Incident at Loch Ness

Dir: Zak Penn

2004

*****

Zak Penn’s Incident at Loch Ness is a film within a film, within a film, within a film in the form of a mockumentary, and is as sharp as a knife. It explores the world of film – specifically modern documentary and sensationalism, with a cutting sense of humour, made all the more authentic with the addition of documentary great Werner Herzog. Herzog and Penn actually wrote the film together, and clearly had lots of fun working on it. It starts as a documentary focused on the production of a movie called Herzog in Wonderland, a film by John Bailey that looks to act as an overview of Herzog’s work method as he himself begins to work on a separate documentary called Enigma of Loch Ness. Enigma of Loch Ness, produced by Penn and directed by Herzog (starring both) explores the legend and myth of the Loch Ness Monster, with Herzog’s underlining assertion that the beast is merely a creation of a collective psychological need in society. The film is separated into unspoken chapters, not just in terms of location but also in terms of layer. It starts at Herzog’s Californian home where he hosts a dinner party that includes stars including Jeff Goldblum and Ricky Jay (with Crispin Glover making a hilarious ‘sorry I’m late’ last minute cameo). The guest wax lyrical about film until producer Zak Penn (who plays himself) clearly wants the Loch Ness film to be a high-grossing blockbuster, rather than a typical Herzog documentary. He hires sexy cast members and fake experts to interject a bit of sensationalism into the film and pushes Herzog to the very limits, reminding him of his own reputation along the way. When Herzog finds out that a fake monster has been built for the film he loses his cool and storms off set, only for a real monster to make an appearance – or does it. By the end it’s not clear whether it is real, and if it is a fake, who is responsible, is the first film a fake or is the film it is filming a fake, or is the film the audience watching the real fake? It’s a post-modern masterpiece. While I think knowledge of Herzog and his films would be advantageous to viewers, I think it is still fairly universal. It’s actually a film that will please lovers of both genres explored, it’s very clever and entertaining throughout. I love how knowing Herzog is about his own films and how happy he seems to send himself up – without really sending himself up. Zak Penn is really the one who sends himself up, but in doing so he actually makes himself look rather intelligent – it really isn’t as complicated as I’m making out. It’s a pretty ambiguous film that can say as little or as much as the viewer wants to hear. I like the way that it is left up to interpretation, Herzog and Penn even keep in character for the DVD commentary. It is amazing how this feels like a Zak Penn film and a Werner Herzog film, even though the two men’s films are completely different. Penn wrote Last Action Hero, X2 and went on to write The Incredible Hulk and The Avengers, while Herzog has made some of the most incredible films ever filmed, with amazing documentaries including Grizzly Man and Little Dieter Needs to Fly. It’s wonderful when opposites attract and make something this good together. Penn went on to make his own documentary ten years later, one of my personal favourites Atari: Game Over but Herzog is still to make an action film, although he has appeared within the genre a couple of times as an actor. As a Herzog fanatic I loved the idea behind the film and I think they pulled it off, when I really didn’t think they would but part of me now really wants to see Herzog make a big blockbuster, a superhero film or a horror. Penn, who is clearly a fan, picked up on an idea when I think Herzog was only really beginning to be recognised by real mainstream audiences. It is rare that something so clever and self-aware is so funny, a unique and brilliant project.