Cam

I was beginning to think this was one of those dark web films (a la Unfriended 2) with a rushed ending, and I wasn't exactly proved wrong. The ending clearly was rushed, and it DID NOT provide closure. Spoiling it also doesn't make sense because you sat through 85 minutes to understand the reasons for all that was happening. I do not mean to say I dislike films with ambiguity, but this was not even ambiguous in the 'clever film-making' sense.

So, we have a webcam girl who wants to make it to the top 50 of some free-girls-live kind of site without having to resort to too many cheap tricks. But desperation eventually gets her there but then, the internet decides to teach her a lesson. A replica of herself is found having taken over her account on the site, and there's apparently no explanation as to why. While the technicalities are conveniently not discussed/rushed towards the end, the girl (Madeline Brewer, who does a pretty great job) breaks down emotionally to the point of being driven marginally insane. While the story-line is intriguing and director Daniel Goldhaber manages to set things up reasonably well (the brother's birthday scene was top notch), he struggles when it comes to the ending.

An internet-doppelganger is a pretty amazing concept (worth tackling in the present day), and it does invoke the vibe of 'Black Mirror' to a fair extent. However, as a viewer, I was left aghast by that nearly terrible final act. It even seemed like the writer(s) ran out of ideas/story-telling devices to take the film forward and provide a more satisfying conclusion. That's the problem with 'concepts'. They can make you want to watch a film but unless executed decently, it'll appear half-baked. This is exactly what happens in the case of 'Cam'.

While I love films that discuss doppelgangers, this one wholly lacked the tension it was supposed to build. In the end, it just turned out to be one of those films that lacked the cinematic finesse you expected it to have in the first place. The overwhelming number of positive reviews do not help either.

The film starts out quite strong with an interesting concept and keeps you intrigued for about half an hour. Unfortunately it then begins to run off the rails up until the climax, where I just didn't know what was going on anymore. The movie doesn't bother giving you any clear answers and ends on a somewhat disappointing note.

CAM is also one of those movies that makes you wonder, why the protagonist acts the way she does. She is portrayed as a quite reasonable girl in the beginning, but her actions become more and more incomprehensible and stupid as the story goes on. What's more, the movie tries to explore different themes throughout its plot (mainly the cam girl's family life), but these efforts don't pay off because of the shallow side characters.

In the end, CAM feels like an overlong BLACK MIRROR episode focusing on the internet's dark side with very moderate success.

What an interesting story line that left me unsure if I enjoyed the film..

Cam girl Lola (Madeline Brewer) has the thirst and desperation to please her online audience into pushing her up the popularity leader board. Lola doesn't really mention she's doing the job for more money, but to get closer and closer to the #1 spot.... I mean if it was me and I was on cam it would simply be for the money, my goal wouldn't be to be the Queen B. Lola discovers that there is an impostor online who has taken her identity and fooling her followers into donating more coins.

The first half of this film is really interesting, but as it gets closer to the end the explanation for what is happening is kind of ... a let down. An interesting story needs and interesting twist, but this film kinda lacks that.

Overall the film was still a good watch, but just don't expect a mind blowing ending.

Cam (2018) follows a camgirl who awakes one day to discover she's been replaced on her show with an exact replica of herself. This horror film introduces a haunting and highly intriguing scenario. Although the mystery itself is captivating, the conclusion is underwhelming as the film avoids any delivery of answers. The direction and cinematography were surprisingly fantastic, with the aesthetic of the cam rooms making for some beautiful shots and sets. I also really enjoyed the social commentary on how online sex workers are viewed and how they're forced to lead dual lives due to the stigma associated with the profession. Some better writing and a more solid third act could really change this film from good to great.

Why can't Lola tell everyone she was HACKED...geez! What is up with this movie!