Mockumentaries have been around for a long time, since the
‘60s. The earliest music-themed one I can think of is “A Hard Day’s Night” by
the Beatles. This is Spinal Tap
breathed new life into the genre in the ‘80s. The movie created a set of
memorable scenes and enduring lines of petulant behavior, making it an
immediate sensation. A flood of mockumentaries, followed, each seeking to make its
own mark on the genre. But few would break away from the formula of success
blazed by Spinal Tap. Decades later,
in a world filled with found-footage, reality-footage, and YouTube videos, Spinal Tap
remains at a pinnacle that other faux attempts still attempt to achieve.
