It Follows (2014)

Rotten Tomatoes: “After carefree teenager Jay (Maika Monroe) sleeps with her new boyfriend, Hugh (Jake Weary), for the first time, she learns that she is the latest recipient of a fatal curse that is passed from victim to victim via sexual intercourse. Death, Jay learns, will creep inexorably toward her as either a friend or a stranger. Jay's friends don't believe her seemingly paranoid ravings, until they too begin to see the phantom assassins and band together to help her flee or defend herself.”

Monroe is excellent as the doomed 19-year-old who is constantly pursued by a supernatural being, having suddenly discovered that her life has become a terrifying nightmare.

The idea of a malignant entity forever edging towards you is deeply unsettling, and it’s to the credit of director David Robert Mitchell that the film sets out its “rules” and keeps to them. The premise is faithfully explored and not messed around with for the convenience of the storytelling. It’s clever, too: you begin to spot various walking individuals planted in certain shots who may or may not merely be ordinary people. The film makes you question everyone and everything.

You could see “it” as being a metaphor for sexually transmitted disease, or even for sex itself. Or you can just accept it as a horror film.

Slow panning shots add to the suspense and all-round creepy feel.

No comments:

Post a Comment