Following (Christopher Nolan)

Christopher Nolan’s directorial debut was in 1998 when he released his first film, Following. The film’s low budget is evident in its lack of color or any visual effects, extremely small cast, and very short run time (only one hour and ten minutes). Nevertheless, it is an interesting film reminiscent of the noir films of a bygone era.

            At first glance, Following does not seem like it would be very exciting. It is totally free of car chases and explosions and has an, at times, rather slow pacing. However, it still manages an edge-of-your-seat vibe. There is something distinctly dark and creepy about this film, from the premise (a crime film that features stalking and burgling) to the soundtrack and the use of black and white film. There is a layer of suspense throughout which helps keep it engaging.

            There are no visual effects to speak of in The Following, and the camera techniques used, such as dramatic close ups and over the shoulder shots, are standard but effective. The best part of the film is the plot that keeps you guessing. Partway through you suddenly think you know what is going on, only to be blown away at the end by the twist that makes you realize you’ve been wrong all along. It is difficult to categorize this short, quirky film into any of the ten central themes, but it could perhaps be placed in loss of innocence, since it deals with the manipulation of a naïve young man.

For a brief and seemingly simple but delightfully dark movie, Following is definitely worth a watch. 4/5