Catfish

Catfish is a difficult film to describe. There are two parts to it: the build-up and the payoff. The build-up considers a New York photographer named Nev. He's started an online relationship with a family in Michigan. One day he received a drawing of one of his photos in the mail from an eight-year-old. Her name is Abby, and Nev's amusement and pleasure he derives from the drawings intrigues him. He begins to talk with the mother: Angela on Facebook, and he is even more pleased to hear that the drawings have been sold. Now Nev is in this network of people on Facebook. He begins a relationship that might turn romantic with the daughter: Megan. He talks to her on the phone, texts her, chats with her. Everything is going fine. His two best friends are filming all of this, interested in their friend's online relationship. Some things start to not add up, as Nev discovers that the gallery house that Abby has been selling the drawings at, has been essentially condemned for four years. After about eight months of Nev's relationship with Megan, Angela, and Abby, they decide to see what's real, and they all drive down to Michigan. This build-up is fascinating and riveting. It's tense and mysterious. And then there's the payoff, where we discover what's really going on, which is surprising and strange, but actually kind of moving and sad. I don't want to spoil it, because that would nullify all of the suspense that the first part offers, but the real heart of the film lies within the revelation near the end. It's the way these people act and why that makes it so interesting. It's a documentary, and its validity has been doubted. I do not doubt it. Catfish is fascinating.
Catfish: ✰✰✰1/2