The addictive mysteries of "Catfish"

Yesterday afternoon, Kyle Carnes and I went to Lloyd Center and saw "Catfish," the hot button documentary that's been a lightning rod for hearsay and controversy since it first premiered at Sundance last winter. We both really liked it, but I can't talk much about it here or I'd spoil the secrets it contains.

The abridged synopsis for "Catfish" is pretty much this:

Nev is a 20-something photographer living in NYC. His brother and friend are documentary filmmakers who decide to chronicle the budding friendship between Nev and Abby, an 8-year-old painting prodigy who was inspired by one of Nev's photos and sent him a painting of said photo as a gesture of her gratitude. Subsequently, Nev develops an online-only relationship with Abby and her family, particularly mother Angela and 19-year-old sister Megan (pictured above). Eventually Nev and his bros uncover a few alarming inconsistencies in the family's supposed identity (based almost entirely on facebook and photo albums therein). They decide to head to Michigan and surprise the family, especially Megan, with whom Nev has developed a sexty connection and deep physical attraction. Upon their arrival, they discover Megan, Angela, Abby and the fam are MUCH different than they seemed.

Kyle and I were both awe-struck and let out audible "sheesh" sounds when we left the theater. Afterward, we extensively discussed the ethical implications and factual likelihood of the whole thing, and you're guaranteed the same conversation the minute you walk out of "Catfish." It's now playing at Lloyd Mall (worth the sketchy venture inside, which is saying a lot) and is the best documentary I've seen so far this year.


Watch the trailer below; the movie is every bit as breathlessly entertaining as this preview leads you to believe.