The premiere episode of the new TV series from Scream-scribe Kevin Williamson bombards viewers with innumerable characters and heaps of exposition. The Following also flashes back and forth in time at a dizzying rate, and absolutely overflows with Poe references (how come serial killers never admire Hawthorne, or Melville?). At times the show feels like a mash-up of Seven, Red Dragon, and (most recently) The Raven, but does offer a nice twist in having the villain tutor a cult of deadly acolytes. Best of all here is Kevin Bacon, who is perfectly cast as a troubled investigator (cf. his work in Mystic River). The question remains as to whether the narrative can be successfully stretched over 14 episodes--let alone multiple seasons--but for now, The Following warrants continuing attention.
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