It Follows - A Movie Review

Don’t look now, but there is somebody following me.

Following its way into theaters, It Follows was released in 2014. A romantic date turns into a nightmare. A young woman is followed by unknown supernatural forces. Figuring out how these beings work, it’s only a matter of time before they’re attacked.

It Follows is a strange, and yet very original horror film. I was not sure what to expect when I watched this film. The premise of a person with a blank stare endlessly pursuing you is scary. It Follows achieves ambiguity and unleashes layers about the teen world.

I have only seen Maika Monroe in one film. After seeing Monroe in It Follows, she is a great actress harboring a range of emotions. Jay’s journey through It Follows is tough. Afraid for her life, she fights to understand why all this is happening. Her ability to trust is put to the test as she runs away from these figures.

An ensemble of actors plays a group of teenagers. Unlike other horror films of the genre which stereotype teenagers to the point where they have no character at all, It Follows does the opposite. The characters are given personalities so audiences can connect. That’s one of my favorite aspects of this film.

Keir Gilchrist, Lili Sepe, Olivia Luccardi, and Greg Hannigan captured the friendship between this group of friends. As crazy as this situation is, each member of the group is willing to support Jay to make everything better.

It Follows gave a few actors a unique job. Playing unknown beings who slowly loom towards Jay had to connect to the inner dark motivation while making sure the audience couldn’t. Particular shoutouts go to Ingrid Mortimer, Alexyss Spradlin, Don Halls, the late Mike Lanier, and El Bardha for their frightening appearances.

Sexuality plays a major theme. I know some audiences have been turned off by this subplot. After some consideration, I thought that it was a valid plot point. Our years as a teenager or a young adult are not easy. We are faced with real-world problems.

Adults are rarely ever seen, and when we do they are hardly visible. Because we are becoming adults, we are trying to solve problems for ourselves instead of seeking help. Again, that is a nice subtle detail.

It Follows supplements the best horror score that I have heard in a long time. Listen to the music in the scene where Jay is followed by an old woman in the school. I felt goosebumps. Props also go to Ingrid Mortimer for her startling vague appearance.

Ambiguity is mastered. Certain elements, characters, and backstories are never outright explained. When does the film take place? How do you stop these sexually transmitted entities? We don’t have to know. Guessing and analyzing theories have made It Follows stand out.

It Follows is disturbing. You never know where these entities are or when they are following you. One notable camera angle that I liked was when the camera panned an entire schoolyard. This pan puts viewers on-guard. Nobody ever knows when something is following them.

Thanks to a dream that director, David Robert Mitchell had, we may not have this movie. He expanded on certain elements for the film. He did an excellent job keeping explicit story components a mystery. It would have ruined the film. The direction and editing were great, putting together starling images that haunt the mind.

It Follows is not a suitable movie for all audiences. There is nudity throughout and sexual themes. I enjoyed the film. It was a scary original horror film.