The Andy Baker Tape Review (2021)

Synopsis

Food vlogger Jeff Blake discovers he has a half-brother, Andy Baker, through a DNA test and plans to film a pilot episode of his travel show with him.

The film documents their road trip together, which begins as a bonding experience, but soon descends into a suspenseful and unsettling situation as a dark side emerges from Andy, culminating in their disappearance and the discovery of their found footage.

My Thoughts

Good Points

Intimate and Realistic Setup

The setup is simple here – two half-brothers meeting for the first time – but it instantly pulls you in and drops you into their world and lets the relationship unfold pretty naturally.

Strong Lead Performances

Bret Lada and Dustin Fontaine completely carry this movie, and with only two characters on screen for most of the runtime, their chemistry has to sell everything – and it does a good enough job.

Gradual, Natural Suspense

The movie’s biggest strength is how slowly it builds its tension, and while the first half feels light, even funny at times, this helps make the darker moments hit harder when they do arrive..

Believable Relationship Dynamics

I really bought into the bond that forms between Jeff and Andy, and you can feel Jeff’s excitement about having a brother and Andy’s slightly awkward attempts to connect.

Excellent Pacing in the Middle

The middle stretch lets you notice every small red flag, as there’s a quiet dread building beneath their friendly interactions, and by the time you realize something’s truly off, the movie’s already wrapped you in its tension.

Powerful Final Act

The final act delivers, as it’s messy, panicked, and frightening, if alittle predictable.

Original Ending

I liked that the film didn’t just copy the ending of Creep, as it could’ve gone that route easily, but instead, it finds its own quiet conclusion.

Smart Direction

Bret Lada deserves credit not just for acting but for his direction, as while the film looks simple, it’s also incredibly controlled.

Bad Points

Slightly Slow Start

The first few scenes take a bit to find their rhythm, and I wanted just a little more tension early on to hint at where things were going.

A Few Questionable Choices

Some of Jeff’s decisions don’t totally add up – they’re forgivable, but they do make you wish he’d shown more caution.

Predictable

You will probably spot the direction it’s heading in early.

Underdeveloped Motivation

By the time everything unravels, I still wasn’t completely sure what was driving Andy’s actions, and a bit more background could’ve given his character more depth.

Short Runtime

Not exactly a big negative, but at just over an hour, the movie ends right when I wanted more, and it comes so quickly that it feels like it could’ve gone on a little bit longer.

Not Much Horror

Its listed as horror in a lot of places, but is more dark thriller/drama I would say, so don’t go in expecting too many horror elements, although it has some moments.

Is The Andy Baker Tape Worth Watching?

The Andy Baker Tape is one of those small, smart found-footage films that will remind you why the genre still works.

The minimalism works in its favor, and proves how effective the genre can be when done with restraint, talent, and an understanding of human fear.

The Andy Baker Tape Trailer
The Andy Baker Tape on IMDB
Watch The Andy Baker Tape