2023 BUSHWICK FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
A heartbroken young woman, Julie (Julie Balefsky), decides to catfish her ex boyfriend. She sets her friend up on a dating app in the hopes of tricking her ex into going on a date and finding out whether or not he’s moved on. How to Catfish Your Ex is a comedic telling of what life is like after a breakup and the lengths that people will go to move on.
Short, sweet, and to the point; How to Catfish Your Ex never veers from an incredibly linear story, one in which Julie’s one goal is to, as the title indicates, catfish her ex boyfriend.
The plot is a silly one, and the reality is that most individuals wouldn’t go out of their way to pull something like this off.
The extremism that occurs throughout in this regard is quite funny. In many ways Julie steps over the line, doing too much and being far too invasive. However, I think this is what will ultimately appeal to viewers; the exaggerated scenario is what allows the film to work.
With the sort of oddball scenarios in which Julie finds herself throughout the course of How to Catfish Your Ex, viewers get to understand her emotional state, the dire situation in which she feels she is trapped. Exaggeration allows those common feelings of betrayal and heartbreak to rise to the surface and be understood.
Writer Balefsky and Director Madeline Mack develop an exaggerated story, one that could happen, but I’m sure rarely does. By using an exaggerated story, this team makes their purpose abundantly clear, and emotion is able to make its way to the surface as a result. How to Catfish Your Ex is short, and while it’s a bit odd, it’s relatively direct. With dry, subtle humor, and a solid storyline, How to Catfish Your Ex is effective.
Directed by Madeline Mack.
Written by Julie Balefsky.
Starring Julie Balefsky, Kerris Dorsey, & Peter Molesworth.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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