Madeline Tucker and Vivian Shamie’s micro-short ‘Catfish’ is a dose of terror, a two-minute horror that thrives on unease and sharp, deliberate pacing. Willa Shamie plays a young girl alone in her bedroom when an unknown number texts a simple “Hey”.
The film wastes no time establishing dread. As the girl blocks the sender, another text pours in, their presence growing heavier, more invasive. The cinematography works impressively within its low-budget constraints. The young girl falls into the perplexity of the situation – until darkness engulfs the house, and a figure emerges at the window. Played fleetingly but effectively by Vivian Shamie, it’s a moment of pure, unfiltered horror.
‘Catfish’ is effective in its simplicity. It’s blunt and to the point. While this works for its punchy runtime, a touch more breathing room – some setup, a moment to anchor us to the protagonist’s fear – could have deepened the tension. Willa Shamie delivers a commendable performance, carrying the weight of the film’s suspense, but we barely have time to latch onto her before the horror unfolds.
Still, what ‘Catfish’ lacks in build-up, it makes up for in sheer shock value. Concise, chilling, and unsettlingly plausible. Even with its production constraints, the film is an admirable exercise in tension, proving that occasionally, all it takes is a message from the void to send shivers down your spine.
