User reviews

"Catfish" is a difficult film to talk about without spoiling. The sensationalist trailer gives a deliberately one-sided peek at a film which is ultimately defined by its ending. Expectations should probably be mediated, however—"Catfish" isn't going to blow your mind. In fact, the outcome of this social networking mystery is rather straightforward, but no less brilliant for it. This is a film where palpable suspense cedes way to an unconventional and thought- provoking character study. Maybe the best introduction I can offer is that I really liked it.

Arriving in a market practically gorged with tongue-in-cheek faux documentaries, it's initially difficult to take "Catfish" at face value. The story begins innocuously enough; Yaniv "Nev" Schulman has just had his first picture published in the New York Times when a package arrives at his office containing a painted replica of the photo. The artist is a 12 year- old admirer, and her correspondence begets a peculiar Facebook friendship. As Nev becomes involved with her and her family, however, he begins to notice certain inconsistencies with the perfect lives they lead online.

Much of the build-up feels stagey, and surely something is amiss, because either filmmakers Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman are considerably more talented directors than they portray themselves as, or they are not being entirely forthcoming. The prevalence of the camera during seemingly random moments that become key scenes seems perhaps a bit too fortuitous, and the placement and framing of the shots themselves seem too precisely calculated to have been captured on the fly for this amateur guerrilla venture.

Yet it doesn't matter in the slightest. "Catfish" is about calling our willingness to accept unsubstantiated information into question, and thus encourages a skepticism and natural inquisitiveness towards itself. The entire thing could be fabricated, and its creators have a built-in ace in the hole. Falsifying a non-fiction film about false identity could add a brilliant meta layer to the puzzle.

That being said, I don't believe that Joost and Schulman invented the whole thing. Somebody get these guys a pen and paper if they did. Rather, I tend to identify with the prevailing online rumor that suggests the ending was shot first, with some or most of the first half consisting of retroactive reenactments. But though I question the authenticity of certain moments, whether or not they are genuine seems beside the point—"Catfish" is an effective film.

The foundation of that success lies in its solid technique. The gradual rationing of information and the introduction and unraveling of the central mystery is surprisingly well handled. The plot is obtuse and intense when it needs to be, and the suspense is so potent that some have even been let down that it never becomes an all-out thriller.

But suspense has the tendency to be undervalued in an of itself, and the suspense in "Catfish" is an exceptionally executed, integral part of the ride. The film, on the whole, works not only because of its moments of seizing, visceral tension, but because of the greater message it evokes. In hindsight, scenes like those exploited in the trailer featuring Nev and his buddies arriving at a quiet farm in the dead of night seem downright silly when compared to where they eventually end up.

"Catfish" has been getting a ton of very positive press recently, and it deserves much of the praise it's received. But backlash follows hype like a shadow, and I have a feeling that those swayed into seeing the film who might not have otherwise will enter with unrealistic expectations. It is a fascinating, offbeat experiment, but it still appeals to niche interests. The extent to which we let ourselves believe that the internet is a direct extension of our preceptory senses can be dangerous—But I'll say no more. I don't want to spoil anything.

A documentary about a man (Nev) who starts a relationship with a woman he meets on face-book, and starts to wonder how truthful this person is. If you watch the trailer for this movie it is very misleading, not to say its a bad movie but it's not at all what I expected. This is a true life account that I'm sure has happened to many people. An 8 year old girl named Abby starts to send Nev paintings she has done after seeing a picture Nev took in a newspaper. Out of that Nev begins to talk with Angela (Abby's mom) and it carries over to Megan (Abby's sister). After quickly falling in love with Megan, Nev soon discovers Megan may not be who she says she is and plans a trip to visit her and find out the truth. Every once in a while a movie comes along that you just have to keep watching and your not sure why, and when it's over your not sure why it had this grip on you, this is one of those movies. This is not for everyone, being that it is a documentary and slow in parts, but it is very interesting and has an ending that sneaks up on you and affects you in a way you can't explain. At least it did to me. I give it a B-

I remember in the very late 90's discovering the world of Yahoo chatrooms ... talking this way and that way with total strangers, sometimes being myself, sometimes lying through my teeth. Creating new usernames as a female to talk to lesbians every once in a while seemed a fun thing to do as an 18yr old lad, never succeeding to convince any to talk dirty to me. HA! The things we do.

And that is where this movie comes in. Meeting people online ... checking out their profiles and thinking ... "yeah ... not bad", talking more online and getting to know them and developing feelings for this entity, god knows where on the planet, typing their words to you and maybe, just maybe feeling the same way.

And how much of it is true ... ?

This was an intriguing watch, playful and suspenseful and by the end, full of heart that is a far cry from the gripping thriller documentary style movie portrayed in the trailer (which I saw after at one reviewers request) but none the less, I enjoyed the movie for piecing together something many of us have done ... but just not to these extremes. Give it a go ... =]

The film centers around photographer Yaniv "Nev" Schulman, recorded by Ariel Schulman, and Henry Joost. This is all I'm going to reveal about the plot, because I strongly believe that you should see this movie knowing virtually nothing about it. If I even gave a synopsis, I'd be giving too much away.

It's a film with a rather dark tone, and smartly edited by Zachary Stuart-Pontier. The documentary does make some strong points, such as "Who is this person?" "Who can I trust?" "What's real, and what's falsehood?" It makes one wonder what length some will go to hide the truth, and wonder what they would do in a situation like Nev's.

The film starts off rather charming, but eventually the film ends up becoming so nervously unsettling, and emotionally devastating that it's painful to watch. I know it made me not want to know what happen, because it just so hard to fathom, but I just decided to grit my teeth, and keep watching. The film is highly thought provoking, question raising, and the tone Joost, and Schulman set helps the film immeasurably.

The film is hardly ever pretty to watch, but am eye opener to be certain.

I give Catfish *** out of ****

It's 2007. Yaniv Schulman gets one of his photos in the papers. Then he is contacted by 8 year old Abby from Michigan who sends him a painting of the photo. As his friendship with the young girl over the internet grows, he gets to know her mother Angela, father Vince, and beautiful older half-sister Megan. Yaniv's brother Ariel and Henry Joost film him for a documentary. As Yaniv falls for Megan, cracks start appearing in the story. Yaniv goes on a search for the truth.

If taken on face value, this has an intriguing story of the modern internet world. There are problems with this idea. It's hard to take this on face value when the whole point is not to take things on face value. It's obvious from the start that the internet relationship is based on false grounds. The question for me throughout watching the movie is how real Yaniv is actually being. The whole movie could be catfishing the audience. In the end, it's difficult to take this completely on face value. On the other hand, the reveal of Angela and her psychological story are actually quite interesting.

Don't be put off by the jumpy, seemingly disconnected scenes at the beginning of this film. I nearly hit the eject button thinking that this was nothing more than an amateurish attempt at an 'artsy' film. Just stay with it and you will soon be drawn into an intriguing real life story with a surprisingly emotional twist at the end. The film stirs up a range of emotions that you rarely experience in todays high budget, digitized action flicks. I wish that I could tell you more but that would spoil the whole thing! I will only say this; the film could not have been done prior to the days of social networking where "friends' can pour out their innermost thoughts for the world to read. A very humanistic portrayal of the strengths, talent and weaknesses behind the faces that you see every day at the grocery store or walking down the street. See it and resist the temptation to 'tell all' when you recommend this excellent documentary film to others.

This movie is kind of a intimate psychological documentary. It has certainly a very small plot, but it is incredibly moving. It lets you enter the privacy of mostly common people committing very common sins like a million other people commit every day. And it shows the emotional impact of it that can change your life. The cinematography and storytelling style is very modern and reminds of creating a video blog. Also the implications of social media in everyday life does certainly play a role in the plot. But I wouldn't say that the movie is too self-reflective or pays too much attention for the online media. The emphasis lies on the real social relationship that is developing between the characters and the lies on which it is built. Very well executed, very sensitive, very touching, very worth watching.

It's authenticity will remain in question. And if it is indeed real, the motivation of the filmmakers themselves are unclear.

But there is a truth in Catfish that reflects a lot about ourselves. For most, the Internet is a place to merely extend their social life. But for some, it could be the only place where they could find it. We are called to be mindful of these people. This is a movie for our time. 4/5 Stars

Note: The trailer is indeed misleading, which may have caused much disappointment to viewers with a specific expectation. To those who has not seen the trailer and desire to watch the movie, avoid the trailer.

Most human beings have two eyes. One left eye, and one right eye. Catfish pries open your third eye above the two you were born with. That eye is the eye to sense bulls*** from a mile away. It makes you think about the people you associate with online, and the people you come across with on Facebook, the oh-so popular networking site.

Upon finishing this film, I was unsure of what to think of it. "Real or fake?" was the question that popped in my head. Could this be just another false documentary teaching us a lesson, but using actors to portray realistic people? Or was this an authentic documentary showcasing one person's real life experience on the site, and having his brother and friend film it all? My opinion is that this is reminiscent of a reality show. Some scenes are fiction, but somethings are authentic. I really can't say if this is real or fake. But I assume 70% or less is real.

The plot is one of those like Paranormal Activity where you can't reveal too much or the whole thing is ruined. Basically, Young New York photographer Yaniv Schulman's life is put on film by brother Ariel Schulman and friend Henry Joost. They show his relationship with a supposedly eight year old girl on Facebook named Abby who is a child prodigy when it comes to painting. Yaniv will send pictures to Abby, and is told Abby paints them with remarkable talent.

As time passes, Niv shows extreme interest for Abby's family, including her alleged half-sister Megan, and the mother Angela. Once he uncovers some evidence I won't spoil, he goes out to meet the family. There is when the movie becomes a total enjoyment.

Whether fact or fiction, the film makes you think. It succeeds in making you ponder or contemplate the people you associate with on the web. Being an avid reviewer, a social networker, a Tweeter, a Facebooker, a Youtube personality I wonder who is watching my videos. Of course my personal information is nothing but private unless I have a strict build up with the person I discuss with. I haven't ran into any true problems on the web. I consider myself extremely grateful and lucky for that.

Catfish succeeds in being an entertaining time capsule of what will soon be the once popular social network. Facebook will eventually die out just like Myspace, but we will have this film to look back on. While 2010 had one more movie based on the site called The Social Network, Catfish deals with Facebook and it's people. TSN was all about the creation of the site, and the problems Zuckerberg and his friends ran into. That was a totally different film, and well worthy of the Golden Globe wins. Catfish is a one of a kind species that shouldn't be thrown back into the water.

Starring: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman, Yaniv Schulman. Directed by: Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost.

Catfish, the debut documentary from filmmakers Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, has been hailed as "the best Hitchcock film Hitchcock never directed," and toting it as something "you won't be able to shake for days." That's at least what the filmmakers chose to put in the trailer.

We follow Nev, a young photographer living in New York. He is contacted by a young girl living in Michigan who finds one of his photos and does a painting of it. He is instantly impressed and begins a correspondence with the girl, eventually leading to a correspondence with her mother and sister. They send photos and paintings back and forth, sharing messages and pictures via Facebook. Nev particularly gets romantically involved with the sister, leading to phone calls, text messages, and song writing.

When Nev becomes suspicious of the truth behind a lot of what the "Facebook family" is saying, he decides to surprise them with a visit. I'm going to stop here, in part because this is where I have been instructed to stop by critics. I can't recall a film being hushed like this since Hitchcock's Psycho. I don't get why there is a need to disclose the ending more than any other movie. For me, one of the ultimate crimes a person can do is to spoil a movie.

But I digress.

The real crime here is what the powers that be did with the trailer. If this movie was presented not as a horror/thriller but as a documentary/social commentary, I would have been a lot happier. In the trailer, there is a moment when they show Nev walking up to the house of the "Facebook family." The picture fades, revealing Chris Bumbray at JoBlo.com's response to the film:

"The final forty minutes of the film will take you on an emotional roller coaster that you won't be able to shake for days."

To intensify the impact of these words, the filmmakers use some of the music that Mark Mothersbaugh wrote for the film, a great score in its own right, but inappropriate for this film. It belongs in a more traditional horror/thriller than in this documentary.

The trailer plays a little on the same theme as Paranormal Activity did, though this is claiming to be a true documentary. Regardless of it's truth, what the filmmakers (or those involved with making the trailer) led us to believe is that this was going to be an intense, shocking film that would, as promised by JoBlo.com, something that would stay with us long after the film ends.

I should have read that statement more closely. For the final forty minutes of a film to shock you, that would either give you a heart attack with the amount of shock and scare value, or it would be like letting the air out of a balloon slowly. What you get with Catfish is a creepy story about how communication and technology has evolved in such a way that people can virtually do anything they want to do.

For those who haven't seen the trailer, DO NOT WATCH IT. It promises something it can't deliver. For those looking for a "hard to believe this is real" documentary, by all means enjoy. I was lead to believe this would be a thrill ride unlike any other. This is actually a nice companion piece with The Social Network, showcasing how much our world has changed from this one website.

"Catfish" is a really nice straight forward look into our new modern lives where we can create our own identities. Some, obviously, have more to run from than others. But NO ONE can claim they are innocent of complete and total truth.

This movie left me with a very sad melancholy sense of how we identify ourselves. Without giving away much, I felt that there isn't a person in this world that wouldn't trade it for one they could control from scratch. To that, we see a lot of false hopes, broken dreams and reality that hits us too hard in the face. In essence, we feel more sympathy for the ones who would be deceptive over the ones that attempt to find deception since not one of us can deny we dream of others' lives. And sometimes, we believe it's better than our own. In this world...you can't blame the person for wanting a better life, if not even just imaginary.

I really liked this movie. But I really don't like the people who made it. They seem to take joy in wanting to humiliate something they've already come to know. I do feel the redeeming value is when you do get the "real" story at the end. And it's heartbreaking and truthful. And you take all the supposed betrayal you feel and find that it is sometimes good that people will challenge your perception. The title doesn't give you an idea of what the movie is, but the explanation within the movie sure explains this idea.

I'm gonna keep the review short because like many I believe that the less you know about the movie going in, the better. While the trailer is quite misleading it does not retract from the fact that this is a superb character piece. Even though it does show that social networking sites aren't safe and you shouldn't trust people online blah blah blah. I don't think that was the goal of the filmmakers, I think it was just to show the nature of human character. And to all those saying that it's fake, it's a pretty touching story even if it is (which I doubt because Nev would be the greatest actor in Hollywood if it is), just don't go into it expecting a thriller.

"Catfish" is one of those stories where things are not as they seem. It's deceptive, exhilarating, shocking, thrilling, and unsettling. Or at least that's what the producers have claimed.

I'm assuming by now, most people have seen a fair number of reality, documentary stories where the people they have met online are not what they claim to be. I've seen "Talhotblond" and now that was unsettling, but comparatively, "Catfish" was bland, boring and ordinary. It's not thrilling because the filmmakers so gradually come to understand the deception that is occurring, that the audience realizes it at the same time or shortly before they do - which is very early on in the film.

However, it's still good because this is what independent documentary filmmaking is all about. These filmmakers were looking for a story and when they found one right in front of them, they jumped on it. The result is that we were able to see most things unfold in real time and that makes it interesting in a much more real way. Our hero is Nev, he's the type of guy that we can really get behind and he's not just blindly falling in love but questioning and being skeptical when he should be, and that's good filmmaking. These filmmakers also wanted to show the good in everybody and that was just so refreshing that I expect better things from them in the future, and I might even recommend "Catfish", just don't expect to be shocked or thrilled.

The first half of this movie had me thinking how phony it was. The lead actor was not convincing. His dialog, his expressions were unrealistic and contrived.

Then he meets his internet friend in the flesh. Again, I don't believe some of the film footage here either but the actress who plays the Internet friend is spot on perfect. Her line readings and her expressions are absolutely spot on perfect. As I say in the title, if she is reading script, she deserves the Oscar for the best acting of the year and as good acting as I have ever seen in any movie ever.

I am with the filmmakers all the way from this point on. Whoa, she's not like her facebook page but as we get to know her and see her in some of the close-up shots, she is actually beautiful.

Then the bonus self-interview with the lead actor and his film-making friends. If they are acting here, it is light years better than in the movie itself. Which speaks to the film's authenticity... which I am not saying what that is... see no spoilers : = )

While visually and narratively sloppy - and a bit dated, 'Catfish' is a fascinating modern tale with direct references to the Internet world that has produced a legion of individuals who can re-create themselves online without any perceived consequences. Whether the movie is fiction or non-fiction, it has its share of entertaining moments and riveting ability to push the emotional buttons of its audiences.

...at least, of the 9 films i've seen so far. this one packs quite an emotional wallop. this had me cracking up at times and on the edge of my seat at others. a gentleman remarked during the excellent q+a after the film: "screw blair witch and paranormal activity - this is real terror," and i would have to agree. what's so terrifying about this movie? you'll have to see it to find out, because to spoil the secrets of this film would rob it of its power. it's a journey to embark on with the filmmakers/friends, ariel schulman, his brother nev, and their friend henry joost. where it takes you is both shocking and strangely moving. this is the reason i keep coming back to sundance - to see films like this, that are genuinely surprising.

oh, and the title is explained in the final 10 minutes of the film and lends it a new and powerful meaning. thought-provoking stuff, indeed.

this film, i've heard, is going to get picked up. avoid the reviews and just go see it when it plays in your town.

Before I start, I agree that I have been going a bit overboard with anti reviews related to Facebook and social networking in general. However, I guess this one would complete the trilogy and is supposedly a true-life example of the dark-side of excess (shall we say) – Facebooking!

According to the movie summary, filmmakers Ariel Schulman and Henry Joost document a story involving Ariel's brother, Nev, a 24-year-old New York-based photographer, and Abby, from rural Michigan who contacts Nev via Facebook, asking for permission to make a painting from one of his photographs. Then starts the online romance between Megan (Abby's older sister) and Nev, which leads to shocking revelation finally.

I don't want to discuss much about this film, as it would become a major spoiler otherwise. I have no idea how true this documentary is, but it does give a good feeler into the power of social networking and the influence it is having on people's lives in modern times. The ending also indicates why the documentary is called as "Catfish", and it is quite an interesting one.

This movie is over hyped as a thriller but I can honestly say that the only thrilling part was right before the reveal of the twist. The story it built up very well and the acting is pretty great. I laughed at many point of the film and it definitely hooked me into the story and I felt almost nervous for what was going to happen since all the trailers and promos talked about thrilling scenes. I was kind of disappointed at the fact that it was nothing close to actually being a thriller. The twist was very interesting, and close to the heart since I know it happens in real life. This is a more extreme version of internet communication gone wrong. I won't say what happened since it is an actual interesting movie, but don't expect the movie to be a thriller, or else you will leave the movie with your head down and wanting your money back.