FOLLOWERS - Review
DISTRIBUTOR: Terror Films
SYNOPSIS: “What starts as hilariously bad YouTube videos develops into a warning to the world about a shocking new strain of supernatural serial killer. Jonty, a failing influencer with an ambition to reach over a million followers, will stop at nothing to become famous. A new start at university brings with it hopes of a resurgence in his popularity when a demonic presence appears in his student house. Jonty decides to stream his and his housemates’ experiences with this supernatural entity to gain the fame and fortune he’s most been craving. But at what cost?”
REVIEW: FOLLOWERS leans heavily on “from the producers of Anna and the Apocalypse and Monsters.” I gleefully jumped into this film due to my enjoyment of “Anna and the Apocalypse,” a Christmas zombie musical. I loved it! There is a bit of that spirit running through FOLLOWERS, but it is a bit more mean spirited.
At its core it is a “found footage” film with a bit of a twist to it. It has this slight feel of “Big Brother” meets the BBC series “Ghosts.” The main focus, Jonty, is an influencer who is trying to regain his status and followers after his previous nefarious actions. The supernatural elements of the tale are more for window dressing. The story is more of a cautionary tale of influencer culture and the lengths they go to obtain and maintain followers. One of the truths they spotlight is how many of these followers might be aware of the scam these influencers are running and still go along for the ride against their better judgment. There are some interesting moments. I was not sympathetic for any of these characters. I did like the villain setup, but what she is actually doing is trying to create a spectral servant, much like a classical zombie.
Other than the principle cast, the majority of the other actors are social media people and 70% of the film was shot by the actors. As such, the majority of the effects are visual. Given everything done over the years by the J-Horror Films, who took it to a new level, the effects here are solid, they’re just not scary enough. The film doesn't cut too often to the folks who are trying to piece together their version of the story as to be distracting. The cinematography is decent, the score helps serve as a reminder you're not actually watching a found footage film and the locations are functional but nothing special.
I enjoyed the cast, especially the four principals. Harry Jarvis brings a lot of energy to his role of Jonty Craig. He is so unlikeable, but yet there is something charming about the scoundrel. Actress Nina Wadia’s Becky Dubar has a great character arc. Clearly there is something weird about the character but she delivers this slow transformation that adds a nice air of mystery and suspense to the film.
Unfortunately, director Marcus Harben passed away before the US release of the film. In his time as a filmmaker he made ten films. Even though it utilizes some tried and true elements, FOLLOWERS has a fresh feel to it that blossoms in the final act. Harry Jarvis and Nina Wadia bring a lot of energy and creativity to the film that keeps it an entertaining and engaging view. The overall tone isn’t exactly a horror film. It’s more of a plot device that allows them to explore the larger themes of influencers and social media. Come to think of it, that can be a real nightmare!
CAST: Harry Jarvis, Loreece Harrison, Daniel Cahill, Erin Austen, Nina Wadia, Orion Lee, David Sterne. CREW: Director/Screenplay - Marcus Harben; Producers - Giles Alderson, Steve Jarvis & Tracy Jarvis; Cinematographer - Alan C. McLaughlin; Score - Jim Lang; Editor - William Honeyball; Production Designer - Alice Cousins; Costume Designer - Leena Mistry; Visual Effects Supervisor - Ben Honeyball. OFFICIAL: N.A. FACEBOOK: N.A. TWITTER: N.A. TRAILER: https://youtu.be/GejB82nnqGY RELEASE DATE: On Digital and On Demand March 24th, 2023
**Until we can all head back into the theaters our “COVID Reel Value” will be similar to how you rate a film on digital platforms - 👍 (Like), 👌 (It’s just okay), or 👎 (Dislike)
Reviewed by Joseph B Mauceri
