Slow-paced. Brooding. Intriguing. Good acting. An unusual movie about a backwoods, Pentecostal, snake-handling congregation. Sinful secrets are bubbling under the surface and threaten to ruin the tight-knit, faithful community. The writers made a creative choice to surround an overplayed love story with the interesting addition of giving us a window into a fairly unknown and controversial religious sect. In My Humble Opinion, it definitely won't be for everyone, with its unorthodox subject matter, subdued acting, and inconclusive ending... but it held our attention through to the end.
59 Reviews
Slow
macfaefan10 August 2019
Slow and dull.
The acting was good but could do nothing for the poor script. I think it wanted to make the public aware of the snake handling cult churches. The side story was supposed to be about Mara and auggie . Nothing to see there.
I just felt nothing with this movie.
It seems to go on forever
mjsreg25 October 2019
This movie is about the standard 90 minutes long but at the 60 minute point I felt like I had watched it for two hours. It dragged on and on.
The story is OK - not that much really happens of much interest. It would have been much more engaging if the story explored the turmoil of the characters in more depth - I did find it very superficial for the most part.
It's not a movie I would watch again.
The story is OK - not that much really happens of much interest. It would have been much more engaging if the story explored the turmoil of the characters in more depth - I did find it very superficial for the most part.
It's not a movie I would watch again.
Thin. Very Thin.
truemythmedia4 September 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This movie trades on its exploration of these snake charming backwoods recluses yet never really grapples with the issues one might think would be present in such a film. Remove the snake handling from this film and it's about as standard a story as you can find with familiar beats of action along the way.
Even this wouldn't bother me if there was character movement but there isn't much to speak of. Our protagonist Dilly (Kaitlyn Dever, "Booksmart") seems to feel the same way at the start of the film as she does until the last 5 minutes or so. Her father, (Walton Goggins, "The Hateful Eight") is extremely one note: domineering. What a waste of an actor. As a cult leader we get none of the likability that should go with his character. He is a monolithic controlling man and nothing else.
We see Dilly struggle because she wants to be with her beau but never do we see what it is that draws her to want to stay in her community except fear. Where is the trust, love, and friendship that she should be so fond of as to not want to leave? Only the sense that she knows nothing else but this and can't even think about leaving for the disruption it would cause.
As a person who has struggled with my faith at various times and has had many conversations with those that have as well and come to very different conclusions than me, I can tell you that leaving a tight knit community like that is rife with fear, certainly, but that fear is mixed up in a myriad of other emotions as well which paralyze you into innaction.
We never see this complicated view. Instead this film opts for simple, cut and dry answers which anyone can get behind. Of course we want her to leave. She's being abused. How much more interesting if her situation was more convoluted, full of love for some people, fear of others, and a fear to leave her own faith behind.
What about the side characters? Why do they stay? They are all under the same oppression as Dilly. They just don't have a boy from the outside who thinks they are cute, I guess?
These ideas and questions all seem to fall by the wayside in service to the almighty point of the film which must be made in the most obvious ways possible lest anyone, least of all Dilly, come away with any other thought than, 'That church was bad. That boyfriend was good."
Even this wouldn't bother me if there was character movement but there isn't much to speak of. Our protagonist Dilly (Kaitlyn Dever, "Booksmart") seems to feel the same way at the start of the film as she does until the last 5 minutes or so. Her father, (Walton Goggins, "The Hateful Eight") is extremely one note: domineering. What a waste of an actor. As a cult leader we get none of the likability that should go with his character. He is a monolithic controlling man and nothing else.
We see Dilly struggle because she wants to be with her beau but never do we see what it is that draws her to want to stay in her community except fear. Where is the trust, love, and friendship that she should be so fond of as to not want to leave? Only the sense that she knows nothing else but this and can't even think about leaving for the disruption it would cause.
As a person who has struggled with my faith at various times and has had many conversations with those that have as well and come to very different conclusions than me, I can tell you that leaving a tight knit community like that is rife with fear, certainly, but that fear is mixed up in a myriad of other emotions as well which paralyze you into innaction.
We never see this complicated view. Instead this film opts for simple, cut and dry answers which anyone can get behind. Of course we want her to leave. She's being abused. How much more interesting if her situation was more convoluted, full of love for some people, fear of others, and a fear to leave her own faith behind.
What about the side characters? Why do they stay? They are all under the same oppression as Dilly. They just don't have a boy from the outside who thinks they are cute, I guess?
These ideas and questions all seem to fall by the wayside in service to the almighty point of the film which must be made in the most obvious ways possible lest anyone, least of all Dilly, come away with any other thought than, 'That church was bad. That boyfriend was good."
Many of the previous reviews say things that are factually wrong.
teepleg-992-68461311 September 2020
Warning: Spoilers
One reviewer had the descriptions of the roles of Garret and Augie switched. Another had Dilly and Mara switched. One called Augie a "boy from the outside" but he was raised in that church and sometimes still attended with his parents, he just had not bought into it.
One said they "worship the serpent" but they don't actually "worship" it. Another associated the snakes with Satan and that is to some degree a Bible thing, but IS NOT THE POINT in these churches, just the fact that it is normally likely to bite and its venom is poisonous. I mostly know this because I am from the Southeast and have always kept up with current events for MANY years, so such churches got "covered". However, I feel the stuff about the snakes themselves (and why they are "handled") was clear from the movie.
One reviewer said the police arrest Augie, when it was accually Garret (and this was not the reviewer who had them mixed up all along). To some degree they depend on God to heal them but when it becomes obvious that is not working the main reason they do not go to the hospital is that then the police would come arrest the leader they are so devoted to. One reviewer said that nobody actually handles snakes that way -- it is rare nowadays because there are laws against it and population and media have made it harder to hide it if they did -- but it is a FACT that more than a few used to do it, not that long ago.
Also, to the person who made fun of the type of syringe thy used for the morphine -- did you not hear them say they were scrounging up stuff from the vet?
So, I did pretty much like it and I gave it a 7. But I am amazed how many very good high-profile actors they got to make this particular type of movie! I agree with another reviewer in that I too did not really like Booksmart (though I did not hate it) but that Kaitlyn Dever was very good in it -- but she was SUPERB in 'Unbelievable' and here she was given hardly anything to do.
One said they "worship the serpent" but they don't actually "worship" it. Another associated the snakes with Satan and that is to some degree a Bible thing, but IS NOT THE POINT in these churches, just the fact that it is normally likely to bite and its venom is poisonous. I mostly know this because I am from the Southeast and have always kept up with current events for MANY years, so such churches got "covered". However, I feel the stuff about the snakes themselves (and why they are "handled") was clear from the movie.
One reviewer said the police arrest Augie, when it was accually Garret (and this was not the reviewer who had them mixed up all along). To some degree they depend on God to heal them but when it becomes obvious that is not working the main reason they do not go to the hospital is that then the police would come arrest the leader they are so devoted to. One reviewer said that nobody actually handles snakes that way -- it is rare nowadays because there are laws against it and population and media have made it harder to hide it if they did -- but it is a FACT that more than a few used to do it, not that long ago.
Also, to the person who made fun of the type of syringe thy used for the morphine -- did you not hear them say they were scrounging up stuff from the vet?
So, I did pretty much like it and I gave it a 7. But I am amazed how many very good high-profile actors they got to make this particular type of movie! I agree with another reviewer in that I too did not really like Booksmart (though I did not hate it) but that Kaitlyn Dever was very good in it -- but she was SUPERB in 'Unbelievable' and here she was given hardly anything to do.
Backward Mountain Community
claudio_carvalho3 May 2020
In a backward mountain community that worships the serpent, Mara (Alice Englert) is the daughter of Pastor Lemuel Childs (Walton Goggins). When she is proposed to get married with the local Garret (Lewis Pullman), Mara has to face her demons and come up to a decision.
"Them That Follow" is a slow-paced film about the relationship of religious fanatics in a backward community in the mountains. The pace is too slow and the theme is unpleasant. But for those that like the genre, the movie is not bad. My vote is five.
Title (Brazil): Not available
"Them That Follow" is a slow-paced film about the relationship of religious fanatics in a backward community in the mountains. The pace is too slow and the theme is unpleasant. But for those that like the genre, the movie is not bad. My vote is five.
Title (Brazil): Not available
Saved By the Third Act
ThomasDrufke24 August 2019
An extremely slow burn about faith, secrets, and nature vs nurture set deep in the Appalachian Mountains? Yeah I'm in. The good news is that the acting is superb, the direction and cinematography are eerie, but the story only begins to get interesting in the third act. And for a film that is merely 98 minutes long, that's not exactly something to write home about. And unfortunately, stories like this won't be seen in masses.
6.3/10
6.3/10
The actors are good but story line, plot, most of dialogue and pacing are horrible
random-7077822 October 2019
The first 2/3 of this film are very slow paced, interminable burden on the viewer.
The last 1/3 is a series of predictable jump scares and tropes. They are shallow and silly, but I guess the point of the first 2/3 is to put you in such a torpor that you fall for the jump scares.
The acting is not bad at all. But over all this just fails on several core levels due to script pacing and hamfisted directing.
The acting is not bad at all. But over all this just fails on several core levels due to script pacing and hamfisted directing.
Slowwwwwww
whocares-9623728 March 2020
This was a dozer for sure, keeping my eyes open was a challenge.
So this was supposed to be a back woods kind of cult thing, honestly these people had WAY to neat of hair and far too many teeth to resemble anything like the true backwoods, extremist, hill people that the director is trying to be portray.
The movie lacked spark, lack staying=power.
So this was supposed to be a back woods kind of cult thing, honestly these people had WAY to neat of hair and far too many teeth to resemble anything like the true backwoods, extremist, hill people that the director is trying to be portray.
The movie lacked spark, lack staying=power.
Religion and their lunatic followers, it's always kinda entertaining.
deloudelouvain2 November 2019
Going by the title I thought I would watch a horror movie but it turns out to be a movie about God worshipping lunatics. So all in all it actually turns out to be a horror movie, or at least to me, as I'm a convinced atheist and there's nothing more disturbing to me than religion, any kind of religion. That being said you get the picture, it isn't a horror movie, but it's a watchable movie, a movie I did enjoy as I always have a fascination for watching crazy people. The story could be unreal to a normal sain person but the fact that this happens sometimes makes it interesting to watch. The cast wasn't bad either so that's a bonus.
Basic melodramatic tropes are met but portrait of religious extremism lacks characterological complexity
Turfseer6 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Fresh from her Oscar win in The Favourite, Oliva Colman is back, this time going "all indie" in the directorial debut of newcomer scenarists Britt Poulton and Dan Madison Savage. Reminiscent of the earlier 2010 Indie, Winter's Bone, Them That Follow also follows a group of rural folks (this time set in Appalachia).
These "folks" are religious fundamentalists with a church run by pastor Lemuel Childs (Walton Goggins). Childs has everyone under his grip including his daughter Mara (Alice Englert), who briefly falls for the young Augie (Thomas Mann), a local auto mechanic, who has grown disillusioned with Childs' Pentecostal church.
Oh one thing I forgot to mention-the church really is a cult in which parishioners test God's power by embracing poisonous snakes. Clandestine meetings are held to avoid scrutiny by local law enforcement with Childs the number one promoter of an "us against them" mentality.
Colman plays Hope Slaughter, Augie's Mom, and she's just about as fanatical as the pastor. Mara is now towing the party line and agrees to an arranged marriage with Childs' hand-picked suitor, the dutiful sycophant Garrett (Lewis Pullman), who soon learns that Mara is pregnant with Augie's child. Eventually the pastor is forced to expel him from the church after he tries to rape Mara, in revenge for her so-called betrayal.
Most unconvincingly, Augie decides to forsake his contempt for the church and agrees to undergo a ritual snake bite ceremony, in order to prove his love for Mara. After being bitten by a snake during the ceremony, Augie falls deathly ill and even his Mom refuses to countenance the idea of taking him to the hospital. She even goes along with the parishioners who end up sawing off Augie's arm in a last ditch attempt to save his life.
Mara finally comes around at film's end, defies her father (who excommunicates her) and drives Augie to the hospital where presumably he'll be cured. Hope by the way also sees the light and realizes that the drive to the hospital is a "good thing."
Them That Follow is a grim story in which all melodramatic tropes are checked off. Augie is the broken victim and deep down Mara is the angel who realizes the error of her ways after being brainwashed by her evil pastor-dad. The script is strictly "black and white" with few shades of gray. Somehow the characters here need to be more complex, with perhaps the bad guys infused with some charm (as well as humanity) and the good ones, a little less angelic.
All performers manage to acquit themselves nicely, especially Colman who once again does well in the intense part as the obsessed "believer." Them that Follow is a bit slow moving with one too many snake handling scenes, which ends up becoming repetitious.
In the end, one wonders how newcomers Poulton and Savage came up with their sensational story and characters of religious extremism; is it based on an article culled from the tabloids? One gets the impression that the screenwriters really only know of their religious fundamentalist characters from a distance, as they are painted too unsympathetically, with little verisimilitude to boot.
These "folks" are religious fundamentalists with a church run by pastor Lemuel Childs (Walton Goggins). Childs has everyone under his grip including his daughter Mara (Alice Englert), who briefly falls for the young Augie (Thomas Mann), a local auto mechanic, who has grown disillusioned with Childs' Pentecostal church.
Oh one thing I forgot to mention-the church really is a cult in which parishioners test God's power by embracing poisonous snakes. Clandestine meetings are held to avoid scrutiny by local law enforcement with Childs the number one promoter of an "us against them" mentality.
Colman plays Hope Slaughter, Augie's Mom, and she's just about as fanatical as the pastor. Mara is now towing the party line and agrees to an arranged marriage with Childs' hand-picked suitor, the dutiful sycophant Garrett (Lewis Pullman), who soon learns that Mara is pregnant with Augie's child. Eventually the pastor is forced to expel him from the church after he tries to rape Mara, in revenge for her so-called betrayal.
Most unconvincingly, Augie decides to forsake his contempt for the church and agrees to undergo a ritual snake bite ceremony, in order to prove his love for Mara. After being bitten by a snake during the ceremony, Augie falls deathly ill and even his Mom refuses to countenance the idea of taking him to the hospital. She even goes along with the parishioners who end up sawing off Augie's arm in a last ditch attempt to save his life.
Mara finally comes around at film's end, defies her father (who excommunicates her) and drives Augie to the hospital where presumably he'll be cured. Hope by the way also sees the light and realizes that the drive to the hospital is a "good thing."
Them That Follow is a grim story in which all melodramatic tropes are checked off. Augie is the broken victim and deep down Mara is the angel who realizes the error of her ways after being brainwashed by her evil pastor-dad. The script is strictly "black and white" with few shades of gray. Somehow the characters here need to be more complex, with perhaps the bad guys infused with some charm (as well as humanity) and the good ones, a little less angelic.
All performers manage to acquit themselves nicely, especially Colman who once again does well in the intense part as the obsessed "believer." Them that Follow is a bit slow moving with one too many snake handling scenes, which ends up becoming repetitious.
In the end, one wonders how newcomers Poulton and Savage came up with their sensational story and characters of religious extremism; is it based on an article culled from the tabloids? One gets the impression that the screenwriters really only know of their religious fundamentalist characters from a distance, as they are painted too unsympathetically, with little verisimilitude to boot.
A gripping, visceral movie with great empathy for its characters
moritzmeyerautor25 March 2019
Them that follow starts off as quiet movie, almost a social study of a rural, religious community in the US hinterlands. But right from the beginning you can feel, that there is something dark brooding under the soil of this fragile community. And sure enough, the tension breaks at the end into a visceral finale. When the movie almost turns into body horror, you find yourself at the edge of your seat, begging the characters would stop with their gruesome actions. And while you want to look away, you realize that you just can't. This movie already has gone into your veins like the poison of the rattlesnakes, that play such a prominent role in this community drama.
Them that follow portraits the coming-of-age of Mara, the pastor's daughter in a religious community, that seems estranged from civilization. Her father and his religious followers practise an equally strange and dangerous version of christian belief. During the service they deal with deadly poisonous snakes, that they collect in the woods. By handling the snakes, the worshippers put their live in God's hands, with the promise that all sins may be forgiven, if you survive the encounter with the reptiles.
Mara does not question this behaviour and her own faith, until she becomes engaged with a young man from the village, while secretly loving another. This love triangle leads to unchristian behaviour and, sure enough, the snakes come into play. Mara finds herself into a position, where she must challenge her own belief to save the man she loves.
I saw Them that Follow at South-by-Southwest 2019, not knowing anything about this movie. And I have to say, by the end I was fully gripped. The story, which is based on existing snake handler communities, unfolds slowly, but is rip-roaring at the end. The performances from the young actors are very good and you believe in the relationship of the characters. But it is Olivia Colman and Walter Goggins who stand out in the great cast. It is them, who give this people a heart and soul, by portraying as real people, who care deeply about their loved-ones. They are religious fanatics, but they are not insane. Their actions come from, well, good faith and they have the best intentions for the people, who are close to them. That you feel empathy for these characters is credit to the fabolous actors and the good direction of directors and screenwriters Britt Poulton and Dan Madison Savage. Both have personal experiences with fringe religious groups.
Them that follow is an indie-surprise. It is heartfelt, gripping and willing to pull some necessary punches to deliver it's story. Worth a watch!
Snakes Alive!
Pairic27 November 2019
Them That Follow: A bleak story set in Appalachia among adherents of a snake-handling Pentecostal Church. Mara (Alice Englert) is the pastor's (Walter Goggins) daughter, she retains her faith but is being pressured into marrying a loyal member of the congregation, Garrett. She is secretly pregnant by Auggie who has drifted away from the church. The members of the sect are literally dirt poor and steeped in ignorance and prejudice. It is an insular society with people watching each other's behaviour and being judgmental. The outside world intrudes when a boy dies after being bitten by a snake. The police arrest Auggie. Mara faces a dilemma regarding the choices facing her.
Not the most original of plots but the faith of the congregation is vividly portrayed as they worship in their corrugated iron roofed assembly hall or in an open air natural amphitheatre in the woods. The snakes seem peaceful as they entwine together in their nests among the forest rocks but we see how deadly they can become. Handling the snakes is an article of faith and the church members believe that bites can be cured through prayer. Indeed the pastor casts out all sorts of ailments. Some great acting by Englert, Olivia Coleman as Auggie's devout mother and Kaitlyn Dever as Daisy, Mara's friend who may be overly pious or just might have a streak of Iago in her. Goggins looks and acts as if he is channeling Jack Nicholson from the wider scenes of The Shining. In some ways reminiscent of Winter Bone but in this case the locals are high on religion rather than hillbilly heroin. Written and Directed by Britt Poulton and Dan Madison Savage. 7/10.
Not the most original of plots but the faith of the congregation is vividly portrayed as they worship in their corrugated iron roofed assembly hall or in an open air natural amphitheatre in the woods. The snakes seem peaceful as they entwine together in their nests among the forest rocks but we see how deadly they can become. Handling the snakes is an article of faith and the church members believe that bites can be cured through prayer. Indeed the pastor casts out all sorts of ailments. Some great acting by Englert, Olivia Coleman as Auggie's devout mother and Kaitlyn Dever as Daisy, Mara's friend who may be overly pious or just might have a streak of Iago in her. Goggins looks and acts as if he is channeling Jack Nicholson from the wider scenes of The Shining. In some ways reminiscent of Winter Bone but in this case the locals are high on religion rather than hillbilly heroin. Written and Directed by Britt Poulton and Dan Madison Savage. 7/10.
A slow burn lol
marshy-9197224 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Talk about a slow burn!!! Its possibly the most boring film i have seen over the last 5 years!!! Basically about a love triangle with a girl and 2 boys, he gets bitten by a snake, gets his arm chopped off and she takes him up to the mountains away from a cult group the end, this film was a drab nights viewing im gutted iv paid £7 to see it jesus christ!!!
Meh
muamba_eats_toast30 September 2020
I never felt compelled to turn this off but at the same time it barely kept me watching. The cast are decent and no one performs badly but ultimately not a lot happens and the story is just rather dull and unexciting. Wouldn't go out of your way to watch this one a bit of a snooze fest in all honesty.
a sad drama film, thats not a thriller
LetsReviewThat267 May 2022
Despite the catagory the film comes under there is no actuall thriller elements to this film, unless you count the snakes and what they do. Its a drama movie moreover showing life in an isolated community and what they do to people they deem unfit for those that live with them. Its heartbreaking in certain areas but the plot and cast are decent always and its an ok movie. Maybe a little longer but it could be worst.
Can't see his plan.
nogodnomasters15 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This is a slow burn drama about a community of isolated snake handlers. Mara (Alice Englert) is the daughter of "take up the serpent" preacher (Walton Goggins). Like most people, everyone is wrong but them when it comes to religion and they don't understand why the government takes away their poisonous snakes. Mara has issues. She is devoted to her faith. She is pregnant by one boy and marries another without telling anyone. As secrets unravel, the film picks up.
Guide: No F-word. Brief rape. No nudity.
Guide: No F-word. Brief rape. No nudity.
Casting
Erik_Stone3 April 2020
Horrible, just horrible
dussaultjulien3 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
This has to be one of the worst movies I've seen this year. It is a total waste of time. Somehow I managed to finish it because I thought maybe, just maybe it might get good, but nope.
Shake Worshiping Christians arw whack, we all know that. The only good thing about this movie is that it shows a Hollywood side of it that is shocking, but when the story isn't written well, and the actors try their best, sometimes a little too hard, it really makes for both bad filmmaking and story writing.
This is a total waste of time. Don't believe the reviews that say about it picking up in the third act.
Shake Worshiping Christians arw whack, we all know that. The only good thing about this movie is that it shows a Hollywood side of it that is shocking, but when the story isn't written well, and the actors try their best, sometimes a little too hard, it really makes for both bad filmmaking and story writing.
This is a total waste of time. Don't believe the reviews that say about it picking up in the third act.
The Opium of the Masses
pangipingu22 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
"Them That Follow" (2019) presents an inside look through one of the most notorious sects of the Christian church, now assumed as deviants and extremists. The performances by all actors were stunning and the setting was perfect for the era in question. However, in case I were the one writing the script, I wouldn't taint such a serious and life-altering issue with a love story.
Extremely Boring!
Andreea9528 October 2019
Nothing makes me angrier than wasting my time watching a movie where nothing ever happens. If you're like me than I suggest you skip watching this piece of nothing. Everything was boring about this movie: the acting, the writing, the soundtrack, the cinematography and not to mention the story (which is about a group of religious people who do weird stuff in the name of God) that has been done a lot of times and much much better. Don't waste your time or your money watching this.
story needs reworking
SnoopyStyle21 October 2021
Mara Childs (Alice Englert) and Dilly (Kaitlyn Dever) are friends in rural Appalachia. Mara's father Pastor Lemuel Childs (Walton Goggins) leads a Pentecostal church which worships with venomous snakes. She is pressed into marrying Garret (Lewis Pullman) but she is hiding a secret with Augie (Thomas Mann). Parishioners, Zeke (Jim Gaffigan) and Hope Slaughter (Olivia Colman), are Augie's parents.
This movie sets up a place. It has great actors. They are doing some good work but the story is too precious with the central secret. It also needs to amp up the intensity with an earlier snake bite. Maybe Lemuel could be bitten right off the bat. This church should be a more intense affair. The story feels under-cooked. If only the secret is revealed much earlier. It also needs Augie's voice during the climax. Jim Gaffigan takes the premise to a silly place which left me shaking my head. It feels like they are making fun of these characters. I do like the potential of this world and these actors. The story does need some reworking.
This movie sets up a place. It has great actors. They are doing some good work but the story is too precious with the central secret. It also needs to amp up the intensity with an earlier snake bite. Maybe Lemuel could be bitten right off the bat. This church should be a more intense affair. The story feels under-cooked. If only the secret is revealed much earlier. It also needs Augie's voice during the climax. Jim Gaffigan takes the premise to a silly place which left me shaking my head. It feels like they are making fun of these characters. I do like the potential of this world and these actors. The story does need some reworking.
The story try to express ......
ks-605006 November 2019
Storyline is boring, very boring. The ritual thing is lame and showing bunch of morons existed. What the point of making this movie? It's terrible and waste of time to watch. Rate 3 as some standard of a movie been attained there.
This movie is just plain wrong
zacharykieler16 December 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I have been handling snakes for 35 years and I can tell you that belief in God has nothing to do with whether you get bitten or not. This movie was very frustrating. Assuming they were handeling Timber Rattlesnakes and that it had Type B venom, (judging by wounds and geography) just praying is not going to work. They need a medical doctor so they can inject ant-venom. Handeling snakes is not a religon.
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