What in Tarnation? You might have heard this phrase and wondered about its origins, especially if you're a film buff. This Southern idiom additives a certain charm when asking "What on Earth?", but it also happens to be the title of an intriguing cult classic. What in Tarnation is a 2005 American mockumentary that initially left audiences bewildered and ultimately gained a dedicated fanbase.
Set in the small town of Thurber, Texas, the film claims to be a documentary about the bizarre disappearance of the town's young people. Unlike typical mockumentaries, "What in Tarnation" presents itself as a serious investigation, which makes its eventual reveal all the more shocking. Filmmakers David and Nathan Zellner craft a unique narrative that blurs the line between fiction and reality, inviting viewers to question what they're watching.
Understanding Mockumentary Techniques
The mockumentary genre is a peculiar one, utilizing the structure and aesthetic of a documentary to tell a fictional story. "What in Tarnation" employs this style masterfully, using interviews, reenactments, and local news footage to build a compelling yet confusing narrative. The film relies heavily on the trust audiences place in documentaries, making its twist even more impactful.
One technique the Zellner brothers employ is the use of intentional absurdity. While the core concept of the film is grounded, the details and events that unfold are so strange that they border on the absurd. This dissonance creates a sense of unease that keeps viewers engaged, drawing them into the mystery.
M boring Reality
At its heart, "What in Tarnation" is a dark comedy that critiques the sensationalism of mainstream media. The film plays on the idea of small-town America and its obsession with lurid, perplexing stories. By presenting the townspeople's recollections with deadpan seriousness, the film highlights the mundane and often banal nature of reality, which can be at odds with our expectations of compelling narratives.
The interviews within the film are a highlight, with each character providing new, often contradicting, theories about the disappearances. These interview subjects range from the eccentric to the ordinary, and their collective testimonies paint a complex, disorienting picture of events.
Deconstructing Reality
As the narrative unfolds, "What in Tarnation" begins to deconstruct itself, as well as the very nature of reality. This is achieved through a series of metatextual elements that break the fourth wall and challenge the film's docu-realistic veneer. These moments heighten the overall experience, compelling viewers to interrogate what they're witnessing.
In one notable scene, a title card announces a lapse in time, only for the narrative to pick up as if nothing happened. Another memorable scene features characters blatantly discussing the film's production. These instances of self-referential humor serve to disorient viewers, further blurring the line between truth and fiction.
The Execution of Unique Humor
"What in Tarnation" is not a laugh-out-loud comedy, but rather a film that evokes a wry, smirking amusement. Its humor is subtle and dry, often understated, and requires viewers to appreciate its nuances. This brand of humor is unique and divisive, characteristic of the Zellner brothers' distinctive style.
The film's deadpan delivery is offset by moments of pastoral beauty. The landscapes of Thurber, Texas serve as a backdrop, with wide-open spaces and desolate roads contrasting starkly with the bizarre events unfolding within. This visual dichotomy enhances the film's unique atmosphere, making it all the more memorable.
Discovering the Zellner Brothers' Style
David and Nathan Zellner have created a unique cinematic universe, with "What in Tarnation" serving as an early entry point. Their films often play with reality and expectation, using humor and absurdity to explore serious themes. Their later works, such as "Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter" and "Damsel", further exemplify their distinctive style.
Exploring the Zellner brothers' filmography provides a deeper appreciation for their unique sensibilities. Their work challenges viewers, inviting them to engage with their films in a way that few others do. This level of intellectual honesty and artistic bravery is what makes "What in Tarnation" a standout cult classic.
So, what is "What in Tarnation"? It's a film that defies easy categorization, a blend of mockumentary, drama, and comedy. It's a film that demands active viewing, urging you to question what you're seeing and entertaining you in the process. If you're a fan of the unexpected, the peculiar, and the profoundly strange, "What in Tarnation" is a film worth discovering.