It Follows (2015) - Review Thread

The way people die from It is also rather interesting. Not sure how the first girl dies in the opening scene, but damn if it doesn't look intense.

Only a few of them. And I thought they were used really well, a couple were blatant and they poke fun at jump scares at a certain point in the film too.

A return to form of the 80s and early 90s horror movies that used synth and bass appropriately.

For really reals.

In the last few years, it seems a lot of the genre films that receive a lot of praise are ones that are self-conscious genre deconstructions. In the realm of horror, the poster child for this is The Cabin in the Woods, but it’s a trend that can be spotted in other films as well and I’m growing tired of. It’s not the deconstruction of genre that bothers me, it’s the smug attitude these films have about pointing out genre conventions which annoy me. Horror’s most recently acclaimed film, It Follows, certainly seems like it could be such a film at first glance. The film certainly plays with conventions of the genre relating to sexual promiscuity, and it’s also a pretty clear throwback to the horror films of the late 1970s and 80s (namely John Carpenter), but it’s not defined a sense of “irony”. Instead, this is an interesting little horror film which chooses a unique angle and is made with conviction.

Jay (Maika Monroe) is a young girl living with her single mother (Debbie Williams) and sister, Kelly (Lili Sepe). Jay has been seeing a boy named Hugh (Jake Weary) and after a few dates the two have sex. After this, Hugh explains to Jay that he has been being stalked by a supernatural entity which can take the form of any human being (someone known or a stranger) which kills by touching the victim. He inherited this affliction by having sex with someone also “cursed”, and the only way to remove it is to pass it to another through sex. Naturally, Jay doesn’t believe him, but it soon becomes apparent is words are true as various forces only she can see have been relentlessly pursuing her. Her options are to flee, or to try and pass it on to someone else.

The exact nature of what has caused or created this strange entity is never revealed, and that’s probably for the best. “It” is a lot creepier when you don’t exactly know what it is. Such ambiguity has also opened the film up to a number of metaphorical readings. The prevailing wisdom is that “It” represents AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. It’s certainly a plausible theory given how it spreads, and the fact that those being followed don’t tell their partners can represent how some people with diseases in real life don’t come clean with their partners. However in real life this lack of information comes from selfish desire, whereas in It Follows it stems from basic survival needs. Because of this, I interpret “It” as more of a manifestation of guilt regarding promiscuity and certain societal pressures.

Personally, I really like the fact that It Follows invites interpretation and gives the audience something intellectual to chew on. There’s also something to be said about the fact that teen sexuality is intrinsically linked with the horror genre, and here it’s essential to the plot. However the film doesn’t hinge on a viewer’s ability to read into the sexual politics on display. Those looking for an effective horror film should be satisfied as this is a really neat high concept executed well. Director David Robert Mitchell puts together some really solid horror set-pieces and effectively builds a sense of dread throughout. This is a slow burn, but this really contributes to the atmosphere. The camera work here is also really slick and the visual style well-realized. Mitchell was also clearly influenced by the works of John Carpenter. The suburban setting is very reminiscent of Halloween, the killer that can take on multiple identities can be compared to The Thing, and the idea that only a few can see the creature also reminded me of They Live. These connections are pretty clear to those who know, but I appreciate how the film isn’t trying to be self-aware or wink at these audiences with these references. The score by composer Disasterpeace is also heavily inspired by the synth heavy beats which are so prominent in many of Carpenter’s films. It can be a little overbearing at points, but for the most part it’s pretty damn awesome, and a highlight. The only throwback element which bothered me is that the film can’t quite commit to a time period. There is a lot of 70s iconography which fits the style, but it’s also clear the film is set in modern day.

I do think the writing here can be a little problematic. Much as I enjoy the high concept and think Mitchell builds a number of nice scenes around it, things do start to get repetitive. We get similar scenes involving the gang of kids over and over and while they never become dull, it is noticeable. Additionally, I’m not sure the film ever really hit the highs it could have with the central idea. There just seems to be something missing. It’s also important to note that Mitchell’s roots lie in mumblecore and the more annoying hipster elements of that subgenre do come through a little in the characterization, particularly early on. Scenes of these teens all sitting around watching black and white horror movies on TV or reading Dostoevsky’s The Idiot on a seashell shaped kindle strike as false. Simply put, I don’t really know anyone who actually acts like that. These elements do dissipate once the horror becomes the predominant focus, but they do sneak back in from time to time.

I’ve made no secret of the fact that I’ve been underwhelmed by the horror genre for the past few years. A lot of what’s coming out of Hollywood just looks lame and even the horror films I like tend to be with a number of caveats. However I have hope that things are on the upswing. Last year’s The Babadook was an exceptional work and while It Follows doesn’t quite excel at that level (though both are really quite different), this is still one of the strongest efforts from the genre currently out there. The film certainly has problems, but it’s also a stylish and clever work which I enjoyed my time with.

B+

Fuck this film was dull 4.5/10