INCIDENT AT LOCH NESS (2004)

Whilst taking my seat in the huge Auditori cinema in Sitges, I was intrigued, believing I was about to witness a fly-on-the-wall style documentary about the directing methods and techniques of Werner Herzog on a trip to try and capture the Loch Ness Monster on celluloid. One initial concern was that the forthcoming one and a half hours might be a little dry, but I’ve been a fan of the German director since seeing ‘Aguirre: Wrath of God’ (1971), Herzog’s interpretation of a Spanish Conquistador’s doomed quest for El Dorado, a stunning piece of film making with an unforgettable ending. ‘Incident at Loch Ness’ begins with a brief review of ‘Aguirre…’ and several other of Herzog’s most lauded productions (although disappointingly the 1980 production ‘Werner Herzog Eats His Shoe’ was omitted) and Herzog himself relates some of the wilder stories associated with his work, such as him pointing a gun at Klaus Kinski to force him to act on the set of ‘Fitzcarraldo’ (1982).
Interspliced with this introductory segment is footage of a meal at Herzog’s Californian ranch with his crew, featuring the director attempting to serve his guests with a dish that he believes may be poisonous. It was around this time that I began to question the sincerity of the film, and as events unfolded and Werner hits the Scottish Highlands, the pretence of realism is subtly abandoned and tongues are set quietly into cheeks. Following a disastrous pre production meeting during which it is revealed that the boat is too loud, the monster expert insane, the weather poor and the producer incompetent, shooting for the ‘documentary’ begins and we follow Herzog out onto the Loch for an incredibly entertaining hour or so.

‘Incident…’ is mostly shot on 16mm and as the events in the movie unfold, we witness it all through the lens of photographer and cameraman John Bailey, who constantly intrudes into private meetings and succeeds at times in infuriating the producer of Herzog’s documentary, Zak Penn (in reality the director of ‘Incident...’). Herzog himself plays his role with sublime style, expressing a wide range of emotions as his project progresses from hope to disappointment to utter disgust, and proves himself, along with the rest of the cast, to be able to keep a straight face throughout the most farcical of circumstances. The film also looks great, some of the long shots featuring the sombre looking Loch with brooding storm clouds overhead set the mood appropriately, and there are some minimalist yet dynamic C.G. I. monster sequences.
I decided to keep this review brief because I don’t want to spoil the pleasure of this movie by frittering away its secrets. Suffice to say that director Zak Penn’s first outing is a highly enjoyable one and it’s hilarious to see Werner Herzog more or less parodying his entire career. One particularly superb moment has Penn pointing a flare gun at Herzog whilst ordering him to keep filming a dummy Nessie being towed behind the boat for stock footage, before Herzog points out that the gun is not loaded! If you’re the kind of film fan who enjoys taking part in the strangest and most absurd type of adventure, check this out.

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