A darkly comedic and highly entertaining mockumentary, Faking a Murderer explores the exploitative nature of the true crime genre as told through the actions of two filmmakers that are over their heads and without a clue.
The public are fascinated with serial killers, and the entertainment industry is only too happy to meet this demand. The rise of streaming platforms has especially brought with it a renewed hunger for this content, with feature movies and documentaries ready to be consumed by those with a love for true-crime stories.
Yes, the true crime story is big business, which is why Canadian filmmakers, writer/director Stuart Stone (Jack of All Trades) and writer/producer Aaron Rodness (Scarecrows), have gone all in on the sub-genre in Faking a Murderer. Well, sort of. The pair play fictionalised versions of themselves looking to strike it rich in the true-crime field after they unearth a YouTube video of a drunken lout supposedly confessing to a murder. Convinced he is the real thing, Stuart and Adam manage to secure funding and track down their could-be serial killer, only to find their true-crime meal ticket could be a hoax.
A meta-mockumentary told with a gonzo spirit, Faking a Murderer succeeds as a consistently engrossing watch that blends the line between reality and fiction. Even a somewhat ludicrous third act has some merit in its commentary of how these stories can and do exploit real life tragedy for commercial gain, no matter what the cost.
A highly improvised affair in which the majority of the crew, and indeed industry figures, had no idea of the faux nature of the films “documentary” style, Faking a Murderer succeeds not only on the filmmaking prowess of Stone and Rodness, but their on-screen work as well, the pair making fun of themselves as filmmakers whose egos have taken them into the deep end of shark infested waters. Great too is Canadian character actor Tony Nappo who brings a wild energy and palpable danger as the suspected murderer.
A genre hybrid with strong yet never overwhelming commentary throughout, Faking a Murderer takes its rightful place amongst the pantheon of mockumentaries with an edge.
