6/10
Â
This is a very strange and interesting film that had me going backwards and forwards throughout. Make sure you watch the interview under special features.
Taking it at face value (for the time being) we have a documentary about a young guy called Nev Shulman, whose brother, and a friend are making a film about him and his online relationship with an 8 year old girl called Abby. Turns out Abby has a hot sister called Megan and she seems to rely like Nev, and a lot of stuff passes back and forth online, on Facebook, and by phone. Paintings by Abby arrive, and after a while, the three guys decide to pay a visit to Michigan to meet the family for themselves. I will say no more about the plot, except to point out that the advertising campaign for the film is misleading; don't expect anything scary. This is not another Blair Witch Project.
In fact, after watching the film, and then the interview with the three of them at the end, I am on balance willing to believe that all this happened, as opposed to being fake in some (or every) way. Partly because they seem sincere, partly because the other characters are believable and cannot be actors, and partly because it's impossible to imagine anyone making it all up. Obviously there's been some editing, but otherwise, I think this may be bona fide. If you're wondering why I am going about the veracity, watch the film and you'll understand why. I think it would make a great double bill with The Social Network. That film shows the mind and spirit behind Facebook; this film shows the consequences of Facebook. I guarantee it will provoke more discussion than any 20 other films you watch.
