Note: This review contains mild spoilers.
Catfish is incredibly difficult to talk about. It’s a film that you should go in with a blank slate not knowing what you’re going to get. Knowing anything beyond the simple concept puts you already in spoiler territory. This is the type of documentary that shouldn’t be spoiled. It leaves a lot to talk about, especially as to whether or not it’s real, and based on the emotions that play out in the third act it’s difficult to argue that this is at all phony.
The events that play out follow Nev Schulman, a New York based photographer. After taking a simple photo of a ballerina he receives a painting of it from a supposed young girl. From there he starts a pen pal relationship that expands into something much, much more. Nev doesn’t just start a relationship with the young child, but her whole family via facebook. He establishes a friendly relationship with the mother and a long distance semi-relationship with the child’s sister, Megan. Nev’s relationship with Megan goes further than just online pen pals and that’s what drives Nev to finally pay a trip to the family.
That’s all you can say about the plot without delving into heavy spoilers. That’s mainly the first two acts, which are played as mostly a straight comedy involving Nev and the two documenting this relationship, Henry and Rel. Both filmmakers do an excellent job when it comes to poking fun at the creepiness of the idea behind Nev’s online family. What Nev does, especially when it comes to Megan, is a bit odd and almost off-putting in a way. It’s played mostly for jokes, and it works in that sense. They never downplay the fact that there is something slightly inappropriate behind what Nev does.
When the film hits that final act that’s where it becomes a totally different beast that’s indescribable. From the tone to everything other aspect, everything changes. The fun happy times end and you’re treating to a 180 turn. When the family is shown for what they are it’s shocking the film never slips into exploitation. It becomes an extremely sympathetic portrayal of their actions, or a specific one’s actions. With what happens it could’ve been treated horribly wrong to the point of being offensive, but it never goes that low. It’s a fine line to walk, and Henry and Rel succeed there.
There’s a lot to admire about Catfish. It’s unique, funny, and at the end, heartbreaking. It’s a film that will cause endless discussion. Even if this was a failed experiment, the fact that it spurs debates means that it surely deserves to be admired. And if this is all fiction, it doesn’t matter. If that was the case, it’d still be compelling and highly engaging.