Forgotten Film Friday: Incident at Loch Ness

A retrospective by Brooks Rich

So this is going to be a little different coverage for a film as I don't want to give away anything about this film. This is one of the most forgotten films I've ever covered. No one seems to know this thing even exists. The joy of this film is going into it completely cold. Discover it as it unfolds. The basic idea is filmmaker Werner Herzog puts together an expedition to go finally prove the existence of the Loch Ness monster. Of course things go wrong and instead of making a documentary about the monster and the science behind it, Herzog's film turns into a documentary about a failed expedition to find the monster and how fast people turn on each other. It also explores Herzog's reputation as a filmmaker, especially the legends surrounding the making for Fitzcarraldo, such as that he apparently forced actor Klaus Kinski to continue doing the shoot at gunpoint.

Herzog is a fascinating figure in the world of cinema and this film gives an interesting look into his life away from the camera. Early on we see a strange offbeat side of Hollywood, one that exists away from the usual glamor and excess. Herzog seems to operate in a more working class and blue collar Hollywood. I think this is a film everyone should watch at least once. It seemed to come and go without making any sort of impact. That's a shame because this film is fascinating. Track it down for one of the most unusual experiences in film.

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