A Fantastic Myth, but it "BORROWS" from previous a film...

Rating: 9/10 (2 September 1999)

I enjoyed this film, especially it's original story and presentation. Heather Donahue delivered a fabulous performance, and "Mike" was very funny. However, I must say that as far as the documentary concept, and including several shots (like the final fall of the camera in the last scene) the film- makers
unashamedly RIPPED OFF the French film MAN BITES DOG (1992).
That earlier film was about three independent film- makers who follow a murderer on his daily rounds. They soon get tired and frightened of him, and eventually their lighting man is killed. This scene includes a frantic chase up a flight of stairs in an abandoned warehouse, with displacement of sound due to the distance of the sound man. The scene then goes down the stairs into a dark basement, which is lit only by the new lighting man. The final scenes involve the death of all in the crew, including the cameraman, who falls to the ground at a tilted angle. The cam does not move, and we see the empty room, but not the killers. Now tell me if THAT'S not a rip- off.