It Follows Review

 

It Follows is a movie that will split viewers down the middle.

People who go in expecting the same cliches that plague modern-day horror movies, and want to see more of the same will be highly disappointed.

However, people who want a fresh take on the horror genre will be pleased with It Follows, as it’s one of the most unique horror movies I’ve ever seen.

The film is directed by David Robert Mitchell starring Maika Monroe. The plot of the film is straight forward: After a sexual encounter, a girl is cursed by “It,” which is an entity that constantly follows and tries to kill her. The only way to get rid of “It” is to pass it on to someone else through sex. However, if the person she transfers it to is then killed, “It” will return to following her. “It” can take the form of anyone, even people who love the infected. The concept is frightening. Just the thought of trying to escape something that won’t stop following you, something that never fatigues, something that never quits would send shivers down anybody’s spine.

So, what makes It Follows so unique?

Well for starters, The score by Distaserpiece is brilliant. It has a 70s-80s electronic style, and possesses a resonating beat familiar to any fan of John Carpenter’s Halloween. What makes the score standout most is its new yet familiar modern techno, bringing you back to an original Nintendo game crossed with Freddy Krueger.

The performances were great all around, especially Monroe as the lead role. All the actors felt modest and awkward, which made their portrayal as teenagers so real and believable.

It Follow’s cinematography is excellent and by far the best part of the movie. Each shot feels important, precise, and polished. It’s clear that each shot served a purpose, and Mitchell’s directing style makes the film visually riveting.

The film pays homage to classic horror films through not only the score, but the ambiguous portrayal of the movie’s time period. Outside, in the neighborhoods and other outside scenery, it looks pretty typical 2015. Inside, however, there are old school rabbit-ear television sets, and old style lamps. The only true representation of current-day technology is a mysterious seashell tablet device that one of the characters is obsessed with like a cell phone.

In terms of scares, It Follows doesn’t rely on cheap jump-scares or meaningless suspense to deliver frights (besides one or two occasions). Instead, the film relies on disturbing images and mind games to unnerve the audience.

The weaknesses of It Follows stem from the vagueness surrounding “It.” There’s only one authority that explains what “It” is, and while that testimony’s explanation is sufficient to the film’s enjoyment, the lack of authority and ambiguity surrounding “It” is frustrating, even if the mystery is meant to emphasize the terror.

There are also moments in the movie that are never truly explained, and are ultimately left up the audience’s interpretation. While movies should respect their audiences instead of spoon-feeding them plot points, the lack of explanation in certain scenes adds frustration to a movie that is littered with mystery.

The most interesting thing about It Follows is the way it makes you think once the credits role. The ending especially will be enough to spark conversations between friends and family who go to see the movie. The most popular conversations will revolve around what people think “It” actually is. After leaving the theater, Julia and I discussed what we thought “It” was as we left the theater, got in the car, when we got home, and before we knew it, we were browsing Reddit discussions (warning spoilers) about different theories.

After hours of speculation, we think we have come up with a solid theory:

“It” is a metaphor for teenage sexual shame. You’ll have to see the movie to fully understand why we believe this, but for now I’ll try to explain without spoilers. The idea that “It” stays with you even after the sexual encounter symbolizes the shame that surrounds teenagers after engaging in a regrettable sexual encounter, and yes, it’s also a metaphor for STDs. The idea that one can erase a regrettable encounter by sleeping with someone else is symbolized through “It” never truly leaving the original carrier, because “It” always eventually comes back to you. The fact that “It” is constantly following its prey is the physical manifestation of shame because one can try to run from their decisions, but never escape. There are ambiguous scenes throughout the film that support this as well, such as a scene where she suspects she’s pregnant, and another involving a pool of blood to symbolize an abortion.

Any rational person who sees It Follows will think that It Follows is simply trying to send an anti-sex message to teenagers. An original notion of mine was that Mitchell was attempting to send a religious message against pre-marital sex, but he shot that theory down in an interview with FirstShowing.net.

Overall, It Follows offers more questions than answers. Despite this, it is a refreshing entry into the horror movie genre as it doesn’t borrow the same, tired formula that almost every modern horror movie seems to adopt. It’s disturbing, though-provoking, but most importantly, different.

3/5 ambitiously unique, and disturbingly crisp apples

My Favorite Movies: Jaws

 

Dun Dun…Dun Dun….Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun Dun.

The instantly recognizable score by the brilliant John Williams is one that sends shivers down my spine whenever I hear it. It is one of the most iconic scores in all of movie history, and accounted for about 50% of Jaws’ success back in 1975.

As a kid, I loved marine life. Whales, dolphins, sharks, you name it. I loved them all, and one of my favorite species of shark was the Great White. So, when I first watched Jaws as a kid, I instantly fell in love with the mechanical shark. Back then, all I saw was a shark. I didn’t care about characters or story, I only cared about the shark.

Today, I  appreciate Jaws for what it really is….a cinematic masterpiece.

The premise of Jaws (based off a novel by Peter Benchley) is very simple; a man-eating shark has been terrorizing beaches on an island, and it’s up to a group of men to venture out and kill it.

While the premise is simple, the way it plays out is what makes Jaws such a fun, terrifying ride.

The stars include Roy Scheider as Brody, Robert Shaw as Quint, and Richard Dreyfuss as Hooper. Scheider’s Brody is a play-it-by-the-book police chief who likes to play things safe, while Shaw’s Quint is the complete opposite as a hard-nosed fisherman who plays by nobody else’s rules but his own. He also has one of the most famous character introductions in movie history. Dreyfuss’ Hooper is a marine biologist who is hired by Brody to come help study the shark, and supplies most of the comedic relief throughout the movie.

If the music accounts for 50% of the movie’s success, then the characters (including the shark) account for the other 50%. The characters really steal the show, and the interplay between them is so entertaining, especially since they are so different. Their performances are also great as well. Scheider is totally believable as Brody, Shaw does a great job as the badass Quint, and Dreyfuss’ Hooper has excellent comedic timing, while also delivering in the more serious scenes.

One scene in particular involves the three characters talking about old scars they have, and is probably the best scene in the movie. Each actor shines, and Shaw in particular delivers a great performance in the scene, as Quint recounts a terrifying story from his past.

One of the best parts about Jaws is Director Steven Spielberg’s use of suspense. The shark itself does not appear until halfway through the movie, and the initial reveal of the shark will shock anybody watching
for the first time. This was due in part to the difficulties with the shark Spielberg faced while filming Jaws. The shark would constantly malfunction while on the set, and it took multiple takes before they could get any usable footage of the shark. See for yourself!  Jaws Shark Being a Pain in the Ass

When the shark was not being shown, Spielberg uses clever ways of showing that the shark was present in the scene, such as floating barrels, and pieces of wood. The iconic fin was also used a lot to show that the shark was in the scene. It’s this cleverness by Spielberg that adds suspense to scenes, and makes the movie that much scarier.

When the shark does finally appear on screen, it looks great, especially for 1975.

Jaws is an instant classic, and one of the best movies of all time. It is filled with wonderful performances and compelling characters, while delivering some of the most iconic music ever to appear in a movie. You will want to avoid the beaches for a little after watching this one.

How do I like them apples? These apples hold a special place in my heart. I loved them for their juiciness as a child, but I’ve grown to appreciate the taste even more today. Just be careful when bobbing for them.

 

5/5 classically crisp apples