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Review: ‘Followed’ Shows The Horrors of Internet Influencing

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If there’s been one underlying fact when it comes to a variety of horror premises, be it spending a night in a haunted house or exploring an alien ship, it’s this: money is a motivator. As is the case of Followed, a found footage and livestream horror movie of sorts that brings this all too familiar premise to the digital age.

Image via MPRM

 

The story follows a vlogger and internet influencer named Mike (Matthew Solomon) who goes by the online persona of ‘DropTheMike’. He runs a horror themed video channel where he pulls pranks, visits the sites of crimes, hauntings, and atrocities, and plugs for subscribers. He receives an offer for hundreds of thousands of dollars in sponsorship if he can get his subscriber count high enough, and in order to achieve this goal, Mike decides to spend Halloween at the Hotel Lennox. An infamous hotel that’s supposedly haunted and was the site of several mysterious murders, suicides, and disappearances. Along with his friends Chris (Tim Direr), Danni (Sam Valentine), and editor Nic (Caitlin Grace), they check in and search for supernatural happenings. Mike himself is a non-believer and just wants to make some quick cash, but he get more than he bargained for in this particular project…

As I said prior, Followed takes a rather familiar horror premise and gives it a shiny, internet era update. Livestreaming from a haunting and letting the numbers uptick. And the setting of the ‘Hotel Lennox’ is an interesting one, clearly drawing from the infamous Los Angeles’ Hotel Cecil and its own cases of disappearances and notorious serial killer occupants. Offering a myriad of spirits and supernatural terror to unleash upon Mike and his crew. Which offers an interesting mix, but at the same time kind of muddled the exact nature of the supernatural menacing them. At the same time, culminating in a bizarre and surreal explosion of ghostly calamity that would make Lucio Fulci proud.

Image via MPRM

The story follows some rather typical beats, so the scares didn’t feel too strong. Jump-scares and entities in the corners of recording, that sort of thing. One of the bigger strengths of the story is the examination of influencer culture by way of the lead character of Mike. When introduced, he’s an obnoxious ‘it’s just a prank, bro!’ internet personality. His friends more often than not begrudgingly work with him, and his editor is introduced flipping him off. The only person that he shows any real emotion and empathy with is to his fiancee, Jess (Kelsey Griswold). And even then, revealing that his main motivation being his inferiority complex to her. Wanting to make enough money after his previous failures as a filmmaker and he’s willing to degrade himself and others in order to do it. As terrifying as the spirits are, the lengths a desperate man is willing to go for money, stability, and peace of mind is also to be recognized.

The cast are pretty decent, though Mike’s obnoxious vlogger persona is all too grating and it can be hard to differentiate between personas and genuine fear. The special FX are mostly digital and screen based, considering the found footage and internet angle of the story. Oftentimes involving the modern classic ‘glitch ghosts’ that distort the screen and blink in and out. A good touch.

Image via MPRM

So, while the horror aspect of Followed doesn’t offer too much in the way of new scares or plot, it’s still a solid found footage movie for 2020. So, if you want to see the last broadcast of DropTheMike, give it a watch either online or your local drive-in.

Followed is in Drive-In Theaters currently as of June 19th, 2020.

 

Image via MPRM

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New Poster Reveal For Nicolas Cage’s Survival Creature Feature ‘Arcadian’ [Trailer]

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Nicolas Cage Arcadian

In the latest cinematic venture featuring Nicolas Cage, Arcadian emerges as a compelling creature feature, teeming with suspense, horror, and emotional depth. RLJE Films has recently released a series of new images and a captivating poster, offering audiences a glimpse into the eerie and thrilling world of “Arcadian”. Scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024, the film will later be available on Shudder and AMC+, ensuring a wide audience can experience its gripping narrative.

Arcadian Movie Trailer

The Motion Picture Association (MPA) has given this film an “R” rating for its “bloody images,” hinting at the visceral and intense experience awaiting viewers. The film draws inspiration from acclaimed horror benchmarks like “A Quiet Place,” weaving a post-apocalyptic tale of a father and his two sons navigating a desolate world. Following a catastrophic event that depopulates the planet, the family faces the dual challenge of surviving their dystopian environment and eluding mysterious nocturnal creatures.

Joining Nicolas Cage in this harrowing journey are Jaeden Martell, known for his role in “IT” (2017), Maxwell Jenkins from “Lost in Space,” and Sadie Soverall, featured in “Fate: The Winx Saga.” Directed by Ben Brewer (“The Trust”) and penned by Mike Nilon (“Braven”), “Arcadian” promises a unique blend of poignant storytelling and electrifying survival horror.

Maxwell Jenkins, Nicolas Cage, and Jaeden Martell 

Critics have already begun to praise “Arcadian” for its imaginative monster designs and exhilarating action sequences, with one review from Bloody Disgusting highlighting the film’s balance between emotional coming-of-age elements and heart-pounding horror. Despite sharing thematic elements with similar genre films, “Arcadian” sets itself apart through its creative approach and action-driven plot, promising a cinematic experience filled with mystery, suspense, and relentless thrills.

Arcadian Official Movie Poster

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‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3’ Is a Go with Enhanced Budget and New Characters

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Winnie the Pooh 3

Wow, they’re churning things out fast! The upcoming sequel “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey 3” is officially moving forward, promising an expanded narrative with a larger budget and the introduction of beloved characters from A.A. Milne’s original tales. As confirmed by Variety, the third installment in the horror franchise will welcome Rabbit, the heffalumps, and the woozles into its dark and twisted narrative.

This sequel is a part of an ambitious cinematic universe that reimagines children’s stories as horror tales. Alongside “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” and its first sequel, the universe includes films such as “Peter Pan’s Neverland Nightmare”, “Bambi: The Reckoning,” and “Pinocchio Unstrung”. These movies are set to converge in the crossover event “Poohniverse: Monsters Assemble,” slated for a 2025 release.

Winnie the Pooh Poohniverse

The creation of these films was made possible when A.A. Milne’s 1926 children’s book “Winnie-the-Pooh” entered the public domain last year, allowing filmmakers to explore these cherished characters in unprecedented ways. Director Rhys Frake-Waterfield and producer Scott Jeffrey Chambers, of Jagged Edge Productions, have led the charge in this innovative endeavor.

The inclusion of Rabbit, heffalumps, and woozles in the upcoming sequel introduces a new layer to the franchise. In Milne’s original stories, heffalumps are imagined creatures resembling elephants, while woozles are known for their weasel-like characteristics and a penchant for stealing honey. Their roles in the narrative remain to be seen, but their addition promises to enrich the horror universe with deeper connections to the source material.

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How to Watch ‘Late Night with the Devil’ from Home: Dates and Platforms

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Late Night With The Devil

For fans eager to dive into one of this year’s most talked-about horror films from the comfort of their own home, “Late Night with the Devil” will be available for streaming exclusively on Shudder starting April 19, 2024. This announcement has been highly anticipated following the film’s successful theatrical release by IFC Films, which saw it earning rave reviews and a record-breaking opening weekend for the distributor.

“Late Night with the Devil” emerges as a standout horror film, captivating audiences and critics alike, with Stephen King himself offering high praise for the 1977-set film. Starring David Dastmalchian, the movie unfolds on Halloween night during a live late-night talk show broadcast that disastrously unleashes evil across the nation. This found footage-style film not only delivers scares but also authentically captures the aesthetic of the 1970s, drawing viewers into its nightmarish scenario.

David Dastmalchian in Late Night with the Devil

The film’s initial box office success, opening to $2.8 million in 1,034 theaters, underscores its wide appeal and marks the highest opening weekend for an IFC Films release. Critically acclaimed, “Late Night with the Devil” boasts a 96% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 135 reviews, with the consensus praising it for rejuvenating the possession horror genre and showcasing David Dastmalchian’s exceptional performance.

Rotten Tomatoes score as of 3/28/2024

Simon Rother of iHorror.com encapsulates the film’s allure, emphasizing its immersive quality that transports viewers back to the 1970s, making them feel as if they are part of the eerie “Night Owls” Halloween broadcast. Rother lauds the film for its meticulously crafted script and the emotional and shocking journey it takes viewers on, stating, “This whole experience will have viewers of the Cairnes brothers’ film glued to their screen… The script, from beginning to end, is neatly sewn together with an ending that’ll have jaws on the floor.” You can read the full review here.

Rother further encourages audiences to watch the film, highlighting its multifaceted appeal: “Whenever it is made available to you, you must attempt to view the Cairnes Brothers’ latest project as it will make you laugh, it will creep you out, it will amaze you, and it might even strike an emotional cord.”

Set to stream on Shudder on April 19, 2024, “Late Night with the Devil” offers a compelling blend of horror, history, and heart. This film is not just a must-watch for horror aficionados but for anyone looking to be thoroughly entertained and moved by a cinematic experience that redefines the boundaries of its genre.

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