In ghoulish fashion, the villain of "Web Cam Girls" kidnaps women he meets on the internet, then tortures and films them to attract other sadistic viewers. He claims that viewing these atrocities is "the most awesome reality TV show of all time."
The filmmakers' approach to this unpleasant conceit is to keep up a brisk pace as the heroines, Alexandra "Alex" Hilliers and her mother Rachel, race against the clock to find Alex's cousin Carolyn, who is being held captive and awaits execution in what the villain calls "Show Time."
Two of the girls' teachers, the film instructor Mr. Thomas and the English teacher, Mr. Darrs are the principal suspects. Alex enlists her computer geek friend Shawn Fitzgerald to help track down the perpetrator. But Shawn becomes collateral damage when he is outwitted by the villain.
The film's climax seemed abrupt when out of nowhere, some vigilantes appeared to come to the rescue in a completely remote area. More of the pathology of the villain could have been fleshed out. The person who may hold the key is his wife, who appeared to know much more than she was letting on about her deranged husband when she was confronted by Rachel Hilliers.
The best developed relationship in the film was that of Rachel and Alex. The bond of mother and daughter was deep, and Rachel made the decision that her career must take second place to the time spent with her daughter. By the end, both characters came to a new realization of what they mean to one another. Still, the film left a very unsettling feeling, and it did not reflect well on an educational system that produced weirdos like Mr. Thomas and Mr. Darrs.
The filmmakers' approach to this unpleasant conceit is to keep up a brisk pace as the heroines, Alexandra "Alex" Hilliers and her mother Rachel, race against the clock to find Alex's cousin Carolyn, who is being held captive and awaits execution in what the villain calls "Show Time."
Two of the girls' teachers, the film instructor Mr. Thomas and the English teacher, Mr. Darrs are the principal suspects. Alex enlists her computer geek friend Shawn Fitzgerald to help track down the perpetrator. But Shawn becomes collateral damage when he is outwitted by the villain.
The film's climax seemed abrupt when out of nowhere, some vigilantes appeared to come to the rescue in a completely remote area. More of the pathology of the villain could have been fleshed out. The person who may hold the key is his wife, who appeared to know much more than she was letting on about her deranged husband when she was confronted by Rachel Hilliers.
The best developed relationship in the film was that of Rachel and Alex. The bond of mother and daughter was deep, and Rachel made the decision that her career must take second place to the time spent with her daughter. By the end, both characters came to a new realization of what they mean to one another. Still, the film left a very unsettling feeling, and it did not reflect well on an educational system that produced weirdos like Mr. Thomas and Mr. Darrs.
