I’ve always thought that the idea of Internet relationships would make a good premise for a horror movie. Internet dating and social networking are becoming more and more popular these days. It’s like a big masquerade ball, when you really think about it. You may meet someone, talk with him or her, and develop a relationship, all without ever seeing the other person’s true face. The potential for the other party to misrepresent themselves is almost limitless.

This about sums up the premise of the movie Catfish. The subject of the film, photographer Yaniv Schulman, forms a relationship with an extraordinarily talented young artist named Abby, from Michigan. As the film progresses, Yaniv (AKA Nev) begins to realize that everything may not be as it seems.

To get this out of the way – this isn’t a horror movie. You might think it is if you watch the previews, which get a little intense at the end and almost seem to suggest that the end of the film is somehow shocking or gruesome. It is shocking, but not in a horrific way. Nev and his friends aren’t devoured by cannibals, murdered, or ravaged by CHUD-people. The ending is subtler than that – and also somehow more shocking, because it’s real.

So what does real mean? According to the makers of the film (Henry Joost and Ariel Schulmen, Nev’s brother), the situation we’re shown in Catfish is absolutely true. They saw the developing friendship between Yaniv and Abby, and decided to begin chronicling it all on film. The people are real, the situations are real, there was no scripting, acting, or prearranging involved. It’s hard to wrap your mind around such a strange story being real (and coincidentally happening to a group of documentary filmmakers) but from what I’ve read I feel sufficiently convinced. Everyone will have their own theory on whether it’s true, I’m sure.

As a story the film is very, very effective. I made the mistake of accidentally reading some spoilers on the Internet prior to seeing it, so I was well aware of what was coming at the end. Despite that, I felt myself getting sucked into the story as things moved forward, getting more and more tense as they did. If that can happen to me when I know the ending, it must be doubly powerful for people that watch it without a hint of what’s discovered at the end.

As movie-watchers, it’s always important to remember that what we’re watching is a mediated version of reality – even when it’s supposedly real. One way or another, the footage we see in Catfish is an illusion that’s been assembled by the filmmakers for maximum effect. It’s interesting to consider that in conjunction with the fact that the Internet is a similar situation in which people tend to construct their own unique versions of themselves to put forth for the electronic world. We – much like Nev and his friends - should always be skeptical when we’re confronted with something that we’re told is reality, whether it’s on film or the Internet; that, if nothing else, is the overarching message of Catfish.

Catfish is currently playing at the local theater in Canal Park – I’d recommend seeing it soon if it sounds interesting to you, as it probably won’t be around for long. I was one of about five people in the theater watching it, and I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a preview for the movie on television. Chances are it won’t be a cash cow in this area. 

Until next time, have a grand week.