We acknowledge Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and give respect to their Elders, past and present.

Read our Statement of Reflection
Skip to main content
National Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive
National Film and Sound Archive

Lake Mungo

2008

Lake Mungo

2008

  • NFSA IDQN2VAVEX
  • TypeFilm
  • MediumMoving Image
  • FormFeature Film
  • Duration1 hr, 35 mins
  • GenresHorror, Drama
  • Year2008

After 16-year-old Alice Palmer (Talia Zucker) drowns while swimming in the local dam, there is a verdict of accidental death and her family buries her. What follows is a series of strange events in and around the Palmers' home as the mystery of their daughter's life and death deepens.

Lake Mungo uses a documentary style of filmmaking with actors in the place of interviewees telling the story. This clip is a good example, with the actor David Pledger giving a convincing performance as Alice's father Russell, relating an unsettling incident in the home as if it had actually happened.

We then see Russell's wife June (played by Rosie Traynor) and a family friend giving their opinion about Russell's behaviour and response to what he saw.

The dialogue seems ad libbed, giving it an effective, naturalistic feeling. The direction (of Joel Anderson) is very straightforward so we can concentrate on the storytelling and the result is compelling.

After 16-year-old Alice Palmer (Talia Zucker) drowns while swimming in the local dam, there is a verdict of accidental death and her family buries her. What follows is a series of strange events in and around the Palmers' home as the mystery of their daughter's life and death deepens.

Lake Mungo uses a documentary style of filmmaking with actors in the place of interviewees telling the story. This clip is a good example, with the actor David Pledger giving a convincing performance as Alice's father Russell, relating an unsettling incident in the home as if it had actually happened.

We then see Russell's wife June (played by Rosie Traynor) and a family friend giving their opinion about Russell's behaviour and response to what he saw.

The dialogue seems ad libbed, giving it an effective, naturalistic feeling. The direction (of Joel Anderson) is very straightforward so we can concentrate on the storytelling and the result is compelling.

  • Production company
    Mungo Productions Pty Ltd
    Director
    Joel Anderson
    Writer
    Joel Anderson
    Producers
    Georgie Nevile and David Rapsey
    Associate producers
    John Brawley and Joel Anderson
Industry professional? Go Pro

Need to license this item? A/V professionals and researchers can shortlist licensing enquiries via our NFSA Pro catalogue search and membership.

Get started with PRO

Collections to explore

  • Horror

  • Feature film

  • Science fiction

  • Start your own collection

    A free Your Stuff account allows you to save, organise and share your favourite videos, audio and stories.

More in Stories+

Personalized your experience

Save, create and share

With NFSA Your Stuff