Truth is more bizarre than fiction in this doco that gets behind the reality TV freakshow tale of a man fighting to recover his mummified leg from the guy who accidentally bought it at a storage-unit auction.
There’s much to savour in this deep fried documentary about a man who finds a foot in his second-hand barbecue.
Screened as part of NZIFF 2015
Finders Keepers 2015
This tale of John Wood, a simple man who fights fame monster Shannon Whisnant to recover his own mummified leg, is so deliciously bizarre it could have been adapted from the tattered pages of an old horror paperback. There’s a rare breed of doco that tells a tale so jaw-droppingly unbelievable and funny that audiences instantly think the entire story is one giant prank. Those familiar with the earlier Incredibly Strange hit The King of Kong are going to appreciate this story of another two larger-than-life men, who at first glance represent good and evil. As the story unfolds it reveals a much deeper and more complex symbiotic relationship between the two. Finders Keepers manages to showcase all the shades of grey in this rich mine.
Filmmakers Bryan Carberry and Clay Tweel let the tale unfold expertly and with a deft touch, cleverly letting all the principals tell their sides of the story, allowing the picture to build to a surprisingly emotional climax. See this one before everyone else spoils the fun for you. — AT