EXCLUSIVE: Renowned for their work on Smile and Twilight, Temple Hill is joining forces again with UK sales company Protagonist on a new horror movie Follow Mode by Ben Leonberg (Good Boy). This innovative film will be shot entirely with drones and is designed to resonate with the live streaming culture.
Following his successful horror film Good Boy, which was only second to Temple Hill’s Clown in a Cornfield in terms of IFC’s largest theatrical opening weekends, Leonberg is poised to captivate audiences again.
The international sales for Follow Mode will kick off at the upcoming Cannes market, handled by Protagonist. Both Temple Hill and Verve Ventures will manage the domestic rights. The screenplay is a collaborative effort between Leonberg and Alex Cannon, who previously worked together on Good Boy.
The plot is intriguing: Modern consumer drones feature a “hands-free” mode that allows the camera to automatically follow the user, whether they are surfing, snowboarding, or even committing sinister acts like serial killing. The story unfolds when a group of teenagers accidentally shoot down such a drone, only to discover it holds recordings of the killer’s horrific crimes. They must now hurry to unveil the murderer before they too fall victim.
Producing the film are Marty Bowen, Wyck Godfrey, John Fischer, Hal Sadoff, and Ben Levine from Temple Hill. Serving as executive producers are Dave Bishop, James Pugh, and George Hamilton from Protagonist Pictures.
This project signifies the sixth collaboration between Temple Hill and Protagonist, following films like Clown in a Cornfield and Monitor (SXSW), the latter recently secured by Searchlight for a major theatrical release in the U.S. in 2027. Following its debut in Cannes last year, the first part of the horror trilogy The Rule of Three has just completed production, and Protagonist will also be showcasing the SXSW film Seekers of Infinite Love at Cannes.
The low-budget canine horror Good Boy was screened last year at SXSW and Film at Lincoln Center, eventually grossing $8.8 million worldwide, with $6.6 million from domestic audiences.
Dave Bishop, CEO of Protagonist Pictures, expressed his enthusiasm: “Temple Hill continues to display a keen sense for engaging, innovative horror. Follow Mode represents a daring, high-concept horror narrative that is both thrilling and original from start to finish. With Good Boy, Ben demonstrated his knack for pushing creative boundaries and building suspense. Being shot entirely with drones, Follow Mode promises a uniquely cinematic experience and offers a fresh new take on horror that audiences haven’t seen before. Ben has crafted something truly unique and unnerving.”
Leonberg shared his thoughts: “The advent of hands-free drone technology has introduced a new level of vulnerability into daily life, transforming anyone with a drone into a potential voyeur or predator. This unsettling reality is at the heart of Follow Mode. We are excited to partner with Temple Hill, whose proven track record in the horror genre makes them an ideal collaborator for this fresh approach to found footage horror.”
Temple Hill added: “We were incredibly impressed by Ben’s debut with Good Boy and his novel approach to horror storytelling. We actively sought a new project to collaborate on, and Follow Mode is a perfect match. It advances the found footage genre by exploring the frightening possibilities of readily available technology tracking and observing us. Ben’s exceptional ability in POV filmmaking and his visionary direction make us eager to bring this chilling narrative to a global audience.”
Daniel Hayes is a business journalist with a focus on market trends, startups, and corporate strategies.
His sharp analysis and investigative reports make complex financial topics accessible to all readers.
