Catfish Review

I find it nearly impossible to write this review without knowing whether this film is a completely 100% authentic documentary or a fabricated cautionary tale of modern computer-based love. Much like the mockumentary films that have been consistently entering the multiplexes as of late (most notably I'm Still Here), there's been some argument as to whether the whole thing is real or not. On one hand, if this film is fiction, the filmmakers put together a group of authentic families, websites of each character, believable faux documentary style filmmaking, etc. On the other hand, if the film is a documentary, why the hell would people create a film based off of a man creating a relationship with an eight year old girl over Facebook? Why would Nev not run for the hills as soon as he discovered Megan's true identity? In any case, most would say that it doesn't matter if it's real or not, as long as an entertaining story is told. Fuck those people. Here's the thing: whether or not the movie's real alters my rating for it, so I'll give two quick outlooks on it.

If this movie is fiction, it has some of the best, most authentic actors out there. Almost each individual (excluding the two friends holding the camera) is fully fleshed out and it's heartbreaking to see the motives and broken dreams of the two main characters. The filmmakers have gone to ridiculous lengths to make me feel like the film is real, too. Acting aside, the way the film is shot, edited, etc. is very believable, right down to blurring out people's last names (like they didn't have their permission to put their names in the film and so on). There were points of incredible suspense here (I had no idea what to expect at times) and I felt that I was just as nervous as Nev was during the scene where Nev goes to meet Megan for the first time. Unfortunately, the film didn't live up to its full potential. This could have been so many different things, but what they chose to do is a little underwhelming. Yes, the story is great, but the possibilities that they shunned to go with this particular story left me a little cold and wanting more. I wish more could've happened and the story itself (I think goes on for 8+ months) feels like it could have happened over the course of a few weeks.

If this movie is actually a documentary, it is a very fascinating story. It's incredible that these filmmakers were able to pick up on this story from the whim and it must have truly stunned them that such a tale as this was developed during their filming. I feel like there's hours and hours of unused footage that could've helped out the film and the fact that they chose to tell this story with such a small focus makes me feel like there could have been so much more.

The only single aspect that the two possibilities of fact or fiction share is that it's a good story. It seems like this really could (and does) happen multiple times every single day. Even thought the trailers are completely misleading, the movie presents a very intriguing premise and for that, I applaud them.

Overall, I liked the movie either way, even with its problems. I know it shouldn't matter as long as I was intrigued and entertained, but if the film IS fake (I really do think it is), I liked it a little less than if it were a documentary. Instead of stay focused on the movie, all I could do was find evidence to the movie's lack of validity. It's still an interesting story and I recommend it to anyone. However, this isn't a movie I'm racing to see again anytime in the near future.

Documentary Catfish Final Rating: 7 out of 10

(Real Rating) Fictional Catfish Final Rating: 6 out of 10