I know there's a lot of hatred for 'found-footage' horror lately, though it's never really bothered me too much. In fact, I actually enjoy them when they're done right. Unfortunately though, despite the premise, 'Followed' offered nothing new.
The story centers around a couple that are moving from Chicago to San Diego. The boyfriend, David, is filming the trip (of course) because along the way, he plans to propose to his girlfriend Rachel. Meanwhile, in a not-so-subtle fashion, we learn that a serial killer is on the prowl, through various radio and news reports. Sooner rather than later it becomes apparent that they are being followed by, surprise-surprise, the vary same serial killer.
SPOILER:
I will admit that for the first 3/4 of the movie, I did not see the plot twist coming, but to the film-makers discredit, the not-so-subtle news announcements basically give it all away, making the remainder of the movie pretty lackluster. Not only that, but the plot-twist is incredibly stupid in my opinion.
Like many nerds before me, I know a lot about serial killers and psychopaths, and if there is one thing I have learned through the years of rummaging through the now rescinded website CrimeLibrary.com, it's that women are never, sole sexual psychopaths. When women do commit multiple homicides it's usually for revenge, or for financial gain. The few instances when females have been involved in a sex related killing, have all been cases where they were involved with a man who was a murderer, (Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, Karla Hamolka and Paul Bernardo, Fred and Rosemary West, etc). I'm sure there are some exceptions to the rule, but not enough that it makes Followed original, but instead, unrealistic.
In fact, I find the vast majority of serial killer movies to be incredibly annoying because they seem so ill-researched. Serial Killers do not murder people to solve math problems, create artwork or to fulfill some religious revelation. The fact that they murder for sexual reasons is a lot more terrifying to me than all that drab nonsense. I don't know why most film directors get that wrong.
Anyway, enough with that rant.
To conclude my review I will say that Followed is not a terrible movie, but it's uninspired and unoriginal. There are better found-footage films you can get your fix off of out there, like Lake Mungo or The Houses October Built.
The story centers around a couple that are moving from Chicago to San Diego. The boyfriend, David, is filming the trip (of course) because along the way, he plans to propose to his girlfriend Rachel. Meanwhile, in a not-so-subtle fashion, we learn that a serial killer is on the prowl, through various radio and news reports. Sooner rather than later it becomes apparent that they are being followed by, surprise-surprise, the vary same serial killer.
SPOILER:
I will admit that for the first 3/4 of the movie, I did not see the plot twist coming, but to the film-makers discredit, the not-so-subtle news announcements basically give it all away, making the remainder of the movie pretty lackluster. Not only that, but the plot-twist is incredibly stupid in my opinion.
Like many nerds before me, I know a lot about serial killers and psychopaths, and if there is one thing I have learned through the years of rummaging through the now rescinded website CrimeLibrary.com, it's that women are never, sole sexual psychopaths. When women do commit multiple homicides it's usually for revenge, or for financial gain. The few instances when females have been involved in a sex related killing, have all been cases where they were involved with a man who was a murderer, (Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, Karla Hamolka and Paul Bernardo, Fred and Rosemary West, etc). I'm sure there are some exceptions to the rule, but not enough that it makes Followed original, but instead, unrealistic.
In fact, I find the vast majority of serial killer movies to be incredibly annoying because they seem so ill-researched. Serial Killers do not murder people to solve math problems, create artwork or to fulfill some religious revelation. The fact that they murder for sexual reasons is a lot more terrifying to me than all that drab nonsense. I don't know why most film directors get that wrong.
Anyway, enough with that rant.
To conclude my review I will say that Followed is not a terrible movie, but it's uninspired and unoriginal. There are better found-footage films you can get your fix off of out there, like Lake Mungo or The Houses October Built.