Cam (2018)

Cam by Daniel Goldhaber feels like a blend of entertainment and a cautionary tale, something that manages to be relevant yet unsettlingly ahead of its time. The movie dives into themes of identity, privacy, and exploitation in the digital age, which are even more important today than they were in 2018. It’s a story that sticks with you because of its implications, but it doesn’t quite hit the mark in execution.
Madeline Brewer carries the movie as Alice. Her performance is believable and layered, giving the character a vulnerability and determination that keep you invested in her journey. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the rest of the cast. While Melora Walters brought something intriguing to her brief appearance, the supporting performances fell flat, failing to add much depth to the story.
Visually, the film does a good job establishing its unsettling tone, with vivid neon colors and a chilling atmosphere. Some of the camera choices during Alice’s interactions with her family felt awkward and could have been more polished, though. That said, the chilling score in key moments worked well to heighten the tension, pulling you deeper into Alice’s growing paranoia.
The structure and pacing of the movie were solid. The transitions between acts were well-executed, building up to a tense and satisfying third-act climax. However, while the direction was consistent, the film didn’t fully explore the depth of its themes. It introduced big ideas but seemed to pull back from diving into the darker implications of its story, leaving some aspects feeling undercooked.
In the end, Cam is a movie with an important message and some strong elements, but it doesn’t quite stick the landing. It’s worth watching, especially for its relevance to our tech-driven world, but you might find yourself wishing it had done a little more with its bold premise. For me, the highlights were Madeline Brewer’s performance and the themes it tackled, even if the delivery could have been stronger. I’d say it’s a movie that balances on the edge of being a warning and pure entertainment, and that’s probably why it lingers in your mind after the credits roll.

Cam is a psychological thriller directed by Daniel Goldhaber and stars Madeline Brewer of the Black Mirror fame. It’s brought to us by Blumhouse Productions. Cam is the story of Alice, an online cam girl, who live-streams from her home studio. Just when things are looking good, her account is hijacked by her doppelganger. While the film is pretty interesting to start with, it loses some steam in the middle and leaves the audience with a whole bunch of unanswered questions, especially around the characters in the movie. It's a good one time watch that feels like a longish Black Mirror episode.