THE FOLLOWER is a mildly effective little found footage indie from France which is better structured than you might expect given the genre. The story told is clear, albeit slow moving with little incident involved. A video blogger/ghost hunter visits a lonely woman in order to investigate a supposedly haunted house, but he discovers more than intended. The story's a bit lacking but this isn't that bad to watch given indie standards.
12 Reviews
A solid thriller with an unexpected finale
eddie_baggins22 November 2017
If you head into director Kévin Mendiboure's new found footage venture The Follower expecting more of a slow-burning thriller over a jump scare heavy horror, then this solid attempt at crafting a different spin on the usual genre tropes that have plagued other found footage films will be a screening worth taking.
Shot on a shoe string budget with a tiny cast headlined by Nicolas Shake's blogger/internet personality David Baker who has a keen interest in the supernatural but starts to wish he didn't after Chloé Dumas's fan and keen follower Carol Anderson invites David to her isolated homestead to experience some odd supernatural occurrences, The Follower in many ways walks in the line of many other films of the same ilk yet overcomes a poor performance from Dumas, some at times weak scripting and a pace that crawls at times to a snail's pace to be a film that shows promise for Mendiboure as a filmmaker with his ability to turn expectations on their heads in the films finale.
After a long-winded build up where David finds himself troubled at home after his stay with Carol, the true nature of what is occurring at the Dumas property becomes apparent and The Follower ups the ante considerably as both David and the audience become acutely aware on what is transpiring for our protagonists.
It's a shame then for the film that has such a strong last act that so much of what comes before doesn't quite match it. Shake's performance is solid (even if you can't help but feel Justin Long has a clone) and Mendiboure doesn't over-do shaky or grainy footage that can so often infest these type of experiences but the film was crying out from a few more scares, stronger character development and a more expertly polished script, all elements that if prevalent, would've made The Follower a genuine indie must-see.
Final Say –
The Follower leaves a lot to be desired but there's also enough promise here to suggest Mendiboure has the potential to be a filmmaker of note. Not one for horror buffs due to the lack of genuine chills and blood spills, The Follower is however a solid low-budget affair with a particularly neat sleight-of-hand that should catch unsuspecting viewers by surprise.
2 ½ movie posters out of 5
Shot on a shoe string budget with a tiny cast headlined by Nicolas Shake's blogger/internet personality David Baker who has a keen interest in the supernatural but starts to wish he didn't after Chloé Dumas's fan and keen follower Carol Anderson invites David to her isolated homestead to experience some odd supernatural occurrences, The Follower in many ways walks in the line of many other films of the same ilk yet overcomes a poor performance from Dumas, some at times weak scripting and a pace that crawls at times to a snail's pace to be a film that shows promise for Mendiboure as a filmmaker with his ability to turn expectations on their heads in the films finale.
After a long-winded build up where David finds himself troubled at home after his stay with Carol, the true nature of what is occurring at the Dumas property becomes apparent and The Follower ups the ante considerably as both David and the audience become acutely aware on what is transpiring for our protagonists.
It's a shame then for the film that has such a strong last act that so much of what comes before doesn't quite match it. Shake's performance is solid (even if you can't help but feel Justin Long has a clone) and Mendiboure doesn't over-do shaky or grainy footage that can so often infest these type of experiences but the film was crying out from a few more scares, stronger character development and a more expertly polished script, all elements that if prevalent, would've made The Follower a genuine indie must-see.
Final Say –
The Follower leaves a lot to be desired but there's also enough promise here to suggest Mendiboure has the potential to be a filmmaker of note. Not one for horror buffs due to the lack of genuine chills and blood spills, The Follower is however a solid low-budget affair with a particularly neat sleight-of-hand that should catch unsuspecting viewers by surprise.
2 ½ movie posters out of 5
The acting killed the film.
raymondrosato3 March 2024
Did you ever watch a movie and think, "just what the hell are they doing?" The Follower had a good story, good atmosphere, good sets, and good filming. So, technically not bad. But, my God! Yes, it's a low budget feature. Which is probably why they didn't spend to have performers who knew what they were doing. David and Carol are played with such glaring incompetence that all the good points are washed away with acting barely above a high school level. Carol was played with wide-eyed, cringe-worthy silliness. David whines and emotes to the point where you wish you could reach through the screen and smack him. Some of the exchanges between them are so absurd they go into Ed Wood territory...and that's an insult to Ed Wood! I have no idea what they were going for. But if you want a primer on how to ruin an otherwise decent production this is a movie to put on your list.
Awful
timmy-6564125 March 2018
Pretty awful film
Saiph9024 March 2018
Warning: Spoilers
The main character is so annoying you have zero empathy and without that you really do not care what happens to him, the female although having lived in America for a long time still speaks with a strange accent. Found footage, shot on your phone or hand held camera does not on its own make a good film. You need plot, dialogue, story line and good acting, this has none of these attributes. The dog must have been grateful it was killed off and could go on to better projects. As a horror movie fails miserably, I have felt more horror finding out we have run out of coffee.
I recommend this movie if you're looking to waste your time!
iiss-0262215 November 2017
Warning: Spoilers
This is another found footage movie with a "nuance". This time, it's a YouTuber recording on his cameras! The story makes no sense, it's about this guy investigating a supposedly haunted house, but the owner of the house appears to be insane, then the dude leaves. Soon after he starts to experience strange things in his house, the ending is about the house owner's brother murdering her... it's really not worth the effort of tying. The acting is absolutely atrocious; it's comparable to the acting you see in a mediocre B movie.
To whoever was associated with the making of this movie: I understand that it's your passion project, or you got paid to participate in the making of this piece of poop, it's really, I MEAN REALLY, terrible.
To whoever was associated with the making of this movie: I understand that it's your passion project, or you got paid to participate in the making of this piece of poop, it's really, I MEAN REALLY, terrible.
Sooooo bad. Do not waste your time.
frankblack-7996121 October 2019
For the suspense that it barely evokes
jmbovan-47-1601737 April 2020
Tired found footage film. Is there something supernatural? Where does the film go with this? Can the lead actor voice what his motivations are to help him deliver any line convincingly? I'll answer the last question: no. Too bad that this is who they picked to star in this film. The actor is unconvincing in the title, tended to read his lines as if he was also explaining the stage directions of the script and piecing together what his motivation was to speak the lines he had. The script did little to help him be able to offer any acting chops, but I doubt he would have done well if there was a better script. Maybe it was one of the minimalist scripts that just set the stage and then allow the actors to be in the moment in character. Who knows. Oh, the movie and its plot and conclusion. Yeah, it was that important.
haa the fake reviews
kaefab30 April 2018
The Farcical
tmccull5231 July 2021
Wow. See all of those other one star reviews? Believe them. This movie is really that bad. You could pick any five people at random, with no experience in making movies whatsoever, give them a video camera, and they would come up with something better than "The Following".
The acting is absolutely God-awful, even by zero-budget horror movie standards. This is a movie that starts out stupid, and picks up momentum like a snowball rolling downhill and turning into an avalanche, and turns imbeciles.
Anyone and everyone who had anything whatsoever with the production of this movie should be barred from ever making another movie in any capacity whatsoever.
The acting is absolutely God-awful, even by zero-budget horror movie standards. This is a movie that starts out stupid, and picks up momentum like a snowball rolling downhill and turning into an avalanche, and turns imbeciles.
Anyone and everyone who had anything whatsoever with the production of this movie should be barred from ever making another movie in any capacity whatsoever.
Awesome movie!!
rebbiesutherland8 March 2018
I love this kind of independent movie, especially horror ones! Even though it obviously didn't have the biggest budget in the world, there were some really great scares and thrills, the directing and camera work was fantastic and I had a really great movie night in watching this in the dark!
Good surprise
photograffeur7 March 2018
Really good surprise... I wasnt expect nothing from this movie but what a great surprise ! I spend a good time with my girlfriend showing this movie. It's an original creepy horror film who bring you in a "haunted house". Special mention to this decor... Maybe low budget when you see the generic but it's working with "found footage" and photography is still working very well so really pleasant to watch....in the dark, of course
Great actors, nice pace, good editing...what else ?
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
