The Review (Spoiler Free)
“It Follows,” directed by David Robert Mitchell, is a film that masterfully intertwines the innocence of adolescence with the haunting inevitability of adulthood. The movie follows Jay, played by Maika Monroe, who after an intimate encounter, finds herself burdened with a relentless curse that takes the form of various figures stalking her. This curse, passed through sexual contact, brings a palpable sense of dread that lingers long after the credits roll.
The film’s brilliance lies in its ability to maintain a sustained atmosphere of tension and unease. It doesn’t rely on jump scares or gore to frighten its audience; instead, it employs a methodical pacing and a chilling score that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The cinematography is equally impressive, with wide, sweeping shots that capture the suburban landscape which becomes a character in its own right.
The narrative of “It Follows” is a clever allegory for the transition from youth to adulthood. The curse is a metaphor for the responsibilities and consequences that come with growing up – the things we cannot escape no matter how hard we try. The film doesn’t provide easy answers or resolutions, mirroring the often ambiguous nature of life’s challenges.
Critics have praised “It Follows” for its originality and its refreshing take on the horror genre. It’s been celebrated for working on multiple levels – as a straightforward horror flick and as a deeper commentary on societal norms and expectations. The film holds a high rating on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting its critical acclaim and the impact it has had on both audiences and the genre itself.
David Robert Mitchell’s direction is a standout, creating a world that feels both familiar and utterly alien. The performances, particularly by Monroe, are strong, conveying the confusion and terror of being pursued by something unknown and unstoppable. The film’s score, composed by Rich Vreeland, is a character in itself, adding layers of tension and foreboding to the narrative.
“It Follows” is not just a horror movie; it’s a piece of art that challenges viewers to think about the fears that follow us through life. It’s a testament to the genre’s potential to explore deeper themes while still providing the thrills that horror fans crave. For those looking for a film that is both intellectually stimulating and genuinely terrifying, “It Follows” is a must-watch.
Spoiler Ending (Spoiler Alert)
Let’s talk about the rules. The curse is almost like sexual transmitted disease. You get this curse when you have sex with someone who has this curse. In order to get rid of the curse, you have to have sex with someone who wasn’t exposed to the curse. But you are not out of the wood yet. If the other person dies, you inherit the curse once again. And when you die, the curse is inherit back to one that gave you the curse, and so on.
We don’t know anything about the curse or the “thing” that is following you after you received the curse. The movie doesn’t tell us how this curse originate and who the patient zero was. But I guess it’s not important.
The “Thing” is slow, but it’s not stupid. It can take form of random people, even people you know, or worse, your friends or families. It takes on form of whoever in order to get to you fastest as possible. Once you get touched by the “thing”, you die. So you have run far away from it as possible. But it will eventually catch up with you. Although one of the plot hole is that this “thing” did touch Jay twice, but she didn’t die. Once it pulled her hair, and later one, it grabbed her leg in the pool.
We do see that this “thing” invisible to others who are not cursed. Only the cursed and the one who was exposed to the cursed can see it. We do see later on that the non-cursed can interact with it, get hurt by it, or even shoot it.
We don’t know if there is way to beat this thing or not. But the Jay and her friends tried to beat it by trapping it in a pool and electrocute it. But the plan didn’t work because the “thing” outsmarted them. Although, one of her friend shot this thing few times in the head and we did see lots of blood filled the pool. But in my opinion, the “thing” didn’t die.
There is also sub-story of love relationship between Jay and Paul who is childhood friend who had crush on for long time. It appears that he is in love with her for very long time, but she is not interested in him. But through this tragedy, they started to get close. Eventually, he had sex with her so that she can passed on the cursed to him.
The last scene, we do see them walking holding hands as boyfriend girlfriend. Behind them is the “thing” following them. But this time, it is different because she are not fighting it alone. They are doing it together as a team.
In the Nutshell
“It Follows” stands as a modern classic in the horror genre, offering a unique and thought-provoking experience. It’s a film that stays with you, haunting your thoughts just as the curse haunts its protagonist. Whether you’re a fan of horror or a lover of films that make you ponder the deeper aspects of life, “It Follows” is a film that should not be missed. I give 5 out of 5 stars.
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“She is not alone, they are fighting it together.” She has passed the curse on to HIM – so it’s not her problem now right?
It is certainly her problem if she cares about him or he dies.