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
