Watch Ratter
- R
- 2016
- 1 hr 20 min
-
4.8 (11,535)
Ratter is a suspenseful thriller directed by Branden Kramer and released in 2015. The movie stars Ashley Benson, Matt McGorry, and Kaili Vernoff. It reflects the dangers of living in a world where technology is so pervasive, specifically the ease with which someone can invade an individual's privacy through electronic surveillance devices.
The movie revolves around the life of Emma (Ashley Benson), a young college student pursuing her post-graduate degree in New York. Emma is not aware that everything about her life has been under surveillance via her laptop, cell phone, and any other technology connected to the internet. The perpetrator, an unknown stalker, has been monitoring her every move, and Emma is oblivious to the danger that comes with that.
The movie begins with Emma moving into a new apartment, and she immediately starts experiencing strange incidents which seem to be unrelated at first. For instance, she comes home from school and finds her apartment in disarray, though nothing has been taken. Later, she realizes that she's missing a belt, but it turns up weeks later in her closet.
As the strange occurrences pile up, the audience comes to realize that there's someone who's been watching Emma closely, remotely controlling her webcams, using her own laptop to spy on her, and generally meddles with her life. Emma also receives threatening messages that she initially ignores; however, as the messages become more and more personal, she is forced to confront the stranger.
The perpetrator is her ex-boyfriend, Michael (Matt McGorry), who is obsessed with her and tries to control her from afar. He has gotten hold of female personal information, such as her bank account information, social security number, and webcam setup, and is constantly analyzing her every move. Michael has been stalking Emma both physically and digitally, and at this point, he's way past the point of just being a creep.
Ratter is a psychological thriller that explores the dark aspects of human obsession and control. It is a movie that depicts the present-day cyber-society, where an individual's personal privacy is easily breached, thereby giving a voyeuristic or even criminal person unlimited access to your life.
The filmmaker, Branden Kramer, uses various camera techniques to enhance the feeling of surveillance in the movie. Instead of only following Emma, the camera spends time on the computer screen when she is using the device, therefore allowing viewers to get a sense of what the "Ratter" is up to. Kramer also uses extreme close-ups and long tracking shots to increase the tension of the film.
Ashley Benson plays Emma with utmost sincerity, telling a story that is both thrilling and tragic. Emma is a vulnerable victim unaware of the extent of her harassment for some time, and Benson portrays her fear and anxiety convincingly. Matt McGorry, best known for his role in Orange is the New Black, was convincing in his interpretation of a nasty character whose obsessive nature had no limits. It is through McGorry's portrayal that viewers witness the danger of obsession and the need to forget some past relationships entirely.
In conclusion, Ratter is a film worth watching. It is both frightening and thought-provoking, as it shows the extent to which an individual's privacy can be violated in the digital age. The movie raises a much-needed conversation about issues such as online security, the impact of social media, and personal privacy in current times. It's not just about the progression of technology itself; it's about how one can become consumed by it. Note, however, that viewers may feel uneasy that the events in the film could happen to them, given how interconnected our lives have become with technology. It is highly rated by those who have seen it, and it's not surprising that it caught the eyes of critics and fans around the world.
Ratter is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 20 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.8.