IT FOLLOWS (2014)

Summary:

It Follows is a chilling supernatural horror film that introduces a unique and terrifying concept: a sexually transmitted curse. The story centers on 19-year-old Jay Height, who, after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, finds herself stalked by a relentless, shape-shifting entity that can appear as anyone and is only visible to those afflicted by the curse. This slow-moving but inescapable presence will kill its victim unless they pass the curse on through sexual intercourse, making intimacy a terrifying gamble.

As the entity relentlessly pursues Jay, she and her close-knit group of friends and her sister must desperately search for a way to escape, understand, or destroy the supernatural threat. The film masterfully builds an atmosphere of pervasive dread and paranoia, blending classic horror tropes with a distinctive retro aesthetic and a haunting, synth-driven score, creating a modern horror classic that explores themes of fear, intimacy, and the anxieties of young adulthood.

Keywords: It Follows, 2014, Maika Monroe, Horror, Supernatural Thriller, David Robert Mitchell.

Plot:

The film opens with a harrowing scene: a young woman named Annie flees her house in terror, eventually stopping on a beach. She calls her father, tearfully apologizing, before being found dead on the beach the next morning, her body grotesquely contorted. This unsettling prologue immediately establishes the film's ominous tone and the deadly nature of the unseen threat.

The story then shifts to Jay Height, a typical 19-year-old living in a Detroit suburb. Her life seems normal, filled with hanging out with her younger sister Kelly, and friends Paul and Yara. Jay begins dating a charming boy named Hugh, and after a few dates, they decide to have sex in his car. The morning after, Jay wakes up to find herself tied to the passenger seat. Hugh, visibly distressed, reveals a terrifying truth: he has passed a curse onto her through their sexual encounter. He explains that a slow-moving, relentless entity, which can take the form of any person—a stranger, a loved one, or even Hugh himself—will now follow her. It is invisible to everyone except those who have the curse, and it will kill her unless she passes it on to someone else through sex. Hugh points to a distant, naked woman walking slowly towards the car, identifying her as the entity, and warns Jay to run. He then knocks her out and leaves her by her house.

Jay is understandably traumatized and disbelieving. Her friends and sister try to comfort her, but they can't see the figure she describes. The entity begins to manifest, first as a tall, naked man walking towards her house, then as an old woman in her classroom. Jay's fear intensifies as the entity's presence becomes more frequent and menacing. She realizes it's always walking, never running, but always coming directly for her. The slow, relentless pace makes it even more terrifying, as there's no escape through speed, only through distance or transference. Her friends, Paul, who has a long-standing crush on Jay, and Yara, who often reads from an old shell-shaped e-reader, and Kelly, become her only confidantes and protectors.

Desperate for answers, Jay and her friends track down Hugh to a hospital, where he is recovering from an apparent attack. He denies knowing Jay, maintaining a vacant stare. This encounter further solidifies the horrifying reality for Jay: the entity can indeed look like anyone, and those who have passed it on often struggle with the guilt and fear of its return. The group realizes that the only way to temporarily escape is to keep moving, so they decide to travel to a family beach house, hoping the distance will provide a reprieve. However, the entity follows, demonstrating its supernatural ability to cover vast distances. At the beach house, Jay sees the entity manifest as a tall man, walking directly through the glass door, unnerving everyone and confirming that physical barriers are no obstacle.

The pressure mounts on Jay, who is constantly looking over her shoulder. The entity appears in increasingly disturbing forms, including a grotesque, bloodied figure. Paul, despite his feelings for Jay, suggests she pass the curse on to someone else to save herself. Jay, tormented by the thought, eventually gives in to the idea. She meets Greg, a seemingly kind stranger, at a bar and has sex with him. For a brief period, Jay feels a sense of relief, as the entity's pursuit shifts to Greg. However, this relief is short-lived. The entity soon returns for Jay, manifesting as Greg himself, indicating that Greg has been killed. The horror of her decision weighs heavily on her, as she realizes that passing the curse on only delays the inevitable and condemns another innocent person. The entity then attacks Jay in her home, violently throwing her around before her friends intervene, driving it away temporarily.

With Greg's death, the group becomes increasingly desperate. Paul, still determined to protect Jay, devises a dangerous plan: to lure the entity to a swimming pool and electrocute it. They gather various appliances and wires, creating a makeshift trap. The climax unfolds at the pool. Jay, acting as bait, waits for the entity. It eventually appears, manifesting first as a hulking figure, then as Jay's own father, a particularly cruel and emotionally devastating form. As the entity approaches, Paul and the others activate their trap, throwing the appliances into the water and shooting the entity with a shotgun. The water electrifies, and the entity appears to be destroyed in a flash of light and smoke. The group watches, shaken but hopeful, as the body sinks to the bottom of the pool.

In the aftermath, the friends are traumatized but alive. The film concludes with Jay and Paul driving away, seemingly leaving their suburban nightmare behind. However, the ending remains ambiguous. In the final shot, as they drive down the street, a distant, shadowy figure can be seen walking slowly towards them in the background, out of focus but undeniably present. This lingering shot leaves the audience to wonder if the entity was truly destroyed, if the curse was simply transferred to another, or if it is still following Jay, ensuring that the pervasive sense of dread never truly dissipates. The film masterfully uses its slow pace, unsettling score, and ambiguous ending to leave a lasting impression of inescapable horror.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Maika Monroe as Jay Height
• Keir Gilchrist as Paul
• Olivia Luccardi as Yara
• Lili Sepe as Kelly Height
• Daniel Zovatto as Greg Hannigan
• Jake Weary as Hugh / Jeff

Crew:

• Director: David Robert Mitchell
• Writer: David Robert Mitchell
• Producers: Rebecca Green, Laura D. Smith, David Robert Mitchell
• Cinematography: Mike Gioulakis
• Editor: Julio C. Perez IV
• Music: Disasterpeace (Richard Vreeland)

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: September 24, 2014 (Fantastic Fest); March 13, 2015 (Limited US)
• Language: English
• Genre: Horror, Supernatural Thriller
• Running Time: 100 minutes
• Accolades: Nominated for the Critics' Week Grand Prize at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival; Won Best Horror Film at the 2015 Empire Awards; Nominated for Best Independent Film at the 2015 Saturn Awards; Numerous critical awards for direction, screenplay, and score.