VOD Review: Ratter (2016)

"The Internet is dark and full of terrors. And Ratters."

In computer terms, RAT stands for Remote Administration Tool. RAT software is used by someone to gain outside access to a computer or device, most of the time delivered by a Trojan Horse virus.

To become infected by a Trojan Horse virus, you usually have to open an attachment or download a file with the program in it, and allow it to run. Once you do, whoever is in control of the RAT owns your computer, and you're screwed.

So the lesson here is don't download programs or open attachments unless you know exactly where they come from, and even then, think twice. In this way, Ratter is a great cautionary tale.

Emma is a sexy grad student who has just moved to NYC from her small Wisconsin town. Being a rube in the big city, she's as awestruck by how big and fancy it is, as we are by how she could afford such a massive, nice apartment in Manhattan. Her parents must own a cheese company back home or something.

YEAH, SHE'S PROBABLY RICH.

Somewhere along the way, Emma downloaded or opened something online and got herself infected with a virus (Ratted), and now she's being watched by the mysterious figure who sent it to her. As she goes through her everyday life, he browses her computer and phone for pictures and info; watches her shower and go pee; turns on her music at random times to mess with her; and just wreaks havoc on her life in general.

IS HER CARPET HOOKED UP TO THE INTERNET?

When Emma discovers that she's been Ratted, she freaks out, buys a cat, and gets all kinds of paranoid. Seeing this, the Ratter makes his move to physically be in her life, and begins skulking around in the shadows of her home, watching her sleep, and probably plotting to rape or kill her, because where else can all of this lead, if it's not rape and/or murder?

A disturbing invasion of privacy ensues.

YES, YOU DID HEAR A NOISE.

Even with its issues (which we'll get into in a minute), Ratter was a pretty solid Found Footage Thriller when it was actually in Thriller mode. The idea of someone having access to your life and watching your every move, let alone being in your home without you knowing it, is a pretty terrifying one. When the stakes get higher towards the end of the movie, there are more than a few intense scenes of Emma's shadowy stalker moving about her house that worked really well.

Ashley Benson is also a pretty solid actress, and her likable character absolutely made the movie more bearable. Had it been anyone else walking around on screen doing mundane activities for the better part of an hour, we may have lost interest. She's just got a way about her.

YEAH, SHE'S DEFINITELY GOT A WAY ABOUT HER...

The worst part of this movie, and what really keeps it from being truly good, is that nothing really "happens" until the last 20 minutes or so when the Ratter shows up physically. Before that, we're forced to watch Emma workout, play air tennis, talk on the phone, Skype with her mom, take showers, cook, sit, sleep... Now, we know that watching her go about her daily life is the whole point, as the movie is about a stalker who hacks her gadgets to be able to do just that, but that doesn't necessarily make for a very compelling watch. At least not for the entire time.

I'm also not sure if I understand where all of the camera angles in the movie came from. Was it all supposed to be filmed with her tech toys that had been hacked, or was it half that, and half just normal movie shots? Because it it's the former, the Ratter dude must have hacked her lamp, wall, and whatever else was needed to get the angles that he got, because a lot of the shots in the movie did not come from her computer or phone.

And what was the guy's motivation? Ambiguity serves a movie like this well enough, but we have no idea who the guy is, why he does what he does, or how he does it... which I suppose is the point, being that the movie is about safety in the digital age. Still, some answers would have been nice.

Also, there's a scene after the credits that kind of explains Emma's fate, since the end of the movie was one of those "leave it up to the audience" kind of things.

SO WHAT DID HAPPEN TO HER?

No gore. Wait... there's a dead cat, so that's a type of gore, I suppose.

BUT MOSTLY, NO GORE.

No nudity in this one, but Ashley Benson looked good wearing some skimpy outfits throughout. At least that's something.

THANK YOU, ASH BENZO.

If you're on the Internet, you will be Ratted at some point... unless you're smart and don't open attachments from people you don't know, you won't be Ratted. So be smart.

INVASION OF PRIVACY GETS NO WORSE THAN THIS.

If you enjoy the average Found Footage movie, gaps in logic and all, then you'll probably like Ratter. It's a competent enough movie that has some genuine moments of fright throughout, but again, it's all constrained by the typical Found Footage tropes, many of which can be frustrating as hell.

If you don't mind that though, give Ratter a rent, and enjoy.

C

Ratter is available now on DVD and VOD.

Ash Benzo is the best part of this movie. Make of that what you will. You can see some more pics of her in her own Hottie post, right HERE.