Horror Director Mike Flanagan Priases Terrifying Free-To-Stream Gem: “I wasn’t ready”

Mike Flanagan
OUIJA: ORIGIN OF EVIL, director Mike Flanagan, on set, 2016. ph: Justin M. Lubin/© Universal Pictures /Courtesy Everett Collection

Mike Flanagan has gifted us with some exceptional recommendations of late. And that’s no surprise, seeing as he has a firm grasp on the nuance of filmmaking and understands what makes for an effective scare. We are back with another suggestion from the celebrated creator today.

This time around, we are showcasing a recommendation from the stuck-at-home binge guide Flanagan compiled for Rotten Tomatoes during the lockdown phase of the pandemic. This selection is a slow-burn found footage chiller that deserves widespread acclaim but has long flown under the radar. I’m talking about Joel Anderson’s Lake Mungo.

I have to admit that I didn’t fully connect with this one until my second viewing. I think I was put off by the slow pace and failed to give the film a proper chance. But since paying Lake Mungo a repeat visit, it has become one of my favorite found footage features. With that said, you don’t have to take my word for it. See what Mike Flanagan has to say about the film below.

“I have been recommending Joel Anderson’s unforgettable film to people for years and used to actually stockpile copies of it to give away,” Flanagan told Rotten Tomatoes. “This wonderful ghost story presents itself as a documentary of a family’s haunting, complete with talking-head interviews, but reveals itself to be something else entirely. There is a tragic secret at the heart of Lake Mungo, and for all the chills (and believe me, there are many), I wasn’t ready for just how impactful the tragedy would be. I’ve been waiting since 2008 for the next Joel Anderson film.”

Here’s the narrative breakdown: Alice drowns while swimming and her family begins experiencing inexplicable events in their home. The family hires a parapsychologist whose investigation unveils Alice’s secret double life and leads them all to Lake Mungo.

Stay tuned to the site for more recommendations from the masters as we learn them. And be sure to follow @DreadCentral on Twitter to make sure you never miss an update.

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