We’re far from the glory days of the slasher genre. And while some people (Hollywood included) would rather drop the genre completely, there are others who would still want to pursue it. That’s fine and all, but coming up with a new and inventive way to execute it is the problem. Director Joel Soisson looks to remedy that with Cam2Cam, focusing on the video chat technology we’ve been using now for a few years. It obviously opens up a few different scenarios and possibilities, but the question of whether they can be executed properly is the main thing.

After the murder of her sister in Bangkok, Allie travels to Thailand to bring her sister’s killer to justice. Allie decides to rent out a room at an apartment complex, where she meets up with other twenty-somethings renting in the same complex. Her new friends use a website called Cam2Cam, in which people strip for money. Allie soon discovers that other people who use the website aren’t there for the amateur stripping.

Rather than reinvent the wheel, Cam2Cam plays it safe by opening with the standard “woman alone at home”. It plays out similar to the opening of Scream, save for the change in technology. There’s still a very real fear that accompanies the anonymity with chatting on the internet, and in this case, the anonymity goes out the window once you turn on the webcam or share pictures. Adding to that fear is being put in a foreign land (Thailand) with the obvious barriers that come with it.

Unfortunately, the film’s problems begin right from the start. First off, the opening sequence takes up 30 minutes of runtime. Out of a total runtime of 91 minutes. Also, it’s rather insulting that the lady in question doesn’t quite make the connection that the person who she’s chatting with is using a pre-recorded video. And, with a full-body shot, can’t possibly be typing and stripping at the same time. Maybe it’s just me, but the use of shorthand misspellings that many people use while talking online is aggravating to no end. So, of course, the opening sequence uses a ton of it. To top it off, the payoff results in a blood splatter on the curtains. Great.

The rest of the film doesn’t fare much better. While the opening sequence tries to capitalize on the potential tension that the concept and locale presents, it’s all again just wasted. Characters that we’re supposed to care about like Allie (played by Tammin Sursock, who kind of looks like Kate Beckinsale) are underdeveloped or have multiple personalities, acting one way in one scene and then acting completely different in the next. The horrible dialogue doesn’t make things any easier. I suppose that the screenwriters were aiming to say something about the dangers of the internet, but instead decided to make a heavy-handed after school special with the message that once you start using the internet, you’ll end up making amateur porn and die soon after. Or should I say “attempted” amateur porn? Even that is done in a halfhearted way, as if they had an extreme reluctance to show nudity. Even the opening sequence with a bunch of extras doing whatever was more provocative than this clearly lame attempt at being real.

Cam2Cam is definitely a missed opportunity. The film could’ve gone in so many directions, but instead bumbled along, apathetically trying to make the viewer care. The only consolation are the beautiful locales in Thailand, which are far more appealing and interesting than the film itself. Even then, they still serve as a reminder of what the film could’ve been doing to make it stand out. If you’re in the mood for a slasher, go check out something from the genre’s heyday. Sure, the formula is the same for a lot of them, but at least you’ll be able to glean some entertainment.

Video/Audio:

Presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen, Cam2Cam looks acceptable for an independent release. Detail is adequate throughout, with bright colours and accurate fleshtones. There’s no noise to speak of, but there are some instances of artifacting during the darker scenes.

The Dolby Digital 5.1 track is alright, though nothing spectacular. It’s also pretty quiet, leaving you to have to fight with the volume to be able to hear things. Dialogue is clear and free of any distortion, but again, you’ll have to crank up the volume to hear what’s being said.

Extras:

Other than the film’s trailer, the disc comes with an Audio Commentary with director Joel Soisson. Soisson covers a variety of topics, including how he came onto the project, casting, how certain scenes were filmed, and so on. It’s a fairly mundane commmentary that unfortunately borders on Soisson just droning on, with a few gaps of silence where Soisson is watching the film instead of commentating. The track could’ve used another person to moderate or provide additional input.