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In recent years, classic-style scary movies have been making a comeback. With the found-footage horror trend (finally) declining, fans are rediscovering the up-all-night chills of a good, old-fashioned scary story—which has opened the door for low-budget indies like writer/director David Robert Mitchell’s It Follows.
This film festival horror favorite stars Maika Monroe as Jay, a pretty 19-year-old whose life takes a dark and disturbing turn following a passionate encounter in the backseat of her new boyfriend’s car. Before he takes her home, he explains that he’s infected her with something terrible—something that will stalk her wherever she goes. And the only way to make it stop is to pass it on to someone else. Jay is skeptical until she starts experiencing it for herself, and though her friends doubt her, they agree to keep her safe—and help her fight whatever’s following her.
It Follows borrows from classic horror themes to create something new and notable. Any horror parody will tell you that, the more promiscuous a girl is, the better her chances of dying. And that’s taken literally here: the supernatural curse is passed along like a kind of paranormal STD. And while the whole setup seems pretty comical—playing so obviously into the old horror movie clichés—it quickly turns into something creepy.
The force that follows Jay takes on various forms. It could be something obvious—like an old lady in a bathrobe in the middle of a college campus or a big, scary-looking guy who seems specially designed to break things. Or it could be more subtle: just some kid stalking across a field. And that’s what makes the film so chilling. As the story plays out, viewers begin to share Jay’s growing paranoia, constantly watching for any deliberately-moving characters heading toward the camera. Some are red herrings, while others attack Jay and her friends in horrible ways—and it’s sure to keep viewers constantly on edge, watching out for the next haunting incarnation.
Still, It Follows isn’t without its share of nagging issues—from the strange set-up and the excessive force used in preparing Jay for the worst to the confusing period setting. Its mix of old cars (like the one in the movie’s poster), newer vehicles, and strange modern technology (like one character’s e-reader that’s shaped like an old compact mirror) is odd and rather off-putting. And it can distract viewers’ attention away from the action at the most inconvenient of times.
Despite its flaws, though, It Follows is undeniably haunting—a classic-style horror flick that’s sure to keep you glancing over your shoulder. If you love the old-school scares of the ‘70s and ‘80s, this throwback thriller is worth a look.
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