89 reviews
Decent sci-fi drama
Erol (Haley Joel Osment) and his grandfather (Victor Garber) work together using quantum physics to develop the ability to travel back in time, with the aim of repairing a family shattered by the disappearance 12 years earlier of Erol's father (Rufus Sewell).
This is a movie about relationships and the possible selfish impacts of time travel upon them. For example, if Erol travels back in time to prevent his father's disappearance, how can he guarantee his fiancée (Susanna Fournier) that they will still be together in the new version of the present day?
This is not an action movie. There are no special effects. It is essentially a mystery drama with time travel acting as the primary plot device.
I enjoyed the movie. Its definitely not perfect. A little slow in places.
I read several reviewers complain about the casting of Haley Joel Osment. I thought he was fine, though given his physical appearance it is hard to imagine him being the son of Rufus Sewell and Gillian Anderson and the grandson of Victor Garber. However, if you can suspend your disbelief and believe that a couple of men writing mathematical equations on a chalk board can make time travel possible, then anything is possible.
This is a movie about relationships and the possible selfish impacts of time travel upon them. For example, if Erol travels back in time to prevent his father's disappearance, how can he guarantee his fiancée (Susanna Fournier) that they will still be together in the new version of the present day?
This is not an action movie. There are no special effects. It is essentially a mystery drama with time travel acting as the primary plot device.
I enjoyed the movie. Its definitely not perfect. A little slow in places.
I read several reviewers complain about the casting of Haley Joel Osment. I thought he was fine, though given his physical appearance it is hard to imagine him being the son of Rufus Sewell and Gillian Anderson and the grandson of Victor Garber. However, if you can suspend your disbelief and believe that a couple of men writing mathematical equations on a chalk board can make time travel possible, then anything is possible.
- chris-j-stanton
- Jun 27, 2015
- Permalink
Enjoyed it
This came on TV the other day and I had nothing else to do. I didn't know what the movie was about, or who the actors were. I recognized Haley Joel Osment, and kind of did a double take. (More of the "Yikes. Has it been that long?" kind.) The story is a sci-fantasy story, but that's not the driving factor. There is little (almost none) in the way of special effects, and it doesn't need it. The plot centers around Erol, whose father left for a conference, and disappeared. But there is more to it than just a disappearance, and with his grandfather he figures it all out. I thought the acting could have been better in places, as it was very character driven. I won't put spoilers, but I didn't see the ending coming. Definitely worth getting the popcorn out for.
Just when you think you know what is going to happen it throws something at you that shocks you right up until the end
- cosmo_tiger
- Jun 25, 2014
- Permalink
intriguing sci-fi
I admit that I am fascinated by the whole idea of time travel, so I watched "I Will Follow You Down" with great interest.
Marika (Gillian Anderson) and her son Erol drop their husband and father off at the airport when he travels to a conference in New Jersey. He never returns.
Twelve years later, Erol (now Haley Joel Osment) learns not only what happened to his father, but also learns that there may be a way to get him back.
This film starts slowly but still manages to draw you in. It deals with not only time travel, but the ramifications of a situation change because of time travel. The acting is very good, with Osment turning in a top performance. Gillian Anderson is full of surprises - from X-Files to work in England, including a highly-touted Streetcar Named Desire - she's obviously a dedicated performer, and it shows here.
I liked it - you care about the characters, and the story is good. Can't ask for much more.
Marika (Gillian Anderson) and her son Erol drop their husband and father off at the airport when he travels to a conference in New Jersey. He never returns.
Twelve years later, Erol (now Haley Joel Osment) learns not only what happened to his father, but also learns that there may be a way to get him back.
This film starts slowly but still manages to draw you in. It deals with not only time travel, but the ramifications of a situation change because of time travel. The acting is very good, with Osment turning in a top performance. Gillian Anderson is full of surprises - from X-Files to work in England, including a highly-touted Streetcar Named Desire - she's obviously a dedicated performer, and it shows here.
I liked it - you care about the characters, and the story is good. Can't ask for much more.
I Like This Movie
"I'll Follow You Down" is a decent movie that contains pleasant actors. I didn't have much of a high expectation for this movie, nor did I know what it was about when I first saw it, but found myself involved with the story line as well as its characters. It's an adequate drama/mystery/time travel movie that has an overall good story development and message.
The movie centers a lot around family, and a mystery that has to do with a boy's missing father. Although the movie caught my attention from the beginning, I did find the middle part of the story a bit slow, but it got more interesting as the movie progresses - and it carried all the way through the rest of the movie. I recommend watching this if you're into a bit of time traveling, mystery, and drama.
The movie centers a lot around family, and a mystery that has to do with a boy's missing father. Although the movie caught my attention from the beginning, I did find the middle part of the story a bit slow, but it got more interesting as the movie progresses - and it carried all the way through the rest of the movie. I recommend watching this if you're into a bit of time traveling, mystery, and drama.
- SpookyJackie
- Jul 12, 2014
- Permalink
Involves time-travel but that isn't really the point.
Known both as "Continuum" and "I'll Follow You Down." My wife and i were able to view it on TV streaming.
A brilliant professor travels from Canada to Princeton for a conference. When he is expected home he doesn't show up and a search seems to indicate that he just disappeared. His wife and young son are puzzled and it has an impact on their future lives.
I'll not say any more about the actual story because it can't be done without revealing key spoilers. It does involve backwards time travel, which we know from all experts is impossible, but it makes for good science fiction. Rather the story really becomes how one regards family and relationships and, if one could, would one change things at the expense of something else?
And even more important, if you had a new technology that could either greatly benefit the world, or used improperly greatly harm the world, should you announce it anyway? A parallel is drawn with Einstein's discoveries which as we now know can be used to destroy humanity if used in bombs.
Pretty good movie, all the actors are good.
A brilliant professor travels from Canada to Princeton for a conference. When he is expected home he doesn't show up and a search seems to indicate that he just disappeared. His wife and young son are puzzled and it has an impact on their future lives.
I'll not say any more about the actual story because it can't be done without revealing key spoilers. It does involve backwards time travel, which we know from all experts is impossible, but it makes for good science fiction. Rather the story really becomes how one regards family and relationships and, if one could, would one change things at the expense of something else?
And even more important, if you had a new technology that could either greatly benefit the world, or used improperly greatly harm the world, should you announce it anyway? A parallel is drawn with Einstein's discoveries which as we now know can be used to destroy humanity if used in bombs.
Pretty good movie, all the actors are good.
Brilliant
I'll Follow you down is a pure SCI-FI drama played in slow build up style.
Gabe is a brilliant scientist who mysteriously disappears one day after following a trip, leaving his wife and kid stranded, years goes by then a sudden discovery will give light to how and why Gabe (the father) disappeared in the most bizarre way.
That's the idea pretty much. The movie moves very very slowly at the beginning, so slow that it will test your resolve, the problem with the whole idea is not due to the script nor the actors, since both are top notch, but it's mainly on the slow development at first and a very dull soundtrack.
Yes, I blame the partial slow first part due to music, it is incredible uninspired and it is constantly there. You know what happens when you play music all the time, it tends to diminish the effect on the scenes and that's exactly what happens here.
No need to cancel the movie just yet, since after the first half, the movie starts to gain speed, the music follows through with more grace and then the outcome... which is BRILLIANT to say the least.
Acting is really superb and Haley Joel Osment is really the star on this movie, without him this would probably be a failure, he really puts into his character giving a superb work.
It's nice also to see Gillian Anderson acting after so many years of watching X-Files, she was one of my favorite characters and she does a very good job too.
All in all, even with the slow first half, the movie has an incredible redeeming second part and a brilliant ending, pure SCI-FI at it's best and totally recommended.
Gabe is a brilliant scientist who mysteriously disappears one day after following a trip, leaving his wife and kid stranded, years goes by then a sudden discovery will give light to how and why Gabe (the father) disappeared in the most bizarre way.
That's the idea pretty much. The movie moves very very slowly at the beginning, so slow that it will test your resolve, the problem with the whole idea is not due to the script nor the actors, since both are top notch, but it's mainly on the slow development at first and a very dull soundtrack.
Yes, I blame the partial slow first part due to music, it is incredible uninspired and it is constantly there. You know what happens when you play music all the time, it tends to diminish the effect on the scenes and that's exactly what happens here.
No need to cancel the movie just yet, since after the first half, the movie starts to gain speed, the music follows through with more grace and then the outcome... which is BRILLIANT to say the least.
Acting is really superb and Haley Joel Osment is really the star on this movie, without him this would probably be a failure, he really puts into his character giving a superb work.
It's nice also to see Gillian Anderson acting after so many years of watching X-Files, she was one of my favorite characters and she does a very good job too.
All in all, even with the slow first half, the movie has an incredible redeeming second part and a brilliant ending, pure SCI-FI at it's best and totally recommended.
- tecnogaming
- Jul 19, 2014
- Permalink
My Review Of "I'll Follow You Down"
Richie Mehta's sci-fi/drama "I'll Follow You Down" stars Gillian Anderson, Haley Joel Osment, Rufus Sewell, Victor Garber and Susanna Fournier in a slow, steady melodrama that revolves around a family's agony after the mysterious disappearance of the patriarchal character Gabe, a young physicist researching wormhole theory and time travel. Years later son Erol discovers that there may be a chance to chance history and restore the timeline if he can find his father out of finishing the research.
The story in "I'll Follow You Down" deals with a lot of science material tied together through emotional character study but you don't have to be a smarty to follow along. Maybe to argue the laws of physics and such one would need to bone up on wormhole theories, quantum physics & mechanics but most people will be drawn in by the character drama that unfolds in the film. The cast is top notch and give moving performances with no overdrawn grandiosity, just straight forward compassionate well developed characters that really make the story enjoyable. The sci-fi or scientific theory aspect of "I'll Follow You Down" is written more matter of fact and what I imagine would be elementary so a good foundation of "Star Trek" or other sci-fi knowledge really works well in that element of the material. I did phase out a bit over "time line corrections without complicating things" because that goes over my head, but I still found everything relatable without being too wordy.
There is very little special effects in the film, most things boil down to a standard musical score that pulls at emotional elements of the film, there is a small practical effect and lighting effect against props to sell the "time machine" aspect that works just fine and without overstating the moment. "I'll Follow You Down" is really a family drama that has some sci-fi attached to it but mostly it is a well directed, well acted and completely executed drama that is enjoyable to watch. I enjoyed the film, the cast was great. The story is sweat and Haley Joel Osment gives a a commendable performance.
The story in "I'll Follow You Down" deals with a lot of science material tied together through emotional character study but you don't have to be a smarty to follow along. Maybe to argue the laws of physics and such one would need to bone up on wormhole theories, quantum physics & mechanics but most people will be drawn in by the character drama that unfolds in the film. The cast is top notch and give moving performances with no overdrawn grandiosity, just straight forward compassionate well developed characters that really make the story enjoyable. The sci-fi or scientific theory aspect of "I'll Follow You Down" is written more matter of fact and what I imagine would be elementary so a good foundation of "Star Trek" or other sci-fi knowledge really works well in that element of the material. I did phase out a bit over "time line corrections without complicating things" because that goes over my head, but I still found everything relatable without being too wordy.
There is very little special effects in the film, most things boil down to a standard musical score that pulls at emotional elements of the film, there is a small practical effect and lighting effect against props to sell the "time machine" aspect that works just fine and without overstating the moment. "I'll Follow You Down" is really a family drama that has some sci-fi attached to it but mostly it is a well directed, well acted and completely executed drama that is enjoyable to watch. I enjoyed the film, the cast was great. The story is sweat and Haley Joel Osment gives a a commendable performance.
- ASouthernHorrorFan
- May 19, 2014
- Permalink
Just doesn't work
Not sure why others are giving glowing reviews it but didn't work for me.
I watched this because of Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell a couple of brilliant actors only to discover they weren't in most of the movie. Haley Joel Osmet is not a lead actor and failed in this. Why he can't do facial expressions is beyond me, but he is totally out of his league. I keep thinking he would make a good lego piece. He just doesn't have the movements or expressions to carry a movie. The interaction between him and his girlfriend just felt creepy and she didn't look like she wanted to be there. Although her acting ability outshone his. The writing felt lazy and this was more of a drama than a sci-fi. I lost count of the number of times that desks were swept off in anger (or something that was supposed to be in anger) that just didn't work. And there was too much melodrama that didn't add to the story and was just boring. With more intelligent writing and a story that didn't feel like a drawn out Twilight zone (but less interesting), more about actual time travel, and this was really light, a better actor than HJO, it might have been enjoyable. It wasn't.
I watched this because of Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell a couple of brilliant actors only to discover they weren't in most of the movie. Haley Joel Osmet is not a lead actor and failed in this. Why he can't do facial expressions is beyond me, but he is totally out of his league. I keep thinking he would make a good lego piece. He just doesn't have the movements or expressions to carry a movie. The interaction between him and his girlfriend just felt creepy and she didn't look like she wanted to be there. Although her acting ability outshone his. The writing felt lazy and this was more of a drama than a sci-fi. I lost count of the number of times that desks were swept off in anger (or something that was supposed to be in anger) that just didn't work. And there was too much melodrama that didn't add to the story and was just boring. With more intelligent writing and a story that didn't feel like a drawn out Twilight zone (but less interesting), more about actual time travel, and this was really light, a better actor than HJO, it might have been enjoyable. It wasn't.
- andrewrye-06535
- Jun 26, 2020
- Permalink
Solid Human Drama Sci-Fi Film
- AudioFileZ
- Jun 20, 2014
- Permalink
Twilight Zone episode stretched out
Gabriel (Rufus Sewell) disappears during a business trip. His wife Marika (Gillian Anderson) is left to raise their son Erol. Twelve years later, Erol (Haley Joel Osment) is a student of his grandfather Sal (Victor Garber). He tells him about his father possibly traveled back in time to 1946. Erol starts working on their own time machine while his girlfriend Grace informs him about her pregnancy. She fears his interference changing their relationship.
This does not have enough tension. It has no intensity. Haley Joel Osment is limited as the leading man. The lead in the first act is actually Gillian Anderson. This is basically a long extended sci-fi TV. In fact, I would cut it down to 46 minutes and make a pretty good hour long TV episode. This doesn't have the flash of even the smallest sci-fi indies. The premise is fine but there isn't enough to bulk it up.
This does not have enough tension. It has no intensity. Haley Joel Osment is limited as the leading man. The lead in the first act is actually Gillian Anderson. This is basically a long extended sci-fi TV. In fact, I would cut it down to 46 minutes and make a pretty good hour long TV episode. This doesn't have the flash of even the smallest sci-fi indies. The premise is fine but there isn't enough to bulk it up.
- SnoopyStyle
- Jul 23, 2016
- Permalink
A very nice little sci-fi movie
I liked this movie!
As a scientist, I like sci-fi movies that don't have gaping, roll-your-eyes holes in the science. As awful lot of "small" sci-fi movie are just plain stupid. This is a small movie, with nothing much in the way of special effects, but it doesn't have that problem. It rings true.
I like smart characters, too, and I like decent, well-meaning characters. Too many movies are weighed down by characters who just make you want to grab them and shake them and scream, "what's the matter with you, you idiot?" Not this one.
There are no nasty, stupid, or unlikable characters in this movie, and, of the major characters, only Grace is a bit shallow. I'll Follow You Down combines excellent character development with a fine (if somewhat unoriginal) sci-fi plot, a couple of romances, a few nice plot twists, and just the right amount of suspense. Good movie!
As a scientist, I like sci-fi movies that don't have gaping, roll-your-eyes holes in the science. As awful lot of "small" sci-fi movie are just plain stupid. This is a small movie, with nothing much in the way of special effects, but it doesn't have that problem. It rings true.
I like smart characters, too, and I like decent, well-meaning characters. Too many movies are weighed down by characters who just make you want to grab them and shake them and scream, "what's the matter with you, you idiot?" Not this one.
There are no nasty, stupid, or unlikable characters in this movie, and, of the major characters, only Grace is a bit shallow. I'll Follow You Down combines excellent character development with a fine (if somewhat unoriginal) sci-fi plot, a couple of romances, a few nice plot twists, and just the right amount of suspense. Good movie!
Not a bad sci-fi. Makes you think...
I'll Follow You Down (or Continuum as its other title (I'll never get why they have to name a movie differently in another country)) is an interesting sci-fi movie. Nothing too fancy, no futuristic gadgets or sorts, just a story that keeps you thinking if all this could be possible one day. It's rather slow but never boring, just don't expect a lot of action scenes because there are almost none. The actors all did a good job. Gillian Anderson (that we all know as Scully from The X-Files) aged very well. It's not difficult to watch her in something else than The X-Files. Haley Joel Osment on the other hand doesn't give me that same impression. I was expecting him to say "I see dead people" every time he appeared on the screen. I don't say he's a bad actor, he's just not that stunning. I'll Follow You Down is a good sci-fi if you have an open mind and/or if you're interested in time travelling and stuff like that.
- deloudelouvain
- Aug 3, 2021
- Permalink
I don't know why it's this bad
I don't know why I found this movie so bad. To start with, The writing and dialogue just gave me that ughhhhh feeling. Gillian Anderson does her best, Sixth Sense kid is just not believable to me and each line just feels forced and written the wrong way. I don't know how else to describe it.
Love Through The Time Barrier...
I'LL FOLLOW YOU DOWN (aka: CONTINUUM) is a well-made science fiction film about dire loss and the desire to go back and "fix" things.
When a brilliant physicist (Rufus Sewell) vanishes without a trace, it devastates his wife, Marika (Gillian Anderson) and son, Erol (Haley Joel Osment).
Years later, Marika is still haunted by the disappearance, nearly unable to function. Errol, while going through similar agony, discovers that his grandfather has been working on something that just may be the key to the entire mystery.
This film has drama, tension, and an emotional quagmire, along with its sci-fi elements.
Right up front, it's important to know that Ms. Anderson plays a supporting role, and isn't in the movie very much. Sewell is only in it for about 5 minutes.
This is Osment's movie, and he's quite good, making one wonder where he went after THE SIXTH SENSE! Here, he's the central character in a tale of love, hope, and human ingenuity.
Very much worth seeing...
When a brilliant physicist (Rufus Sewell) vanishes without a trace, it devastates his wife, Marika (Gillian Anderson) and son, Erol (Haley Joel Osment).
Years later, Marika is still haunted by the disappearance, nearly unable to function. Errol, while going through similar agony, discovers that his grandfather has been working on something that just may be the key to the entire mystery.
This film has drama, tension, and an emotional quagmire, along with its sci-fi elements.
Right up front, it's important to know that Ms. Anderson plays a supporting role, and isn't in the movie very much. Sewell is only in it for about 5 minutes.
This is Osment's movie, and he's quite good, making one wonder where he went after THE SIXTH SENSE! Here, he's the central character in a tale of love, hope, and human ingenuity.
Very much worth seeing...
- azathothpwiggins
- Jul 20, 2021
- Permalink
Exciting Premise is Unfulfilled Due to Melodrama
I want to like this more, but...
- Stealthy-22960
- Feb 11, 2022
- Permalink
Surprisingly surprising.
This is a film that I honestly didn't see coming. For starters, it was a totally new concept (at least for me) to have a time-travel film that follows the people left behind by the time traveller, rather than the traveller himself. For a while I was disappointed to be missing out on the adventure, but the characters and events were compelling enough that I soon got sucked into an interesting and nuanced drama about loss and abandonment.
And then, when I had almost forgotten about the time-travel angle, the son of the original time-traveller, now grown-up, travels back in time to visit his father in the past (where he's on his way to a visit with Einstein) and, without wanting to spoil anything, the method the son uses to convince his father to go back to the future was utterly unexpected.
This was a film filled with subtlety, nuance, originality, and thoughtfulness. It was dramatic without being melodramatic. It was tragic without being depressing. It was intellectual without being pompous. It was adventurous without being mindless. It was science-fiction without being... well... science-fiction.
And it was also very nicely made, with attractive cinematography, a pleasant orchestral score, leafy collegial locations, solid direction, and a respectable, talented cast.
I didn't have any hopes or expectations when I started watching. But by the end I was utterly captivated and somewhat blown away by the originality of what I'd just watched. I love it when a movie does that, as it's a rare treat that doesn't come around very often.
And then, when I had almost forgotten about the time-travel angle, the son of the original time-traveller, now grown-up, travels back in time to visit his father in the past (where he's on his way to a visit with Einstein) and, without wanting to spoil anything, the method the son uses to convince his father to go back to the future was utterly unexpected.
This was a film filled with subtlety, nuance, originality, and thoughtfulness. It was dramatic without being melodramatic. It was tragic without being depressing. It was intellectual without being pompous. It was adventurous without being mindless. It was science-fiction without being... well... science-fiction.
And it was also very nicely made, with attractive cinematography, a pleasant orchestral score, leafy collegial locations, solid direction, and a respectable, talented cast.
I didn't have any hopes or expectations when I started watching. But by the end I was utterly captivated and somewhat blown away by the originality of what I'd just watched. I love it when a movie does that, as it's a rare treat that doesn't come around very often.
- kitellis-98121
- Aug 9, 2018
- Permalink
I'll Follow You Down" to iMDB
This movie exists in an IMDb time wormhole as it doesn't come up in search results by the title it currently has on streaming sites, "I'll Follow Tou Down." Instead it's called "Continuum."
Fitting, if frustrating, as much as the disappearance of a parent was to the spouse and child in the film, as they did not the reason or the cause of the disappearance.
Haley Joel Osmont plays the role of genius just trying to keep his life together after the fallout of a missing parent and his inconsolable mother. Osmont is overweight and slightly disheveled, and plays a character out of step with his girlfriend and his life going forward. He is a thoughtful but absent boyfriend, much like his father, and working to heed his girlfriend's concern with his obsession with wormholes that could upend their lives.
The rest of the cast play their roles with charisma and subdued conviction, while a sometimes intrusive, contemplative soundtrack underscores pensive dramatic moments. The general time of the movie seems to be ten years before the movie was made (2013) as well. And the secondary actors, known for their roles in 90s fare like "Titanic" and "X-Files" gives the film a nostalgic, early 2000s vintage feel, which is warm, cozy and slightly dated.
The conclusion of the film is a bit over dramatic and drawn out, but then shocking. And worth watching. I wish that the ending wasn't mostly just a dialogue in dark room. It's well written, but should've gotten chopped up more, and relied too much on Osmont's acting chops.
"I'll Follow You Down" hits many marks, and could've been a classic film if played differently. But there was enough fumbles that left too many open ends where I feel like something got lost in production. Some story elements didn't play out, such as the grandfather's co-worker crush (what happened with that?). We don't actually know if the concerns the girlfriend had were justified. And there was a major story element (the death of a character) that was an unanswered question for too long, and where the characters showed little reaction to.
Like it's disheveled protagonist, "I'll Follow You Down" is a genuine, warm film, but a rough one.
Fitting, if frustrating, as much as the disappearance of a parent was to the spouse and child in the film, as they did not the reason or the cause of the disappearance.
Haley Joel Osmont plays the role of genius just trying to keep his life together after the fallout of a missing parent and his inconsolable mother. Osmont is overweight and slightly disheveled, and plays a character out of step with his girlfriend and his life going forward. He is a thoughtful but absent boyfriend, much like his father, and working to heed his girlfriend's concern with his obsession with wormholes that could upend their lives.
The rest of the cast play their roles with charisma and subdued conviction, while a sometimes intrusive, contemplative soundtrack underscores pensive dramatic moments. The general time of the movie seems to be ten years before the movie was made (2013) as well. And the secondary actors, known for their roles in 90s fare like "Titanic" and "X-Files" gives the film a nostalgic, early 2000s vintage feel, which is warm, cozy and slightly dated.
The conclusion of the film is a bit over dramatic and drawn out, but then shocking. And worth watching. I wish that the ending wasn't mostly just a dialogue in dark room. It's well written, but should've gotten chopped up more, and relied too much on Osmont's acting chops.
"I'll Follow You Down" hits many marks, and could've been a classic film if played differently. But there was enough fumbles that left too many open ends where I feel like something got lost in production. Some story elements didn't play out, such as the grandfather's co-worker crush (what happened with that?). We don't actually know if the concerns the girlfriend had were justified. And there was a major story element (the death of a character) that was an unanswered question for too long, and where the characters showed little reaction to.
Like it's disheveled protagonist, "I'll Follow You Down" is a genuine, warm film, but a rough one.
- Hallelujah289
- Feb 24, 2023
- Permalink
Slow moving
I was hoping for so much more. I love the idea of time travel and all of the effects it from it. But honestly, they could have easily sped this movie up. I felt drained waiting for the punchline. The movie could have been so much better. I gave it a 5 for being ehhhhh. Average. If this was simply a Thumbs Up or Down, I would give it a Thumbs Up. It's watchable. If you do watch it, do some laundry too....
Decent film, should have been awesome.
The sci fi mystery movie is a genre of film that is sadly almost non existent. So when they come along hopes are high, the likes of The Adjustment Bureau, Limitless, The Forgotten, all superb films. When I saw Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell heading this up I was so excited.
Sadly one the hype had gone, and I settled into the film, I found it quite boring, the concept was huge, they could have done and gone anywhere, bit sadly we got too much melodrama, we could have had Einstein, we could have had huge scale events, but instead we got domestic goings on, so disappointing.
Anderson was excellent as you'd expect, but the film was stollen by Haley Joel Osment, who was brilliant.
It's not bad, it just fails to ignite.
Sadly one the hype had gone, and I settled into the film, I found it quite boring, the concept was huge, they could have done and gone anywhere, bit sadly we got too much melodrama, we could have had Einstein, we could have had huge scale events, but instead we got domestic goings on, so disappointing.
Anderson was excellent as you'd expect, but the film was stollen by Haley Joel Osment, who was brilliant.
It's not bad, it just fails to ignite.
- Sleepin_Dragon
- Aug 19, 2018
- Permalink
Altering the Past--Time Travel 101
It's funny to use the word 'scripted' about a movie, but that's the term that came to mind.
"I'll Follow You Down" is a story about a loving husband and father that went missing in the year 2000 and that forever affected his wife and son. The movie picks up again in 2012 with the widow, Marika (Gillian Anderson), and the son, Erol (Haley Joel Osment), trying to continue on with life until Erol's grandfather, Sal (Victor Garber), tries to convince Erol that they can undo the loss of his father.
Undoing, fixing, correcting, changing the past: the prime motive for ALL time travel, so what's new? Nothing, except that the reasons and the drivers for traveling in the past were so concocted. Along with very overtly forced causes the movie had an overly simplistic message: family or work, you must choose.
I don't know what annoyed me more; the ham fisted manner of writing in a reason for time travel or the message that a person must choose work or their family. Both premises have been done multiple times and a lot better. The first premise--altering the past--is completely overdone. The second premise--choosing work over family--is overdone as well but in this instance it was done in an elementary way. Somehow we are led to believe that anyone that spends a lot of time focusing on his work, however important it may be, will lose his family; and that is bad. In essence, all of those great inventors, scientists and innovators that help changed humanity had terrible family lives.
The movie started off with so much promise then it fizzled. Haley Joel Osment was not very convincing or compelling and the script didn't help him any. I was waiting to see how they could take this entire concept in a new direction and they just couldn't.
"I'll Follow You Down" is a story about a loving husband and father that went missing in the year 2000 and that forever affected his wife and son. The movie picks up again in 2012 with the widow, Marika (Gillian Anderson), and the son, Erol (Haley Joel Osment), trying to continue on with life until Erol's grandfather, Sal (Victor Garber), tries to convince Erol that they can undo the loss of his father.
Undoing, fixing, correcting, changing the past: the prime motive for ALL time travel, so what's new? Nothing, except that the reasons and the drivers for traveling in the past were so concocted. Along with very overtly forced causes the movie had an overly simplistic message: family or work, you must choose.
I don't know what annoyed me more; the ham fisted manner of writing in a reason for time travel or the message that a person must choose work or their family. Both premises have been done multiple times and a lot better. The first premise--altering the past--is completely overdone. The second premise--choosing work over family--is overdone as well but in this instance it was done in an elementary way. Somehow we are led to believe that anyone that spends a lot of time focusing on his work, however important it may be, will lose his family; and that is bad. In essence, all of those great inventors, scientists and innovators that help changed humanity had terrible family lives.
The movie started off with so much promise then it fizzled. Haley Joel Osment was not very convincing or compelling and the script didn't help him any. I was waiting to see how they could take this entire concept in a new direction and they just couldn't.
- view_and_review
- Jan 22, 2016
- Permalink
Masterful final 12 minutes
It's movies like this one that make me glad I've watched them for the first time in my home rather than a theatre, where I have the ability to instantly rewatch parts. The majority of this film is a bit of a slow burn but fantastic casting makes it not drag. It's the final scene, the last sequence of events, that is truly memorable. Haley Joel Osment was fantastic in the climactic conclusion and Rufus Sewell is a personal favorite of mine and a world-class actor. Some bits of the plot earlier on were a bit shoe-horned in, but the payoff was well worth a little finagling. The one downside was how freaking hard it was to find on imdb. Searching "I'll Follow You Down" (the actual title displayed during the film) will not lead you here so congratulations on finding it.
- TwistedCyberChik
- Dec 18, 2022
- Permalink
A SF family drama
- peterp-450-298716
- Jun 10, 2014
- Permalink
Very slow and very bizarre
This is a missing person tale with a twist. Make that 'twists'. And the twist that keeps it from working is that age old cop-out of mystery writers...time travel.
The film plods along and seems to be a conventional disappearance film with some good acting and familiar plot development. Then it goes completely off the rails into sci-fi land. Ultimately, it's a confusing mess.
The film plods along and seems to be a conventional disappearance film with some good acting and familiar plot development. Then it goes completely off the rails into sci-fi land. Ultimately, it's a confusing mess.
- screenwriter-972-149612
- Aug 4, 2021
- Permalink