by Aly Lalji
The heavenly genre of horror has been hit hard with an original premise that's horrific and beautiful at the same time. David Robert Mitchell’s intriguing script has simply brought to life his vision of horror. One that contains hidden metaphors and messages for the audience’s perusal as well as being completely shocking entertainment.
For nineteen-year-old Jay, (Maika Monroe) autumn should be about school, boys and week-ends out at the lake. But after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, she finds herself plagued by strange visions and the inescapable sense that someone, or something, is following her. Faced with this burden, Jay and her friends must find a way to escape the horrors that seem to be only a few steps behind.
The heavenly genre of horror has been hit hard with an original premise that's horrific and beautiful at the same time. David Robert Mitchell’s intriguing script has simply brought to life his vision of horror. One that contains hidden metaphors and messages for the audience’s perusal as well as being completely shocking entertainment.
For nineteen-year-old Jay, (Maika Monroe) autumn should be about school, boys and week-ends out at the lake. But after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, she finds herself plagued by strange visions and the inescapable sense that someone, or something, is following her. Faced with this burden, Jay and her friends must find a way to escape the horrors that seem to be only a few steps behind.
The fact that the thing that follows can be in the form of any random being, be it friend, family or stranger is petrifying. It’s objective is to brutally slay the protagonist in slow and painful torture. What builds the terrifying tension is how they follow our protagonist slowly and slither from any unexpected moment. The film isn’t necessarily jumpy or psychological, but it leaves an eerie trail of discomfort that the audience can follow and once the horror grips, it sticks to you like a curse that must be shattered. That is literally what the film is about. How will Jay break the curse that has been passed on to her from her sexual encounter?
Set in a suburban part of Detroit, the influences of director David Mitchell are observable. The film’s opening brings to us a Haddonfield Illinois ambience of autumn; falling leaves, pumpkins on door steps and a damsel in distress running away from the thing that follows. The strong, sinister sound of a synthesizer in the background bring forth the strong influence of John Carpenter’s 80’s horror musical scores. Already we’re enticed, but once the audience are introduced to our leading lady, we’re hooked on the horror that unfolds.
Set in a suburban part of Detroit, the influences of director David Mitchell are observable. The film’s opening brings to us a Haddonfield Illinois ambience of autumn; falling leaves, pumpkins on door steps and a damsel in distress running away from the thing that follows. The strong, sinister sound of a synthesizer in the background bring forth the strong influence of John Carpenter’s 80’s horror musical scores. Already we’re enticed, but once the audience are introduced to our leading lady, we’re hooked on the horror that unfolds.
Following on from her success from The Guest, for Maika Monroe to do another horror film back to back, gives her the potential to be the new scream queen; the title that Jamie Lee Curtis once had. She is versatile, vulnerable and vicious in what she has to do to remove the curse. To sleep with the men that are fixated on her and pass the curse on to others, provides the audience with the metaphors of STI’s being a practical curse that once consumed by, you are practically at your demise.
The supporting cast are also standout. There are no stereotypical stock characters, but are there to support Jay, even if it means to accept the curse from her, by sleeping with her. When we see Jay’s friend, Paul (Keir Gilchrist) who becomes cursed; to see his intentions of passing it on to two street prostitutes, raises more questions. Are people who know they’re infected, rather pass on their disease to people they are unbeknownst to rather than the ones they’re close to?
It Follows leaves many ambiguous outcomes that make the film ominous, but that is the power of horror, to never satisfy the audience, but to leave you with an impactful uneasiness that allows you to walk away and reflect. It is an original horror flick that shocks, shudders and makes you paranoid to anyone following you. When you walk out the cinema, look around, be vigilant and be careful.
The supporting cast are also standout. There are no stereotypical stock characters, but are there to support Jay, even if it means to accept the curse from her, by sleeping with her. When we see Jay’s friend, Paul (Keir Gilchrist) who becomes cursed; to see his intentions of passing it on to two street prostitutes, raises more questions. Are people who know they’re infected, rather pass on their disease to people they are unbeknownst to rather than the ones they’re close to?
It Follows leaves many ambiguous outcomes that make the film ominous, but that is the power of horror, to never satisfy the audience, but to leave you with an impactful uneasiness that allows you to walk away and reflect. It is an original horror flick that shocks, shudders and makes you paranoid to anyone following you. When you walk out the cinema, look around, be vigilant and be careful.
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