Wikipedia defines mockumentary as "a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format". The format is often used to give authenticity to the story that is being told.
Given the incapability of the eighties directors (besides some chosen names like John Carpenter) to transmit horror, it was obvious that it was necessary to find another way to tell horror stories, a way that was capable of shocking the new audiences that had already seen "everything" on the tv. So that new path was mockumentary.
But how did it all began? This is not intended to be a complete list, but an initiation to the genre.
Let's say it all began with "Alternative 3" (1977).
Given the incapability of the eighties directors (besides some chosen names like John Carpenter) to transmit horror, it was obvious that it was necessary to find another way to tell horror stories, a way that was capable of shocking the new audiences that had already seen "everything" on the tv. So that new path was mockumentary.
But how did it all began? This is not intended to be a complete list, but an initiation to the genre.
Let's say it all began with "Alternative 3" (1977).
The programme was originally suppossed to be aired on Fool's Day but it was finally aired on June 1977. It was part of the science series "Science Report", and it investigated the disappearence of several scientists and it unveiled a secret plan for the event of the world's ending (and idea that was later used for "2012").
The effect of the airing of "Alternative 3" was similar to the one produced by Orson Welles' "The War of the Worlds" on the radio.
"Zelig" (1983)
Woody Allen directed in 1983 this mockumentary about a man, Zelig, who is discovered for his remarkable ability to transform himself to resemble anyone he's near.
"This is Spinal Tap" (1984)
Rob Reiner directed this mockumentary about the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap.
"The film satirizes the wild personal behavior and musical pretensions of hard rock and heavy metal musical bands, as well as the hagiographic tendencies of rock documentaries of the time."
"Ghostwatch" (1992)
"Ghostwatch" was a joke from the BBC released on Halloween. It was a mockumentary developed as false live program. The basis of the argument was to send a research team (host, camera and sound assistant) to a house where alleged paranormal phenomena occurred. Meanwhile, on the set, the main host and an expert analyse the events taking place in the house, while several volunteers answer calls from viewers (read more about it - Google Translated).
"Waiting for Guffman" (1996)
Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy renewed the world of mockumentaries with "Waiting for Guffman" and "Best in show".
"Waiting for Guffman" follows a director and the cast of a small-town Missouri musical production go overboard when they learn that someone from Broadway will be in attendance.
"Blair Witch Project" (1999)
What's left to say about the "Blair Witch Project"? A great low budget marketing campaign, frantic camera movements, and the most famous mucus in the history of cinema.
But indeed a great idea for a minimum budget horror movie.: three students shooting a documentary about the so-called Blair Witch left in the forest alone.
The tapes are found later and edited for the big screen. That's how the official story goes.
"Best in Show" (2000)
Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy created another impressive mockumentary, this time about a bunch of characters competes at a national dog show. Hilarious.
"Incident at Loch Ness" (2004)
Werner Herzong cowrote and started this mockumentary from script writer Zak Penn, about a bunch of filmmakers that pretend to capture de Loch Ness monster in a documentary.
"[Rec]" (2007)
The film tells the story of a host and a television camera, while shooting a documentary that pretendss to show the live of firefighters. The description of the community is probably the issue that may rise higher criticism. Personally, I think anyone who has ever seen the real Spain, or even the news or other information, would know that the characters described in [REC] are completely believable.
The effect of the airing of "Alternative 3" was similar to the one produced by Orson Welles' "The War of the Worlds" on the radio.
"Zelig" (1983)
Woody Allen directed in 1983 this mockumentary about a man, Zelig, who is discovered for his remarkable ability to transform himself to resemble anyone he's near.
"This is Spinal Tap" (1984)
Rob Reiner directed this mockumentary about the fictional heavy metal band Spinal Tap.
"The film satirizes the wild personal behavior and musical pretensions of hard rock and heavy metal musical bands, as well as the hagiographic tendencies of rock documentaries of the time."
"Ghostwatch" (1992)
"Ghostwatch" was a joke from the BBC released on Halloween. It was a mockumentary developed as false live program. The basis of the argument was to send a research team (host, camera and sound assistant) to a house where alleged paranormal phenomena occurred. Meanwhile, on the set, the main host and an expert analyse the events taking place in the house, while several volunteers answer calls from viewers (read more about it - Google Translated).
"Waiting for Guffman" (1996)
Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy renewed the world of mockumentaries with "Waiting for Guffman" and "Best in show".
"Waiting for Guffman" follows a director and the cast of a small-town Missouri musical production go overboard when they learn that someone from Broadway will be in attendance.
"Blair Witch Project" (1999)
What's left to say about the "Blair Witch Project"? A great low budget marketing campaign, frantic camera movements, and the most famous mucus in the history of cinema.
But indeed a great idea for a minimum budget horror movie.: three students shooting a documentary about the so-called Blair Witch left in the forest alone.
The tapes are found later and edited for the big screen. That's how the official story goes.
"Best in Show" (2000)
Christopher Guest and Eugene Levy created another impressive mockumentary, this time about a bunch of characters competes at a national dog show. Hilarious.
"Incident at Loch Ness" (2004)
Werner Herzong cowrote and started this mockumentary from script writer Zak Penn, about a bunch of filmmakers that pretend to capture de Loch Ness monster in a documentary.
"[Rec]" (2007)
The film tells the story of a host and a television camera, while shooting a documentary that pretendss to show the live of firefighters. The description of the community is probably the issue that may rise higher criticism. Personally, I think anyone who has ever seen the real Spain, or even the news or other information, would know that the characters described in [REC] are completely believable.
"[Rec]" is probably one of the best movies of this list, for the first time a "first-person shooter" is used to transmit real horror efectively (read more about it - Google Translated).
"Paranormal Activity" (2007)
The plot of the film revolves around a couple who suffer the inconveniences of a series of paranormal phenomena at night at their home. In order to prove whether they are real or not, they install security cameras, in order to record their bedroom every night. These recordings show that their fears are well founded. Recorded events will go in crescendo until a dramatic ending (read more about it - Google Translated).
"District 9" (2009)
Really original starting point "District 9": a giant alien ship (something like the motherships of "V", comes to Earth, and lands on Johannesburg, South Africa. But the aliens do not come to declare war on humanity nor with peaceful purposes, they are in fact inmigrant refugees, starving and malnourished that, for some unknown reason, have come to our planet.
All aliens are then relocated to a special area of the city, called District 9, which quickly becomes a ghetto. Twenty years later, with the obvious problems of coexistence, the authorities decide to relocate the aliens in a new area (ready more about it - Google Translated).
"Cloverfield" (2008)
Let's admit it, "Cloverfield" is certainly entertaining but we expected more from JJ Abrams. Perhaps the beginning may seem a bit slow, but it serves to introduce us to that group of friends (although they may fall off more or less sympathetic). They were then followed throughout the rest of the night, in his comings and goings in the Big Apple (read more about it - Google Translated).
"The Troll Hunter" (2010)
The plot revolves around the topic group of students from journalism / filmmaking that decide to make the report to them the doors will be professional world. In order not to reveal anything of the argument we will say only that the contact group with a troll hunter (the title) that will tell you and show you the secrets of their work.
Technically the film has a level comparable to any Hollywood production. Especially grateful is that, despite being a fake documentary, not abused dizzying camera movements (how erroneously confused with some realism) (read more about it - Google Translated).
"The Last Exorcism" (2010)
Parallel to the invasion of mockumentaries we "suffered" a flood of exorcists movies ("The Possession of Emma Evans", "The rite", etc.)
"Grave Encounters"
The subgenre inside the subgenre: a mockumentary about paranormal investigators (exactly the same as "Episode 50" or "House of bones").
Something like sending some paranormal investigators to the hospital of "Session 9".
"Apollo 18"
"Apollo 18" mixes fantasy and terror, under the umbrella of the mockumentary. The plot tells the story of Apollo 18, a NASA mission, the secret tapes of which are recovered and leaked on a website (are you thinking of Wikileaks?).
These tapes show the journey of the astronauts (always imitating the suggestive texture of the original expeditions of the sixties and seventies). Aparently it is just another journey to the moon, but the trip's real destination is in fact the dark side of the moon.
They will discover that there is something else on the moon besides rocks (read more about it - Google Translated).
"Paranormal Activity" (2007)
The plot of the film revolves around a couple who suffer the inconveniences of a series of paranormal phenomena at night at their home. In order to prove whether they are real or not, they install security cameras, in order to record their bedroom every night. These recordings show that their fears are well founded. Recorded events will go in crescendo until a dramatic ending (read more about it - Google Translated).
"District 9" (2009)
Really original starting point "District 9": a giant alien ship (something like the motherships of "V", comes to Earth, and lands on Johannesburg, South Africa. But the aliens do not come to declare war on humanity nor with peaceful purposes, they are in fact inmigrant refugees, starving and malnourished that, for some unknown reason, have come to our planet.
All aliens are then relocated to a special area of the city, called District 9, which quickly becomes a ghetto. Twenty years later, with the obvious problems of coexistence, the authorities decide to relocate the aliens in a new area (ready more about it - Google Translated).
"Cloverfield" (2008)
Let's admit it, "Cloverfield" is certainly entertaining but we expected more from JJ Abrams. Perhaps the beginning may seem a bit slow, but it serves to introduce us to that group of friends (although they may fall off more or less sympathetic). They were then followed throughout the rest of the night, in his comings and goings in the Big Apple (read more about it - Google Translated).
"The Troll Hunter" (2010)
The plot revolves around the topic group of students from journalism / filmmaking that decide to make the report to them the doors will be professional world. In order not to reveal anything of the argument we will say only that the contact group with a troll hunter (the title) that will tell you and show you the secrets of their work.
Technically the film has a level comparable to any Hollywood production. Especially grateful is that, despite being a fake documentary, not abused dizzying camera movements (how erroneously confused with some realism) (read more about it - Google Translated).
"The Last Exorcism" (2010)
Parallel to the invasion of mockumentaries we "suffered" a flood of exorcists movies ("The Possession of Emma Evans", "The rite", etc.)
"Grave Encounters"
The subgenre inside the subgenre: a mockumentary about paranormal investigators (exactly the same as "Episode 50" or "House of bones").
Something like sending some paranormal investigators to the hospital of "Session 9".
"Apollo 18"
"Apollo 18" mixes fantasy and terror, under the umbrella of the mockumentary. The plot tells the story of Apollo 18, a NASA mission, the secret tapes of which are recovered and leaked on a website (are you thinking of Wikileaks?).
These tapes show the journey of the astronauts (always imitating the suggestive texture of the original expeditions of the sixties and seventies). Aparently it is just another journey to the moon, but the trip's real destination is in fact the dark side of the moon.
They will discover that there is something else on the moon besides rocks (read more about it - Google Translated).
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