Based on a story written by Hugo-winning author Will McIntosh (“Bridesicle”), Followed attempts to use zombies to “symbolize society’s disadvantaged and oppressed.” Leading man Erryn Arkin plays Peter, a psychology professor who’s being followed. Night and day, a little, non-violent zombie girl (a.k.a. little poor girl) follows him around trying to make the man feel guilty for still being alive (not poor). He donates money to a charity to help zombies (again, poor people). He debates the importance of helping those less fortunate with everyone he meets. But even with all the talk and the money, surprisingly, the zombie’s (poor girl’s) still a zombie (poor girl).
Followed attempts to shame liberals into getting their hands dirty instead of trying to solve everything with big talk and big money. And how does it do that? By setting Peter up as a stereotypical bleeding heart blowhard who lectures everyone and cuts checks before literally getting his hands dirty by helping the little zombie (a.k.a. little poor girl) clean up. There are thinly veiled allegories and then there’s Followed.
This is not director James Kicklighter’s first preachy film. His 2010 short, The Car Wash, is a sappy effort with less subtlety than Police Academy-era Bobcat Goldthwait. Again, Kicklighter falls back into his bad habit of ineffectively preaching to viewers who never asked to be saved. That being said, Arkin delivers a solid performance despite the material he’s working with. And the film ends on a beautiful song by London-based singer-songwriter, Essie Jain. Her track “Glory” is by far the most understated and impressive aspect of the film.
FOLLOWED (2011) Trailer from James Kicklighter on Vimeo.
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