Catch of the day: Catfish

When a group of friends and I went out to see “Catfish,” we expected to be entertained by yet another thriller, perhaps with a cast of mundane characters who meet on Facebook only to inevitably become trapped in some internet predator’s scheme. Or, it could have been just another story about that guy who falls in love with a chick on the Internet and - despite some humorous complications - ends up together with her in the end.Instead, a minimalist, lifelike mock-umentary surprised us with an intriguing twist on one of America’s favorite, embarrassingly ubiquitous pastimes — social networking.Henry Joost and Ariel Shulman cleverly lured in “Catfish’s” audience through an extensive Youtube and widespread Internet campaign, hinting that “the last forty minutes of the movie will take you for an unforgettable emotional ride,” and marketed the movie’s tagline as “Don’t Let Anyone Tell You What It Is.” Perhaps audiences identified with the authentic personas and relatable plot line of “Catfish,” intrigued by a movie that proposed a fresh perspective on a familiar theme in pop culture.The main character, Nev, a guileless college student from New York, meets Abby, an eight-year-old artistic prodigy from Michigan on the Internet. As their conversations progress, Nev is introduced to Abby’s mom and her attractive, nineteen year-old sister Megan.The rest follows a deceptively formulaic story line – Nev discovers that he and Megan share interests and soon becomes infatuated with her beauty and virtual mystery. As Nev and his friends decide to make a home video of Nev’s online relationship with Megan, they become aware of the unexpected surprises behind Megan’s enticing photos and Abby’s brilliant artwork.Nevertheless, their curiosity only encourages them to set out to meet Megan and her family in person, and find out the truth behind her idealized life.Curious? Fortunately, “Catfish” is too fascinating of a movie to spoil in a review. From its truthful, humorous beginning to its disturbingly realistic climax, “Catfish” dives the viewer into the desperate heart of our Facebook generation. It illustrates an accessible portrait of the dark truth behind the virtual social world, where nobody really knows who anybody is as self-delusion inaudibly riddles everyday communication.“Catfish” will catch you off guard without injecting scenes with sentimental sap or far-fetched distortions. Its social commentary explores scenes in everyday life, and translates an otherwise complex story to a practical, yet riveting level. As its story unfolds, don’t be surprised if your perception changes entirely from what you expected the movie to be. I honestly recommend going to see “Catfish” in theaters this month; its unique viewpoint is not one to pass unnoticed.Rachel RodinoffStaff Writer