Fox’s newest crime drama, a harrowing show titled “The Following,” had it’s midseason premier last night in a gruesome fashion.
The show combines a compelling, fast-paced plot, fantastic on-screen chemistry and macabre imagery to create a thrilling and frightening crime drama. Horror fans have found their niche, but those squeamish about blood or disturbed by any of the above should avoid the show altogether.
Producer Kevin Williamson (“Scream”) has created a grotesque, sinister story surrounding FBI Special Agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon, “Footloose”) and Romanticism-enthusiast serial killer Dr. Joseph Carroll (James Purefoy, “Rome”).
After Carroll escapes from prison, Hardy is called back into the field after eight years off the force to consult the case. Hardy more than gets his hands dirty as Carroll begins to put the second act of his theatrical murder spree into action.
As an Edgar Allen Poe enthusiast, the serial killer uses many of the concepts, acts and ideologies from the dark works of the author to fuel his killings. In this way, Carroll murdered young women, primarily using knives and always removing their eyes – a nod to his Romantic idol.
Now nearly a decade after his initial capture, Carroll has fostered a group of unflinching devotees, the titular “Following,” who are willing to not only engage in copycat murders, but also carry out the leader’s every order. It was as if an occult hand had guided these willing servants to their homicidal patriarch, uniting a group of unstable misfits under the dark banner of Poe and Carroll.
The premise is quite engaging and is neatly tied together using a theoretical novelization—written in Carroll’s mind— of these murderous exploits as a vehicle by which numerous gothic references can be used, as well as foster the plot as Carroll unveils his master plan for himself, his following and Hardy.
The lead actors, Bacon and Purefoy, have a gripping dynamic and instantly give the impression of “an unstoppable force coming into contact with an immovable object,” to steal the notion from Christopher Nolan. Their on-screen chemistry adds a heightened sense of urgency and dread to the grisly plot. Bacon especially, receiving the most screen time, shines in his role as a disgruntled and disgraced former FBI agent.
Supporting cast in the form of the following as well as up-and-coming FBI agent Mike Weston (Shawn Ashmore, “X-Men”) also show promise, sure to develop into a full-bodied and well-rounded cast.
Despite the good “The Following” has to offer, there could be significant drawbacks for some viewers. The show is not for the faint of heart, especially those without the tolerance for fairly horrific gore and violence. Any show where a visual staple is women with their eyes gouged out has a baseline of brutality that the show will not drop below.
Additionally, there stands a highly psychological aspect to the show, delving into the depravity and deep psychosis of the serial killers. The program’s gory, visceral approach to the plot further allows for more of these killers’ brutality to be displayed. The show achieves the feelings of terror it hopes to inspire in its audience.
The music used throughout consists mainly of heavy metal and haunting orchestral tones, a contrast that generates both suspense and anticipation in viewers. The orchestral accompaniment augments the dark, Romantic tones of the show, where the metal gives a heightened sense of cruelty to the Following.
In the coming episodes, Williamson appears to have created an involved and intricate plot arc, merely a drop in the pool that could eventually become “The Following.”
Whether or not the show can appeal to a wide enough audience to gain popularity remains to be seen – however, one thing is certain—“The Following” is a mind-bending horror juggernaut with a powerhouse cast to back it up.
