Mockumentary
Though the term was coined in reference to the groundbreaking 'This is Spinal Tap', Rob Reiner cannot claim ownership of the fake documentary genre. Woody Allen's debut as director 'Take the Money and Run' is an early example, but undoubtedly the number of these satirical slices of life has risen of late, reflecting the popularity (and banality) of reality television. Christopher Guest took the format and ran with it ('Best in Show', 'A MIghty Wind', 'Waiting for Guffman'), and classics include serial killer profile 'Man Bites Dog', Lars von Trier oddity 'The Idiots' and of course the cringingly accurate 'The Office'. Check out Alice's collection below.
[ Rec ] (2007)
7.5/10
Director: Jaume Balaguero, Paco Plaza
Starring: Ferran Terraza, Manuela Velasco, David Vert
A barnstorming, cinema verite horror experience that pulls few punches, fears no genre taboo, and reaches for the throat. While filming segments for a... Read more
Razzle Dazzle (2007)
6.5/10
Director: Darren Ashton
Starring: Kerry Armstrong, Ben Miller, Nadine Garner, Tara Morice, Denise Roberts, Jane Ha...
The bizarre world of children's dance competitions gets the satirical treatment in this Australian mockumentary about a dance teacher and his troupe a... Read more
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan ( Blu-ray ) (2006)
7.3/10
Director: Larry Charles
Starring: Pamela Anderson, Sacha Baron Cohen, Luenell , Ken Davitian
Sacha Baron Cohen stirred up a legal hornet's nest when he took his obnoxious Kazakh reporter character, Borat, on the road in the US and A. From drun... Read more
Radiant City (2006)
7/10
Director: Jim Brown, Gary Burns
Shot in Alberta, Canada, this mock documentary takes a satiric look at 21st-century suburban sprawl...and dislikes what it finds! Taking a harsh but h... Read more
Stalking Santa (2006)
5.7/10
Director: Greg Kiefer
Starring: Chris Clark, Daryn Tufts, Lisa Clark, Narrated by, William Shatner
A devoted 'Santaologist' in search of the world's greatest living mystery attempts to cut through government conspiracy, big business hush-ups, and co... Read more
The Zombie Diaries (2006)
4.1/10
Director: Michael Bartlett, Kevin Gates
Starring: Jonnie Hurn, Russell Jones, Craig Stovin, James Fisher, Anna Blades, Imogen Chur...
A budget indie flick following three groups of people caught up in a zombifying viral outbreak in the UK, each with their trusty handicams rolling the... Read more
Chalk (2006)
6.3/10
Director: Mike Akel
Starring: Troy Schremmer, Chris Mass, Janelle Schremmer, Shannon Haragan
Life in the trenches at a typical American High School is hilariously satirised in this spot-on mockumentary that follows four beleaguered teachers th... Read more
The Garth Method (2006)
4.7/10
Director: Gregory Pakis
Starring: Gregory Pakis, Katrina Baylis, Scott Terrill, Jamie Unicomb, Jo Buckley, Elena N...
Writer/director Gregory Pakis also stars in this nutty mockumentary about an out-of-work actor so desperate he decides to make his own film - by kidna... Read more
The Office (US): Season 3, Part 1 (2006)
Starring: Steve Carell, Rainn Wilson, John Krasinski, Jenna Fischer, BJ Novak
Steve Carell is back in his Golden Globe-winning role as the endlessly (and hilariously) ignorant Michael Scott. Pam and Jim are still the star-crosse... Read more
Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon (2006)
6.8/10
Director: Scott Glosserman
Starring: Nathan Baesel, Angela Goethals, Robert Englund, Scott Wilson, Zelda Rubinstein
A cleverly black lampoon on the slasher genre, with several documentary students convincing wannabe serial killer, Leslie Vernon, to let them follow h... Read more