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Followed (2020) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Followed (2020) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 96 min · English
Echo score 45
Directed by
Antoine Le
Starring
John Savage, Sarah Chang, Adam Lesar, Blanca Blanco, Brianna McClellan, Caitlin Grace

A group of social media influencers, led by "DropTheMike," visit a hotel with a dark reputation, hoping to create a thrilling experience for their followers. While investigating the hotel's history and the mysterious Elevator Ritual, they inadvertently unleash a terrifying presence. The group must then face a dangerous situation and confront the potential consequences of their pursuit of online fame and attention.

Mystery Thriller Horror Cast, crew & box office
On this page (8)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (5)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Movies like Followed
  8. 8 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Followed (2020)

Where can you watch Followed? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Fandango at Home Free, Tubi TV and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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5 main characters · contains spoilers

Followed Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Followed (2020), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • DropTheMike (Mike)

    Mike is a controversial vlogger driven by ambition and the desire for fame, willing to face dangers for higher subscriber counts. His journey through the haunted Lennox Hotel showcases his initial skepticism towards the supernatural, which gradually transforms into fear as he is confronted by unsettling experiences. His emotional arc also includes personal revelations about family and relationships.

    • 🎥 Vlogger
    • 🔍 Adventurer

  • Wallace Fleischer

    played by John Savage

    Wallace is an insightful author who provides critical context about the hotel’s gruesome history. His knowledge of the past, particularly about the serial killer David Olmos, adds depth to the narrative, making him a vital character as Mike seeks to understand the horrors surrounding him. He serves as a connection between the characters' plight and the hotel's dark legacy.

    • 📚 Author
    • 🧠 Knowledgeable

  • Nic

    played by Caitlin Grace

    Nic is Mike's editor, who aids in the filming and production of their vlogs. Throughout the ordeal at the Lennox Hotel, he faces mounting pressure and insecurity as the group's situation unravels. His character serves as a grounding force, highlighting the personal stakes involved in their frightening endeavor.

    • ✍️ Editor
    • 🤝 Supportive

  • Tony (the Security Guard)

    played by Christopher Ross Martin

    Tony is portrayed as a sympathetic figure who admires Mike and offers assistance in navigating the hotel’s perilous environment. His character serves to bridge the gap between safety and danger, providing critical support during moments of exploration despite the risks posed by the hotel's haunted past.

    • 👮‍♂️ Security Guard
    • 🛡️ Protector

  • Jess

    played by Kelsey Griswold

    Jess is Mike's fiancée, who reaches out to him with news of her pregnancy amidst the chaos. Her character represents a slice of normalcy and emotional depth, offering a backdrop to the horror as Mike grapples with the implications of becoming a father while facing supernatural threats.

    • 💍 Fiancée
    • 👶 Expecting Mother

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:35

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Setting

Where and When Does Followed Take Place?

The setting of Followed (2020): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

1980s

The events of the 1980s were marked by societal changes and rising crime rates in urban areas like Los Angeles. During this period, notorious figures like serial killer David Olmos struck fear into the hearts of residents, leaving a lasting impact on the history of places like the Lennox Hotel. This dark backdrop significantly influences the contemporary narrative of the movie.

Location

Lennox Hotel, Los Angeles

The Lennox Hotel in downtown Los Angeles is notorious for its dark history filled with suicides and murders. Known as a hotspot for paranormal activities, it has drawn in thrill-seekers and vloggers alike, including the controversial DropTheMike. The chilling atmosphere is compounded by the hotel's past linked to a series of troubling events and a notorious serial killer.

  • 🏨 Hotel
  • 🌆 City

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:35

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3 major themes

Followed Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Followed (2020) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Supernatural Horror

    The film delves into the theme of supernatural horror, exploring the presence of malevolent spirits in the Lennox Hotel. As characters confront their fears and the hotel's haunted past, they face eerie manifestations and ghostly encounters that blur the line between reality and the supernatural. This chilling atmosphere underscores the psychological terror faced by the characters.

  • Digital Influence

    The use of screencasts and vlogs in 'Followed' highlights the significant role of digital media in shaping experiences and perceptions. DropTheMike's journey reflects the obsession with online fame and the lengths individuals will go to achieve it, including confronting the supernatural. This theme resonates with modern society's relationship with technology and its consequences.

  • Personal Demons

    Throughout the film, characters are challenged to confront their personal demons amid external horrors. The psychological tension rises as each character navigates their own fears and unresolved issues, revealing deeper truths about themselves. This theme captures the struggle between confronting one's inner turmoil and the chaos surrounding them.

Last updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:35

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Character & theme questions

Followed Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Followed (2020): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is the Lennox Hotel located in Followed?

The Lennox Hotel is located in downtown Los Angeles. It is portrayed as a notorious establishment with a dark reputation for paranormal activity, drawing thrill-seekers and vloggers despite its grim history of suicides and murders.

  • lennox hotel
  • los angeles
  • setting
  • location
  • haunted hotel
Q2

Why is the Lennox Hotel considered dangerous in the movie?

The Lennox Hotel is considered dangerous due to its dark history filled with suicides and murders. It has become infamous for paranormal activities and is linked to a notorious serial killer, making it a hotspot for both ghost hunters and those seeking dangerous thrills.

  • lennox hotel
  • haunted
  • dark history
  • murders
  • paranormal
Q3

What time period does Followed take place in?

While the events of Followed are set in contemporary times, the movie heavily references the 1980s as the period when the Lennox Hotel's dark history unfolded, particularly when serial killer David Olmos was active.

  • 1980s
  • time period
  • era
  • serial killer
  • david olmos
Q4

Who was David Olmos and what is his connection to the Lennox Hotel?

David Olmos was a notorious serial killer who operated during the 1980s in Los Angeles. His crimes are directly linked to the Lennox Hotel, and his legacy adds to the hotel's terrifying reputation, becoming a key piece of context that the characters investigate.

  • david olmos
  • serial killer
  • 1980s
  • lennox hotel
  • crime
Q5

What are the main themes in Followed?

Followed explores three primary themes: supernatural horror through the haunted Lennox Hotel and its malevolent spirits, digital influence focusing on the obsession with online fame and social media culture, and personal demons as characters confront their inner fears and unresolved issues amid external horrors.

  • themes
  • supernatural horror
  • digital influence
  • personal demons
  • online fame
Q6

How does supernatural horror play out in Followed?

The film features malevolent spirits haunting the Lennox Hotel, with characters experiencing eerie manifestations and ghostly encounters that blur reality and the supernatural. The hotel's troubled past manifests through terrifying phenomena that escalate throughout the story.

  • supernatural
  • ghosts
  • spirits
  • haunted hotel
  • paranormal
Q7

What role does social media and online fame play in the story?

The movie examines how digital media shapes experiences and perceptions through vlogs and screencasts. DropTheMike's pursuit of online fame drives him to investigate the haunted hotel, highlighting the lengths people will go to for subscriber counts and the dangerous consequences of seeking internet notoriety.

  • social media
  • vlogger
  • online fame
  • digital influence
  • subscribers
  • dropthemike
Q8

Who is DropTheMike and what motivates him?

DropTheMike (Mike) is a controversial vlogger driven by ambition and the desire for fame. He is willing to face dangerous situations for higher subscriber counts. Initially skeptical about the supernatural, his perspective shifts to fear as he experiences the hotel's horrors firsthand, while also dealing with personal revelations about family.

  • dropthemike
  • mike
  • vlogger
  • protagonist
  • ambition
  • fame
Q9

What is Wallace Fleischer's role in the movie?

Wallace Fleischer is an insightful author who provides critical context about the Lennox Hotel's gruesome history. His knowledge of the past, particularly regarding serial killer David Olmos, makes him a vital character in helping Mike understand the hotel's dark legacy.

  • wallace fleischer
  • author
  • historian
  • david olmos
  • hotel history
Q10

How do the characters confront their personal demons in Followed?

Throughout the film, characters face their inner fears and unresolved issues as they navigate the hotel's horrors. This psychological tension reveals deeper truths about each character, contrasting their internal struggles with the external supernatural threats they encounter.

  • personal demons
  • fear
  • psychology
  • character development
  • inner struggles
Q11

What is the overall emotional tone of Followed?

Followed maintains a consistently dark and intense tone with no levity to offset the oppressive atmosphere. The film deals with heavy themes of exploitation for fame and the consequences of meddling with dark forces, creating a psychological horror experience driven by the hotel's grim history.

  • tone
  • atmosphere
  • dark
  • horror
  • psychological
  • intensity
Q12

Is there closure or resolution to the supernatural threat in Followed?

The film ends ambiguously with the protagonist's fate left uncertain. The evil presence remains ongoing, targeting a new victim and leaving the curse unresolved. This creates a chilling continuation rather than a definitive conclusion to the supernatural threat.

  • ending
  • ambiguous
  • resolution
  • evil
  • curse
  • conclusion

Movie threads

More Movies Like Followed, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Followed tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Found Footage Horror Movies like Followed

First-person horror where the camera becomes a witness to unspeakable evil. If you liked the raw, first-person terror of Followed, explore similar found footage horror movies. These films immerse you in the characters' perspective, creating an immediate and intense experience of supernatural dread and psychological unraveling.

  • claustrophobic
  • unsettling
  • paranoid
  • dreadful
  • sinister
  • anxious
  • Tone: dark, paranoid
  • Pacing: steady, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread typically follow a group of investigators or everyday people documenting an unusual event, only to discover they are in over their heads against a malevolent force. The narrative unfolds through the lens of their camera, often leading to a frantic, chaotic, and ambiguous conclusion where the line between observer and victim blurs.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here for their shared use of the found footage format to create a visceral sense of realism and immediacy. They prioritize a high-intensity, claustrophobic experience where the viewer is an unwilling participant in the escalating supernatural horror.

Paranormal Entity movie poster

Paranormal Entity

2009
Followed movie poster

Followed

2020
Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension movie poster

Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension

2015
Hell House LLC movie poster

Hell House LLC

2015
Followed movie poster

Followed

2018
Darkest Night movie poster

Darkest Night

2012
Supernatural movie poster

Supernatural

1933
Evil Things movie poster

Evil Things

2009

Hubris Horror Stories like Followed

Stories of characters whose ambition blinds them to the dark forces they disturb. Discover movies like Followed where characters' reckless pursuit of fame or knowledge leads them to awaken a dormant evil. If you enjoyed the theme of ambition clashing with supernatural consequences, you'll find these stories deeply unsettling.

  • sinister
  • dreadful
  • ominous
  • unsettling
  • anxious
  • cautionary tale
  • Tone: sinister, ominous
  • Pacing: steady build to chaos
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a group motivated by self-interest—such as influencers, skeptics, or treasure hunters—entering a cursed location or performing a ritual. Their initial disbelief or arrogance quickly shatters as the unleashed evil systematically targets them, forcing a confrontation with the tangible consequences of their actions.

Why they belong together: These movies share a core thematic focus on hubris and its consequences. They explore the dangers of exploiting the unknown for personal gain, creating a heavy emotional weight as characters are forced to confront the horrifying reality of the forces they've awakened.

The Arrogant movie poster

The Arrogant

1988
Intruder movie poster

Intruder

1989
The Haunted Palace movie poster

The Haunted Palace

1963
Specters movie poster

Specters

1987
The Unnamable movie poster

The Unnamable

1988
Amityville: The Evil Escapes movie poster

Amityville: The Evil Escapes

1989
The Devil’s Hand movie poster

The Devil’s Hand

1961
Beyond the Door III movie poster

Beyond the Door III

1989

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Every angle

Followed (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Followed in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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