The Andy Baker Tape (2021) Review – A Solid and Minimalist Road Trip Horror

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we will be reviewing found footage horror movie The Andy Baker Tape.

More influencer horror stuff

The Andy Baker Tape has something of a social media influencer theme to it. This is a popular topic in horror, nowadays, as it is something many can understand and relate to. The Andy Baker Tape follows popular YouTube food blogger Jeff Blake as he journeys to meet his half brother Andy. A recent exploration into Jeff’s family history revealed that his father had another child.

“The Andy Baker Tape manages to avoid many of the pitfalls of typical found footage horror. The simple story and small cast keep things simple and pretty tight.”

Eager to meet his long-lost brother, Jeff decides to use the trip as an opportunity to film the journey in hopes of improving his prospects of hosting a TV cooking show. Despite Jeff’s excitement, things begin to go horribly wrong as the pair road trip across the country.

The Andy Baker Tape manages to avoid many of the pitfalls of typical found footage horror. The simple story and small cast keep things simple and pretty tight. We only have two characters to focus on and the story, itself, is built around the dynamic between these two characters. The pair are, clearly, from extremely disparate worlds, with one being a YouTube personality and the other being a bit of a bumpkin. The difference in their characters makes for very interesting interactions. They are in different places in life and concerned with different things but still desperate to relate to each other.

Road trip horror

Wanting to get to know each other better, the pair decide to make an extended journey together, stopping off at various venues to pick up, and review, food along the way. This road trip provides the backdrop for much of the movie and a lot of the tension. Things get awkward fast and you can feel the huge differences between the two becoming a big problem. It’s interesting stuff and works well considering the minimalist format.

Naturally, this movie was produced in 2020 meaning the D.I.Y. nature of things was something of a necessity. This is one of those horror movies that feels as if it came as a result of those restrictions, not in spite of. The complications that year seemed like, almost, a challenge to some movie makers. That feels like the case here. It makes for some interesting scenarios, though. 

“Produced against a backdrop of world crisis, the fact that this movie even exists is a testament to the creativity of the people who made it.”

Instead of spooky houses, we have roadside stops and low-cost motels. Instead of high-quality visual effects we have innovation and creative shooting. The constantly moving, and dynamic, nature of the setting keeps the visuals interesting as well as making for some decent comedy. Whether this setup works for the scare factor, or not, is up for debate.

Not exactly scary

The Andy Baker Tape doesn’t actually manage to deliver on the fear. I don’t know if it is because of the dynamic between the two actors being fluid and friendly, or because Bret Lada is a rather big dude who doesn’t look like your typical horror movie fodder, but the scares here never really come. There isn’t any sense of threat and there isn’t a tremendous reason to feel unsettled.

While that doesn’t impact on the movie a great deal, those looking for horror might be left wanting. There just isn’t that much to grab onto. Scares are, almost, non-existent and the only atmosphere to speak of comes from interpersonal tension – something you might expect from the two characters who have never spent time together. You could even say that this is more of a drama than anything else.

Still very enjoyable

This is still an enjoyable movie, though. In much the same way as Creep manages to do a lot with a little, The Andy Baker Tape does the same. Taking the viewer to a number of interesting locations, building an intriguing story and giving you a reason to invest in the characters. The ending could have used a little longer in the oven, feeling a bit under-cooked and a little bit rushed, but it still manages to take you on a mini roller coaster ride.

Performances are decent. Bret Lada, as Jeff, is, obviously, extremely comfortable on camera and does a nice job, managing to be convincing while never feeling too false or prosthetic. He doesn’t always nail the YouTuber style personality, seeming a bit lost when describing food and addressing his audience — something that could have been fixed with some tighter scripting. But he does a good job for the most part.

“In much the same way as Creep manages to do a lot with a little, The Andy Baker Tape does the same. It takes the viewer on a mini roller coaster ride.”

Dustin Fontaine’s performance, as Andy, is a little more understated but equally effective. He manages to go from happy to unhinged in a convincing manner. Camera work is decent and the movie never feels as low-budget as most found footage.

Our Scoring Philosophy: A Fair Fight

Horror is a genre that thrives thanks to indie film makers and low budget creators. At Knockout Horror, we firmly believe that every movie that we review deserves a fair fight. That's why we grade on a curve. Our star ratings are all about context, judging a film on what it achieves with the resources it has.

A 4-star rating for a scrappy indie horror made for $10,000 is a testament to its ingenuity and raw power. A 4-star rating for a $100 million blockbuster means it delivered on its epic promises. We don't compare them side-by-side; we celebrate success in every weight class, from the back-alley brawler to the heavyweight champion. Please keep this in mind when considering star ratings.

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