Between the emerging details surrounding the gruesome deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner, and the inflammatory remarks made in response by President Donald Trump, it’s been hard to sit and reflect on the legacy Reiner left behind as a filmmaker.

During his directorial peak in the ’80s and ’90s, Reiner built a diverse catalog that few filmmakers of today’s more risk-averse Hollywood can emulate. His greatest hits from that run include the adventure comedy The Princess Bride, the iconic rom-com When Harry Met Sally, critically acclaimed Stephen King adaptations Stand by Me and Misery, and the political drama A Few Good Men.

And yet, arguably his most influential movie is his 1984 directorial debut This Is Spinal Tap, the rare project he authored himself, alongside his frequent collaborator Christopher Guest. It’s also the most emblematic of Reiner’s witty, sardonic sensibility as a comedian. The “mockumentary,” about a fictional heavy-metal band, is frequently referenced by A-list comedians as a crucial reference point and site of inspiration. More significantly, it helped popularize a blending of genres, comedy and nonfiction, that’s become omnipresent in pop culture.

To understand the cultural impact of Reiner’s first directorial feature, Vox spoke to Emerson College professor Cynthia Miller, editor of the 2012 anthology, Too Bold for the Box Office: The Mockumentary From Big Screen to Small, over email. The interview has been edited for clarity.

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