It Follows has been getting a lot of buzz recently as one of the greatest horror movies in recent years. It might drag a bit, but the film is more than terrifying enough to earn that distinction.
After Jay (Maika Monroe) has sex with her boyfriend, Hugh (Jake Weary), she starts to be followed wherever she is by some unknown force that seems intent on killing her. As befitting a movie which involves an "unknown force", It Follows leaves a lot to the imagination, rarely answering the questions which it brings up about its own narrative. This is one of the most fascination things about the story, and also one of the most terrifying. Early on, Yara asks the being what it wants, and the being doesn't respond. This sets the tone, and from there the tension only ever lets up enough to maintain some variety. Without the quieter scenes, the moments of immediate danger would be far less effective, and the reverse is true too, as the low-key scenes are some of the most tense in the film.
This creates the film's atmosphere, one of constant danger and fear. This atmosphere is thick throughout the entire movie, which contributes greatly to the suspense. Events are paced in such a way that there's always the possibility of the monster appearing at any moment, which is compounded by a number of shots which include it slowly trudging forward without actually focusing on it. Clever filmmaking techniques like this are used throughout the movie, and work together to create a feeling of dread without forcing it down the audience's throats. There is at least one jump scare, but it follows intense buildup and is surrounded by a variety of smart techniques that allow the film to earn that jump scare. One of the film's best tools, however, is ambiguity, as many cuts happen before it's clear how exactly a scene ends. This contributes to the feeling of unease, as the ever-increasing list of questions instils a fear of the unknown, especially when that unknown is a very real danger to the characters.
However, the atmosphere gets slightly exhausting near the end, particularly because the movie doesn't really have a proper climax. This is consistent with the style of the movie, as it leaves viewers wondering what happens next, but it also means that the only way to know how far into the movie you are is to go in with prior knowledge of the film's runtime. A large reason for this is because things that happen near the end of the move resemble events from earlier in the film just enough that it's clear Jay and co. aren't really in much different a place than they were before. This isn't necessarily a problem, especially given how excellent the film is otherwise, and besides, It Follows doesn't really provide itself with any possibilities for a logical endpoint. Because of that last point, any smart ending would probably be similar to the one we got, leaving us with a feeling of discomfort which is, ultimately, the perfect feeling for the movie to leave us with considering its tone up to that point.
As with all of the best horror movies, It Follows partially bases its fear in reality through the use of symbolism. In this case, the monster is a pretty obvious metaphor for sexually transmitted diseases, but in its attempt to form that into a tangible monster, the metaphor winds up being stretched somewhat, especially when it starts destroying property. Still, building a film around a sexually-transmitted supernatural entity is a stroke of genius, especially as it allows the film to separate itself from the pack. In any case, that allegorical element isn't the only thing that It Follows takes from the horror genre. The core premise of the creature being transmitted by sexual intercourse brings to mind the slasher movie trend of having the most promiscuous girls die where those who abstain more often survive. It's sort of an interesting twist on that idea, taking it to the greatest extreme by justifying it through real-world allegory. In that way, it sorta marries Dawn of the Dead with Friday the 13th, and while I don't have too much experience with the genre, it's clear that the film has some respect for horror movies past while still standing completely apart from much of the genre.
One other thing that's interesting about the film is its cinematography, which is consistently excellent throughout, and boasts several shots good enough to frame. This often enhances the film's already-striking imagery, something which constitutes a large number of the proper scares and adds even further to the atmosphere. A little less can be said of the haunting but occasionally bludgeoning score, which is a major force in keeping the calmer moments of the film from fully allowing the viewer to relax. Loud noises are used alongside creepy melodies to great effect, even if the sheer intensity of it all can be slightly draining. Sound design, finally, is one area in which the film excels. The volume levels of different sounds is carefully considered, with sounds from a car being muted while such things as a door slamming become a loud bang in your ear. Of course, this selection of sounds seems specifically crafted to be as unnerving as possible, which is high praise given that such is the purpose of the film.
It Follows continues the streak of horror gems amidst all the dreck that started a couple years ago and intensified last year. If this is the direction horror's going in, then between this and The Babadook, horror fans have a lot to look forward to. The imagery is memorable, the themes are dense and fascinating, the cinematography is excellent, and all around the film is fresh and unconventional enough to surprise, all of which adds up to a film with a creepy grip that is hard to resist.
9/10
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