Not really sure what to say about this one, I am not even sure where to start. Sure the story is nothing new, a creepy guy stalks a beautiful woman. But what sets this one aside from the rest is the way in which it was filmed. We see this entirely from the point of view of the stalker, using his hidden cameras to watch his victim. This is for the entire film, there was a camera in a bag, one he has attached to himself, and the numerous cameras he has hidden around her apartment.
It is actually quite disturbing to watch, as you really feel like you are invading someone’s privacy. This certainly disturbed me quite a bit, and it feels so genuinely real as well. You really get to know the victim, and you feel for her and you just know things are going to keep getting worse. If you are familiar with any kind of real life stalker cases, you know what generally happens and with this in mind the film will likely toy with you even more.
You see the film from the exact point of view of the stalker Doug (played by a chilling Colin Hanks). He slowly gets himself into her life and he toys with her. He plots things in suh a way that he can be her hero, come to her rescue. And in the end she actually starts falling for him. As I watched this I just feared for this woman Amy (Ana Claudia Talancon in an unforgettable performance), so much to the point I had a hard time watching this time as it progressed.
It isn’t a long running film, the way it is presented I don’t think it could have been much longer. This film definitely ranks as one of the most disturbing I have ever seen, and it is not an easy film to recommend to anyone. It feels like you are not only violating someone’s life, but you also feel almost dirty for watching it.
The writer/director Eric Nicholas has crafted a true horror film, and this is possibly the most realistic stalker portrayal put to film. What works is that realistic feeling, the hidden cameras, being in the shoes of the stalker and not the victim. If you want to be shocked and disturbing you have definitely found the right film, I’ll warn you now you will likely need a cold shower afterward.
Rating:
The Super Network 