Soo, I am going to give the ultimate compliment to the Director, Ned, and the fine crew of actors who made this movie, 419.

You got me, and my viewing pal. You got us good; or bad - whichever.

(At this moment, hubby's still thinking he watched an ACTUAL documentary of an actual international crime) I figured it out towards the end... when there was so much 'found footage' of the thugs on tape and one of the three victim's escape seemed just a tad too convenient...But up until that point, wow. You got us.

This mockumentary was very natural and quite convincing. It felt very much like a Dateline episode, and it did cause anxiety and pulled at a parent's heartstrings. Even from the start of the film, where the viewer was informed that there is a sad story of an African cyber-scam to explain; We just did not want anything bad to happen to these nice, normal, typical, young American man/boys, so the tension began to build when they started their flight overseas, and it did not stop. Furthermore, there was great attention to DETAILS, as questions & concerns arose, then were answered. It's the DETAILS that always made Spielburg's films so darn great; and that nearly all modern filmmakers ignore, or graze over. This team of filmmakers did their work.

We never knew there was such a film genre as 'found footage', so we began viewing this film strictly as American parents of young people, and as Americans truly very-fed-up with the amount of cyber crime being perpetrated upon good-hearted, if-a-bit-gullible, Americans. Therefore, we were the A-1 perfect targets for this epic film-prank.

If I saw this team of actors in person, I would punch them in the arm (mostly gently) for pranking us so adeptly; then I would hug them for their cleverness and worthy work efforts. Good job on all of the crew; but particularly the three young men, and the heartbroken girlfriends, that so organically pulled off the loving friendship act. Nine out ten stars.

The found footage genre is getting a bit tired these days with nothing new to add to the genre. This is a bit like watching a group of guys on a stag do to Prague with a potentially good story but falls flat with no real fear or proper continuity, for me it just does not flow well at all and soon becomes quite annoying!

It is not the worst I have seen and does not deserve the usual 1 star shill review as it has its merits, mainly that South Africa should never be on your holiday agenda if you value your life but it is just a bit boring to be honest.