Recently Watched Films

Probably the most famous one is the 1922 silent Haxan, which is an actual docudrama. I've never seen it but would like to. 

There's also Ghostwatch, a somewhat infamous British TV movie from 1992, that I've also never seen. Totally faked mockumentary of course but they presented it as if it was all happening live. 

I think the only film I've seen that would really fit the idea of documentary style horror without actually being found footage horror is Lake Mungo. Which was better than most in that style but not really my thing. It may also be of interest though, if you don't know it. 

I don't think this is a widely explored genre to be honest. I do also know of an animated docudrama called Borley Rectory, which is about a place that's local to me, but I also haven't seen that and can't speak for its quality. 

Disc 1: Escape in the Fog. Wartime spy noir. Quite short, clocking in barely past the hour. It loses something by hinging a major plot point on the 100% correct clairvoyant dream of its female lead, which detracts from the realism of the setting. Not a best start to this boxset but overall very watchable. 

Columbia Noir boxsets also each include a Three Stooges short. First up:

Quite fun slapstick taking the piss of Hitler and the Third Reich. You know, as you do. 

not very good

Probably because it wasn't very good. Right from the start I just couldn't give a shit about these characters. 

Some interesting aspects, some good actors among the cast and overall watchable enough, but also at the end of the day a bit meh. Released in 2000, the plot hinges heavily on the so called 'Face on Mars' photographed in real life in 1976. In 2001, better pictures of the area confirmed what was obvious to anyone with half a brain cell: that it was pareidolia all along. 

It's also not the sort of movie I expect from Brian de Palma, who was the main reason I watched it. I guess this movie is the point he's truly entered his directing decline. 

The ending's a right downer, but the rest of it's a pretty fun movie. Not a full on comedy as expected, but fun. 

Disc 3: Drive a Crooked Road. Another solid film. Starts off playing out like a romance, but turning into a heist film. Betrayals abound like they're going out of style. 

Three Stooges short:

Only thematically linked to the feature by the garage setting. Mostly this is another pisstake at the Germans in WWII. Personally like preferred this one to You Nazty Spy!

In between watching my latest additions to the collection, I've pulled a load of movies off my shelf that I've had the longest but never watched again/for a long time. This was first up. I remember enjoying it a few years ago, but today I just found it all tedious and I lost interest quickly. Didn't hold up at all. Colin may be interested if still looking for documentary style stuff. More sci-fi I guess but I think it may apply. Personally though I'm putting on the get rid pile. I don't need to see this a third time. 

I think Daniel Craig is my favourite Bond. The 1967 abomination starring David Niven doesn't deserve to share this name. Lots of big noisy fun. I particularly liked the sequence with the sinking building.