There is a reason why I longer spend time on YouTube anymore. Quite honestly a large portion of the YouTube personalities get under my skin. It’s like we’re constantly looking for the next Tide Pod, condom or even Cornavirus challenge. Don’t get me wrong, I have tried my best to understand why people spend so much of their time on the platform watching such things be done. The 2018 Logan Paul, “Suicide Forest”, video  was my breakway point. There are certain things within life that you don’t make light of. Suicide is a major one of those subjects. Even now, in reflection, making fun of one’s culture is also something you just don’t do. I understand that we have had stereotypes within our culture for years. Nowbwe’re starting to see a change take place in that tradition.

Fox is currently taking steps towards replacing white actors impersonating and fueling said stereotypes of people of color with actual people of color. The documentary, Apu and Me, explores the very impact of what a cartoon stereotype can have one an entire culture. Great documentary, highly recommend it. However, I degres. I feel like my view on YouTube has been made abundantly clear. That’s why when viewers are introduced to vlogger, Mike or “Drop the Mike” (Matthew Solomon), in the independent horror film, Followed, I had to really talk myself into staying for the remainder of the movie. More on that in just a bit.

The film depicts a vlogger attempting to get a sponsorship by staying within a “haunted” hotel. As I mentioned before, Solomon seriously got under my skin. The entire first act of this film is nothing but him being annoying. Screenwriter, Todd Klick, does an incredible job building a character who the audience is sure to hate. Mike is not a guy you want to root for - in any sense of the word. Though as the film progresses, there is an evolution of depth that comes with the character. Even as the character grows he still manages to be a character who you hate. Every time there is a hint of sympathy, it is only out of his own selfish ambition to which he is being sympathetic. However, even that sympathetic character trait from Mike starts to ween the deeper that you go into the film. The project of staying in the “cursed” Hotel Lennox brings the character to the point of breaking. In a way Followed feels like an experiment that presents the tired genre of found footage and marries itself to a character study; then actually manages to serve as a commentary on the toxicity surrounding internet/YouTube culture. Once again, that comes from both Klick’s script and Solomon’s acting. The ability to make the audience feel for an atrocious character like Mike is something of a feat.

Followed does take up residency within the found footage genre. So yes, expect the same tired cliches and “scares” we’ve seen since The Blair Witch Project in 1999. The movie might not break new ground but it feels like the genre’s answer to Searching. I will admit: the actual horror of this movie is predictable and boring. It’s the narrative built around the hotel, the host and its mythology which actually makes the film watchable. It’s the mystery element surrounding the last two acts and above all else, it’s the commentary on the toxicity of internet culture. While the cast feels intimate, there is really no one else worth noting in the film. The actors feel okay, but never quite rise to the level of Solomon. Not to mention, there is no development for these characters - they feel like disposable characters the moment you meet them. 

Overall, Followed won’t break any new ground for the horror or found footage genre. However, its lead actor in Matthew Solomon makes the movie equally compelling and heartbreaking. Solomon is a cut above his castmates to create a character that is as complex as he is annoying. Equally that praise has to be lavished upon screenwriter, Todd Klick, as well. Klick creates a found footage film that stands out within the genre; thanks to its commentary on the internet’s toxic culture, twists and character development. Don’t be fooled by this one, follow this horror movie because Followed is one of 2020’s biggest, and best, surprises!

RORSCHACH RATING:

If you or someone you know is reading this right now and you are struggling with suicide, depression, addiction, or self-harm - please reach out. Comment, message or tweet to us. Go to victimsandvillains.net/hope for more resources. Call the suicide lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Text "HELP" to 741-741. There is hope & you DO have so much value and worth!

Victims and Villains is written Josh "Captain Nostalgia" Burkey (and produced by), Caless Davis, Dan Rockwood, & Brandon Miller. Music by Mallory Johnson and others. Followed is property of Global View Entertainment. We don’t own nor claim any rights. Followed is now playing in theaters and available VOD. You can now support us on Patreon. Help us get mental health resources into schools and get exclusive content at the same time. Click here to join today!