Catfish is a difficult film to review, as the biggest moment in this documentary is also the one that can’t be revealed without spoiling it for anyone that has yet to see it. It is a documentary from filmmakers Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman that focuses on Schulman’s 24-year old photographer brother, Yaniv “Nev” Schulman, as he experiences a shocking surprise stemming from a romance that began on Facebook.
The main storyline is involved around this with many twists and turns in the tale. This is clear from the outset in the trailer. But what you won’t gleam from the trailers is that while the surprise might be the driving force of the documentary, the film really shines in the deep and thoughtful examination of why things are the way they are in the first place.
Now, I'm going to try and do a brief summary of the film: this is where the SPOILERS are!
In short, New York photographer Yaniv "Nev" Schulman strikes up an online correspondence with an 8-year-old (!) called Abby, who sends him a painting she's done of one of his photographs.
From there, he begins to interact with Abby's mother, Angela, and Abby's older half-sister Megan, with whom he soon finds himself in an e-romance.
Throughout this, a creeping dread suffuses the film until it becomes fairly clear that Abby and her family aren't necessarily all they're cracked up to be.
A trip to catch Angela and co. unawares in her hometown of Ishpeming, Michigan reveals the truth behind the "people" that Nev - and, by now, his brother Ariel and friend Henry - have been interacting with.
Catfish raises many questions, though "is it real?" is the least of its worries. Why, for example, would a grown man think it appropriate to enter into an online friendship with an 8-year-old? Why would her mother actively encourage it?
Oddly enough, considering the film's resolution, the relationship with Megan is the least problematic. Most people would admit to having experienced at least an element of online romance at one time or another, either via Twitter, a blog, a mailing list, or good old fashioned internet dating.
I'm not going to spoil everything and am going to recommend that you all watch this film! I thoroughly enjoyed and was waiting to find out what happens next. At some points, you could even assume it to be a horror film. I think I like it in the ending when it is revealed why it is called Catfish, however I now cannot find it anywhere. haha! There goes my amazing ending with the quote, but if you watch the film you will know the quote I am speaking about.
Stars: *****
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