I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK

By: debbie lynn elias

into-the-dark

Just how far will you go to be with the one you love? That’s exactly what writer/director Mark Edwin Robinson explores with the hauntingly poignant – and often terrifying – I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK.

Following the death of both her parents within six months of each other, Sophia is not only sad and depressed, but cynical, resentful and alone. Why? Why were they taken? But more importantly to Sophia, why were they taken from her? Efforts by her best friend Sam to comfort her with what she believes are myths, the peace of the Afterlife, fall on her deaf ears and deaf heart, sorrowfully impacting her own existence on earth. To Sophia, there is no purpose, nothing to look forward to, in life or in death. All that changes, however, when she meets Adam and a deep and meaningful unexpected romance blossoms between the two. But what happens when, at the peak of her bliss, Adam disappears in the middle of the night, leaving only a pool of blood in the bed they shared and a trail of bloodied foot and handprints, all leading to the mysterious 21st floor of his apartment building. Determined not to lose yet another person that she loves, Sophia defies warnings of the ancient horrors that reside on the 21st floor and with the help of Sam and Adam’s friend Astrid, delves into the mysteries of life – and death.

As Sophia, Mischa Barton is strong, confident and cynical; you gravitate towards and understand Sophia’s emotions, her hesitancy at attachment and then her fervent desire to hold on once she crosses the emotional bridge and allows herself to care, connect and love with Adam. What makes Barton’s performance such a standout, however, is that THANKFULLY, she maintains that fervor and determination once Adam disappears and they head up to the 21st floor. There is never any sign of panic. She remains confident and rational in her resolve. Barton’s performance as a strong woman in a supernatural setting ranks right up there with Sarah Michelle Gellar’s Buffy while her emotional cadence as a woman battling her own heart and mind is exquisite.

Then we have Ryan Eggold’s Adam. Eye candy alert! Sensitive and strong, he brings great believability to the relationship development with Barton’s Sophia. Just a “good looking guy” would never have worked as this role requires the sensitivity and honesty to win over Sophia’s cynicism and pain. And yes, the chemistry between Eggold and Barton is undeniable.

As if these two aren’t enough, Robinson then delivers Jaz Martin as Sophia’s best friend, Sam. First of all, anytime you add a guy with a British accent, people take notice. And given the supernatural element of the film, suspicion immediately falls on him as to any “goings-on”. (Ah, but does Sam have a secret agenda when it comes to Sophia?) Naturally, the element arises of an unspoken testosterone war between Sam and Adam with Sophia in the middle between friend and boyfriend which adds another “who do you trust layer.” Beautifully played and perfectly cast.

But the icing on the cake is Leah Pipes. As Adam’s friend Astrid she really gets the senses tingling – particularly once Adam disappears. Did she do it? Astrid was in the apartment while Adam and Sophia were sleeping (and Adam wasn’t sleeping on the couch like Astrid thought he was). Is she responsible for the blood pools in the bed and trail through the apartment. And then we get a plot point of “possession” in which Pipes’ performance is crucial. And then the possession once upstairs. Will Astrid bring Sophia back? Will she let her die? Pipes deliciously walks that rapier edge between trust and mistrust, leading the audience’s mind in both directions before an ultimate reveal.

Let me start by saying that I will follow writer/director Mark Edwin Robinson into the dark, the light, the beyond and any other cinematic experience he cares to lead me to. He is not just a director. He is a storyteller. Interesting and intriguing, the first thing that strikes one about I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK is that as the film begins, it has a highly polished visual veneer with wonderful use of tonally subdued yet vibrant rich darker hues that evoke shadowed mystery and even a sense of old world/early 20th century sensibilities. Clearly knowing that he needs more than visuals to sustain a film, Robinson then delivers a story that is multi-layered and textured with nuance, personality, and plot underpinnings that keep you guessing as to who is “the good guy” and who is “the bad guy.” At any given moment in the film, Robinson has you on your toes, turning you on a dime as to who to trust and believe. The “horror” aspect of the beyond and the supernatural allows Robinson to take full advantage of the tension and terror that arises when presented with the “unknown” but also elicits questioning and hypothesis on life and death with a delicate yin and yang sensibility and a few plot twists that exponentially ratchet up inquisitive minds. Of course, going hand in hand with that design are the performances.

With strong elements of Flatliners and the exploration of the life after death and the beyond, Robinson taps into the emotional aspect of the quest and not the scientific – something that will resonate with a much broader base demographic.

Visually, Robinson couldn’t do any better for this film than calling on Eduardo Mayen as his cinematographer. I am well familiar with Mayen’s work as cinematographer and camera operator and he is perfect for this job. Implementing a beautiful interplay of light, color and camera angles with the floor to ceiling wafting of draping (love the fabric – while thicker than gossamer wings, it has a similar fluidity that adds another metaphoric layer to the film) on the 21st floor. The “dream montages” recapping the relationship of Adam and Sophia are beautifully executed, giving the audience a break from tension with a joy-filled serenity while simultaneously upping the ante on Sophia’s ultimate emotional dilemma. And that final ocean shot – emotionally satisfying and powerful and quite perfect with the waves crashing against the rocks and sand much like Sophia crashing against death to find life and love.

Adding interest is Jesse Voccia’s score. Never falling into the sonic tropes of stereotypical heaviness so many movies of this genre incorporate, Voccia gives us a musicality that is refreshing, buoying the emotional undercurrents and mystery.

From start to finish, with I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK, Robinson delivers a tonal bandwidth that beautifully interlaces with the visual and emotional elements of the story with thoughtful, often metaphoric, posturing that will prompt discussion long after the curtain comes down.

If I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK is any indication of Mark Edwin Robinson’s talents, his future is indeed bright.

Cast: Mischa Barton, Ryan Eggold, Leah Pipes, Jaz Martin

Written and Directed by Mark Edwin Robinson