Them That Follow (2019) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Mara's struggle between sectarian obedience and personal responsibility culminates in her choosing care, love, and escape over her father's religious control.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

Faith And Forbidden Pregnancy

Mara is raised inside a snake-handling Pentecostal sect and is seriously courted by Garret. After discovering her pregnancy by an estranged church member, she accepts Garret's proposal under social pressure.

Key Events

• Mara Raised In The Sect — Mara is introduced as a pastor's daughter in a snake-handling Pentecostal community. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Remote Appalachian community
• Garret Courts Mara — Garret seriously courts Mara as an approved parishioner. Characters: Mara Childs, Garret Booner Location: Community
• Hidden Pregnancy Revealed — Mara discovers that she is pregnant by a man who has left the church. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Community
• Proposal Accepted — Under community pressure, Mara decides to accept Garret's proposal. Characters: Mara Childs, Garret Booner Location: Community

The Congregation's Sacrifice

A minor dies while handling snakes, bringing police scrutiny to the community. Garret takes responsibility for the snakes to protect the congregation and loses his job.

Key Events

• Minor Dies Handling Snakes — A minor dies while handling snakes during the sect's religious practice. Characters: Garret Booner Location: Church community
• Police Investigation Threatens Sect — Garret reports that police are investigating the death and the congregation. Characters: Garret Booner Location: Community
• Garret Takes Responsibility — Garret claims the snakes as his own to protect the congregation and loses his job. Characters: Garret Booner Location: Community

Secrets Under Examination

A customary virginity check exposes Mara's pregnancy, though the discovery is concealed from her father and Garret. Mara seeks the child's possible father as he considers leaving the community.

Key Events

• Virginity Check Begins — Before marriage, Mara undergoes the community's customary virginity examination. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Community home
• Pregnancy Kept Secret — The examination reveals Mara's pregnancy, but the information is kept from her father and Garret. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Community home
• Mara Seeks The Child's Father — Mara goes to see the man who may be the father of her child. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Remote community
• A Faraway Job Proposed — The absent church member tells Mara that he intends to take a job far away. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Remote community

Poison And Exposure

The estranged man returns to church and is bitten by a snake after pretending to awaken spiritually. His request for hospital treatment is denied, while Mara's secret relationship is exposed to Garret.

Key Events

• False Spiritual Awakening — The estranged man attends church and pretends to experience a spiritual awakening. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Church
• Snake Bite During Worship — He is urged to handle a snake, which bites him in the arm. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Church
• Hospital Help Denied — The bitten man begs for a hospital but is denied help by his family and the community leader. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Community home
• Mara Prays Beside Him — After cutting the poison from his arm, Mara visits and prays beside him; Garret discovers them together. Characters: Mara Childs, Garret Booner Location: Sick man's room
• Garret Issues A Warning — Garret warns Mara never to see the sick man again. Characters: Mara Childs, Garret Booner Location: Sick man's room

Violence And Defiance

Garret attacks Mara after learning the baby is not his and is expelled. Mara survives a cleansing ritual but chooses the injured man over her father's authority.

Key Events

• Pregnancy Confided To Dilly — As the sick man's condition worsens, Mara tells her friend that she is pregnant with his child. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Community
• Garret Attacks Mara — Garret learns the child is not his, assaults Mara, and attempts to rape her. Characters: Mara Childs, Garret Booner Location: Community home
• Garret Is Expelled — Mara's father stops the assault and throws Garret out after learning the baby is not his. Characters: Mara Childs, Garret Booner Location: Community home
• Mara Handles The Snake — Mara is taken to church for cleansing and survives handling a snake, earning approval. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Church
• Home Amputation Performed — The bitten man's parents perform an amputation at home as his condition becomes critical. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Community home
• Mara Rejects Her Father's Control — Despite earning approval, Mara chooses to leave her father and help the recovering man. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Church community
• Leaving For Medical Care — With permission, Mara leaves with the injured man to take him to a doctor. Characters: Mara Childs Location: Road away from the community

Story Breakdown

• Sectarian Foundations — Mara's identity is shaped by an Appalachian snake-handling Pentecostal community led by her father.
  • Appalachian Upbringing — Mara is raised as a pastor's daughter in a remote religious community.
  • Snake Handling Faith — The congregation incorporates live snakes into its preaching and worship.
• Pressured Courtship — Mara is pushed toward marriage with Garret while concealing a pregnancy by another man.
  • Garret's Proposal — Garret seriously courts Mara and seeks to marry her.
  • Pregnancy Secret — Mara discovers she is pregnant and accepts the proposal under pressure.
• Congregational Consequences — A fatal snake-handling incident exposes the community to police investigation and demands a personal sacrifice.
  • Minor's Death — A minor dies while handling snakes.
  • Garret Takes Blame — Garret claims the snakes as his own and loses his job.
• Secrets Become Visible — The community's examination ritual confirms Mara's pregnancy, while her connection to the possible father resurfaces.
  • Virginity Check — Mara undergoes the customary examination before marriage.
  • Possible Father Leaves — The estranged church member considers taking work far away.
• Poisoned Devotion — A false religious return leads to a snake bite, and the community refuses the medical care that might save him.
  • False Awakening — The estranged man attends church and pretends to experience spiritual awakening.
  • Hospital Refused — After the snake bite, his request for hospital treatment is denied.
• Garret's Violent Reversal — Garret's courtship becomes violent when he learns Mara is pregnant with another man's child.
  • Pregnancy Exposed — Mara's friend informs Garret that the baby is not his.
  • Assault And Expulsion — Garret attacks Mara, is stopped, and is expelled from the household.
• Mara Chooses Departure — Mara survives a cleansing ritual but rejects continued obedience and leaves to seek medical care for the injured man.
  • Snake Trial Survived — Mara handles a snake and earns her father's approval.
  • Road To The Doctor — Mara leaves the community to take the injured man to a doctor.

Directed by

Dan Madison Savage, Britt Poulton

Key Cast

• Alice Englert — Mara Childs
• Walton Goggins — Lemuel Childs
• Thomas Mann — August "Augie" Slaughter
• Olivia Colman — Hope Slaughter
• Kaitlyn Dever — Dilly Picket