It Follows
Beneath the beautiful surface of suburban Detroit is where teenager Jay’s (Maika Monroe) world begins to unfurl. After sharing an intimate moment with her new boyfriend Hugh (Jake Weary), Jay discovers that she is being hunted by a horrific shapeshifter. Hugh explains that he placed a supernatural curse onto her, revealing that the horrific being that stalks her is a terrifying force that takes the form of random people at a torturous pace. Sometimes they’re strangers, other times they are familiar faces, but no matter what, the force will follow it’s victim endlessly.
The curse can only be escaped from through sex. The unfortunate news is, the moment the next victim face’s death, the curse reverts back to the prior victim. This endless cycle begs the question, at what length will Jay and her friends choose in order to escape the being? And more importantly, should they even attempt to work together to understand the essence of the cypher which torments them all?
Leaving nothing but misery is what death has the intent of doing, so the real question is; Is it indeed possible to outrun death?
Every single being acknowledges death and knows it only brings despair. It will follow’s Jay is a character put through endless trauma, whose attempt to escape death leads to the true discussion of whether any form of escape is possible. What other filmmaker would dare to dissect such a complex and horror inducing storyline into one movie? Surely such intrigue begs for awards.
It follows, comic relief horrors crafted by David Robert Mitchell, earned awards for being a key highlight. From being nominated for best horror film in the empire awards and winning best director in the Dublin Film Critics Circle Awards along with best film in Austin Fantastic, this film was a darling to all horror film lovers. All the reward declared best screen play I narrative alongside the Chicago Film Critic winning the film the best award of the decade.
🎭 Cast and Crew
- Maika Monroe as Jay Height
- Keir Gilchrist as Paul
- Daniel Zovatto as Greg
- Olivia Luccardi as Yara
- Lili Sepe as Kelly
- Jake Weary as Hugh/Jeff
🔹Mike Gioulakis was the Director of Photography (he worked on Us and Old afterwards).
🔹Disasterpeace – Eerie, synth-heavy score brings a nightmarish feel of the 80s.
📊 Theatre & Public Feedback
IMDb: 6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 95 Community Critics | 66 Community Audience
Metacritic: 83/100 Universal acclaim
Most critics accepted it as an original stvle of horror, but it did divide some audiences with its slow pacing.
🔍 What They Thought & Importance in Society
It Follows is certainly a horror film but also a complex piece of art that deals with trauma, death, and its consequences. Many perceive the thing as a metaphor for sexually transmitted diseases, even culpability, and death. Unlike most horror villains, the entity is not a runner or talker and does not slow down, which creates an entire another level of horror.
David Robert Mitchell’s vision of the film was executed beautifully. The wide, slow moving shots gives it a dreamlike vibe, making it much more practical. The 80s type synth score further injects terror, and adds to the discomfort during tense moments.
In contrast to the majority of horror films, where surprise scares are a common device, It Follows opts to amplify an almost crippling sense of dread throughout each frame. You are left in an alarming state, never certain of when or where the force will materialize next. This feeling stays with you long after the credits roll.