and turn their vessel into Aguirre: The Wrath of God, Part 2, which may have been more interesting.  What will be difficult for most viewers is to really discern what the heck the purpose is anyway.  After watching it you may know less than you did going into it and there are few and far between pay-off moments, aside from scenes with Kitana. 

 

Believe it or not Fox is behind the release of this DVD and are out to make it look as interesting as possible treating it like a film that people actually heard about, although that is quite doubtful.  Most people will expect it to be some sort of horror film or suspense film; perhaps even a comedy mixed with those ingredients, but will be heavily disappointed by the films delivery. 

 

Presented in a 1.85 X 1 anamorphic transfer, the film does look good, even with having a documentary-like texture and being shot in 16mm and then blown up to 35mm for print.  Believe it or not the film was shot by John Bailey, who has had a mixture of good projects over his career.  Ranging from Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters, which in an incredibly well shot film directed by Paul Schrader and then Bailey has also worked on projects like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.  Although he still has more good films in his bag overall like The Kid Stays in the Picture, In the Line of Fire, or Groundhog Day.  Here he captures the footage as best as possible and should not be held accountable for the narrative or lack thereof. 

 

Fox also presents the film with a Dolby Digital 5.1 mix, which is to some degree stereo in nature throughout with little giving evidence of a surround feel.  There are quite a few extras on this disc for the film being questionable.  First we have a commentary track with Herzog and Penn, which is followed by a handful of outtakes and deleted scenes.  As if those weren’t enough there are a few testimonials and some other miscellaneous pieces that give little incentive for checking out.  For example The Life of a Hollywood Producer, which explains the process of getting the film made or the few that are done on Werner Herzog and even a few on the Loch Ness monster in general.  All of these are nice additions, but once again it’s all about whether you could care less about the film. 

 

I give credit to Fox for making this an excellent DVD for those that are certainly interesting in seeing it or exploring it.  For those that are fans of Werner Herzog you may have mixed feelings here as very little is explored specifically towards him.  I suppose this one is like playing the lotto, have the chance of getting a lot, but most people loose out.

 

 

-   Nate Goss