Nashville Film Festival: Follow Her
Jess (Dani Barker) is a struggling actress by day and a successful streamer at night. She arranges degrading sexual encounters with men on the internet and secretly films them for her stream. She maintains the men’s anonymity until one day she posts a video not realizing the man’s face was exposed. Jess has an internal conflict: take down the video or capitalize on the clout it’s currently receiving. When she’s invited by screenwriter Tom (Luke Cook) to a remote cabin to both work out the details of a new project while also secretly filming him. But the tables quickly turn as she realizes Tom is not as he seems.
Directed by Sylvia Caminer and written by Dani Barker, Follow Her is a psychological thriller that offers a stern warning about the dangers of streaming and surveillance in our digital age. It taps into the innate fears of the chronically online about sharing too much and being exposed for all to see. The first half of the movie isn’t very engaging and viewers will have to push through to the second half where the psycho-sexual elements really come into play. You’ll also have to suspend your disbelief as there are many red flags the female protagonist misses. If you enjoy thrillers about the digital age, give this one a try.
Bonus for Mad Men fans: Mark Moses has a role as Jess’ father.
Follow Her was screened at the 2022 Nashville Film Festival.