CAM
Daniel Goldhaber (2018)
3 STARS
Cam merges the psychological thriller with life in the era of technology in a fantastically gruesome way. The life of a cam-girl is turned upside down when her account is hacked and she must battle with not only her impostor, but the patriarchy too, in her attempt to take back control of her life. In the vain of the wildly successful Black Mirror, Cam is a tense, enthralling watch. Writer Isa Mazzei, having previously worked as a cam-girl, is able to lend a deeply realistic and fair portrayal of a character living with the positives and negatives of life in the sex industry.
The use of colour throughout the film is effective. A pink hue gives a fantasy element to the ‘cam’ scenes and this is emphatically punctuated by dark, monotone scenes when we are in the ‘real’ world. The special effects are excellent throughout and the opening scene lets the audience know what they have signed up for in dramatic fashion.
Madeline Brewer gives a tremendous performance as protagonist Alice, or Lola when working, and the supporting characters are believable, for the most part, but the film doesn’t develop many of them past face value. The plot and development of the protagonist are well written and genuinely intriguing. The lives of these sex workers are portrayed in a refreshingly human way and it is impossible not to giggle as a pair of women on ‘cam’ choose their dinner without letting their viewers know why they are truly moaning ‘Yes!’
Unfortunately, the film loses itself in the third act as vital plot-points flash past with no real investigation by the protagonist and one can’t help but wonder why Alice fails to explain the situation to multiple characters, including her sympathetic mother. Our antagonist is, perhaps appropriately, kept away from us through the internet but it leaves the feeling that we didn’t quite get the visceral crescendo that the first hour promises.
The psychological elements to this film are excellent, but the thriller factor lacks real conviction. A gripping concept and execution lend much needed progression and exposition to the lives of sex workers in the age of technology and Cam is thoroughly enjoyable. It is a true shame that it lacks the hard-hitting punch that the opening promises.