It Follows: A Deep Dive into the Horror, Characters, and Themes of a Modern Classic

Unpacking the Relentless Horror of "It Follows": More Than Just a Monster Movie

Some horror films stay with you after the credits. They go beyond jump scares. They touch on deep fears, making you uncomfortable. “It Follows,” a 2014 film by David Robert Mitchell, is one of those movies. It is not your usual slasher film. Instead, it delivers a slow, creeping dread. This chilling premise resonates with many. Let's explore what makes "It Follows" so effective as a horror film.

The Curse Unveiled: Plot and Premise

Imagine you are 19. Life is easy, focused on school and friends. That’s Jay Height, portrayed by Maika Monroe. But everything changes when she sleeps with her new boyfriend, Hugh, played by Jake Weary. Suddenly, post-coital awkwardness turns into something sinister. She inherits a curse, a haunting entity passed through sex. It's not your typical romantic mishap.

The plot seems simple. Jay is hunted by “It,” a relentless, shape-shifting thing that walks towards her. It does not run. The only escape? Pass the curse to another by having sex. It is a deadly game of tag with grim outcomes. The film blurs genre lines, incorporating horror, thriller, and even coming-of-age drama. It addresses themes like lost innocence, complicated sexuality, and mortality. "It Follows" conveys a bleak truth: death always lurks nearby.

What made "It Follows" notable? It wasn't just fear; it was the concept itself. People found it brilliant. It serves as a metaphor for sexually transmitted diseases, trauma, and burdens passed between individuals. It's thought-provoking horror that might make you squirm.

Decoding "It": The Nature of the Entity

Now let's discuss the monster, or the Entity called "It." This isn't a classic villain like Freddy Krueger or Jason Voorhees. “It” is more unsettling because of its mystery. A supernatural force, its goal is to chase its victim endlessly. It walks steadily, with no teleportation or super speed. This slow pursuit is more chilling than any quick scare.

The origin of "It" is unclear. The film shuns exposition on its background or nature. This ambiguity builds dread. Some theories suggest "It" is recent. Its slow movement implies it has not evolved over time. Others believe it stems from an ancient curse on an unknown victim, cycling through lives endlessly. "It Follows" avoids giving clear answers, allowing viewers to imagine horrors worse than any explanation.

The Entity's shapeshifting adds to the fear. It can take the form of familiar figures or strangers, living or dead. We see it as Greg’s mother or Jay's father and countless others, each more disturbing than before. Various actors like Ruby Harris and Ele Bardha portray its unsettling forms. Only the cursed person can see "It." Imagine knowing a horrifying figure approaches you while everyone else is blind to it. This isolation amplifies the film's terror.

So how does one escape such a relentless pursuer? That’s the grim reality. You cannot truly "get rid" of "It." It will stalk Jay until her death or until she passes the curse on. This unyielding rule drives the plot forward, making every choice Jay faces critical for her survival and others.

Meet the Players: Characters in the Shadow of "It"

While the Entity stands as the main antagonist, Jay’s friends play an essential role in exploring the film's themes. Our protagonist, Jay Height, confronts this nightmare as she comes of age. Her circle of friends becomes both support and potential danger.

Hugh, who later reveals his name as Jeff, is crucial as he unknowingly transfers the curse. His motives are unclear; his vague explanations add to the film's distrustful atmosphere. Annie Marshall appears early on as the victim in the opening scene, possibly tied to Jeff’s past. Her frantic call to her father swiftly establishes grave stakes.

Yara presents an intriguing dynamic among Jay's friends. Detached and intellectual, she reads Dostoevsky's "The Idiot" on a clamshell e-reader, anachronistically blending modern and classic elements. Yara's distance hints at deeper themes and foreshadows tragedy to come. Greg and Paul complete the group dynamic. Greg is Jay’s ex-boyfriend before Hugh, while Paul has feelings for her. Both try to aid Jay’s survival.

A Dreamlike Detroit: Setting the Stage

The setting in "It Follows" is purposely vague, contributing to its surreal atmosphere. The timeline feels uncertain. Cars from different decades mix with modern technology like Yara's e-reader. This ambiguity makes the environment unsettling, as if it exists outside linear time, enhancing the pervasive horror.

The film is anchored in the Detroit area, filmed in places like Sterling Heights and Clawson in Macomb County. Jay's house resides in Sterling Heights, grounding the surreal horror in familiar territory. The chilling pool scene, where confrontation with the Entity occurs, was shot at Clawson High School. These genuine locations enhance dread and create an eerily plausible world.

Behind the Camera: Production and Vision

David Robert Mitchell directed and wrote "It Follows," bringing a cohesive vision throughout the film. Despite its acclaim, it was made on a modest budget. This limitation sparked creativity and focused on mood rather than costly effects. Its success symbolizes strong writing and direction over big budgets. Filming primarily occurred in Michigan, emphasizing its distinct visual identity.

Decoding the Dread: Symbolism and Interpretation

"It Follows" possesses rich symbolism that encourages interpretation and deepens its horror. One reading involves its metaphor for sex and STDs like HIV/AIDS. The curse transmitted through sexual acts mirrors fears about intimacy and disease. This film delves into anxieties surrounding casual encounters and emotional connections.

Encounters and the consequences of sexual activity matter. Analysis from Hyperreal Film Club examines this connection, showing how the film mirrors societal anxieties about sex and relationships.

"It Follows" serves as a coming-of-age story. Jay's journey surpasses escaping a monster. It involves navigating adulthood, sexuality, and responsibility. The beach scenes symbolize this threshold. The beach represents "stability of land and chaos of water." It captures the shift from childhood safety to the turbulence of adulthood. MovieWeb's analysis explains why "It Follows" is one of the scariest films of the 2010s due to its effective use of metaphor.

Another interpretation is that "It" symbolizes gerascophobia, fear of aging. For teenagers, the approach of adulthood can provoke significant fear. "It" manifests this fear, increasingly close and never stopping, like time itself. This adds a layer of dread resonating with all ages and experiences.

Critical Acclaim and Audience Adoration

“It Follows” received critical acclaim and connected with audiences. It's not just a horror movie; it lingers with you, prompting discussion long after viewing. GameRant investigates what makes "It Follows" unique and enduring, noting its premise and execution.

Two main factors boost its rating: the premise and tone. A monster transmitted through sex sounds odd but is presented with chilling logic. Audiences embrace it. The tone matters too. "It Follows" drips with atmosphere, creating dread that builds gradually. It avoids jump scares, favoring psychological horror for an unsettling experience. This blend of premise and tone elevates "It Follows" above typical horror, affirming it as a modern classic.

The Story Continues: "They Follow"

Fans craving more will be pleased. "It Follows" is getting a sequel, titled "They Follow." David Robert Mitchell returns to write and direct. Maika Monroe will reprise Jay’s role. This suggests continuity in vision and tone from the original film. Although plot details remain hidden, the title hints at an evolving curse. The sequel is highly anticipated as fans wonder where Mitchell and Monroe will lead the story next. With the original's success, "They Follow" could further cement "It Follows" as a lasting horror franchise.

Specific Shivers: Key Elements of "It Follows"

Several unique elements in "It Follows" contribute to its effectiveness.

• The Curse Itself: The curse from sexual intercourse drives the narrative. It’s simple yet terrifying, raising stakes quickly. Jay's encounter with Hugh and subsequent curse reveal create instant dread and investment in her story.
• Yara's Clamshell Device: Yara's e-reader looks outdated, a choice by director Mitchell to avoid modern tech that dates the film. This mysterious device adds timelessness, enhancing the film's dreamlike quality and sparking fan discussion.
• The Pool Scene: A pivotal moment occurs when Jay's friends fight back against the Entity. They plan to lure "It" into a pool and use electrocution. This plan is flawed. The scene is tense, emphasizing the Entity's relentlessness.
• The Opening Scene: Annie Marshall's frantic phone call leads to her death immediately establishes dread. It effectively introduces the curse and raises terrifying stakes for viewers.
• The Tall Man: One unsettling manifestation of the Entity is the "Giant Man." This towering figure is visually striking. Some theories suggest it represents Jay and Kelly's deceased father, adding a layer of psychological depth to the horror.

Is "It Follows" a Good Movie? Absolutely.

"It Follows" is not just a good horror film; it excels as a film overall. It showcases filmmaking mastery with excellent technical and narrative elements. David Robert Mitchell's direction is meticulous, while thematic ambition elevates it beyond genre limits. "It Follows" isn't just scary; it's art with a distinct voice, marking it a modern horror masterpiece.

Truth or Fiction? The Reality of "It Follows"

Despite its realistic elements, "It Follows" is a fictional creation. Director David Robert Mitchell based it on his own emotions and recurring dreams. He describes it as an anxiety dream from his youth about being followed. This personal touch adds authenticity, tapping into primal human fears despite the fictional monster.

The Unsettling End: Ambiguity and Lingering Dread

The end of "It Follows" remains intentionally ambiguous, offering no easy closure. The fate of the Entity stays unknown, creating unease and unresolved tension. The final shot shows a figure following Jay and Paul, suggesting they might not have escaped. This ambiguity leaves lingering discomfort, reminding viewers some fears are impossible to escape.

Venturing Further: Related Horror Territories

Fans of "It Follows" may want to explore similar unsettling films.

• Scariest Movies Ever: Scary films are subjective, yet some rank high on "scare score" lists. Sinister (2012) ranks as one of the scariest, boosting heart rates and inducing fear. Other notable films include classic horror like The Exorcist (1973) alongside recent hits like Hereditary, The Witch, and Alien.
• Successful Low Budget Movies: "It Follows" proves less can be more in horror. The Blair Witch Project (1999) revolutionized found-footage horror and showed what creative storytelling on a budget could achieve.
• Banned Movies: Some films face censorship for extreme content. Cannibal Holocaust (1980) is infamous for its graphic violence, leading to bans in several nations.
• Worst Movie of All Time: Conversely, certain films gain infamy for their poor quality. Manos: The Hands of Fate often earns the title of the "worst movie," suffering from low quality and absurd plots; such failures can be just as gripping as successes.

The Unique Terror: Shape-Shifting Dread

A deeply unsettling aspect of "It Follows" is the Entity's shape-shifting ability. "It" can take any form—a stranger, a loved one, or even yourself—causing constant paranoia and distrust.

You can never know who or what you see. This adds psychological unease to every scene. The shape-shifting taps into a primal fear. Danger can hide in familiar faces.

Water as a Metaphor: The Tides of Change

Water holds symbolic meaning in "It Follows." The beach is a threshold. It shows stability and chaos. This symbolism goes beyond coming-of-age. Water shows change and the subconscious. In "It Follows," water reflects transition and uncertainty. Jay's journey to adulthood is turbulent. The pool, lake, and beach hint at this constant flux. They remind us of threats beneath normalcy.

“It Follows” is not just horror. It is a cinematic experience. It lingers and provokes thought. It taps into deep-seated fears. The blend of premise and tone is masterful. Symbolism and character development shine. It is a modern horror classic. With "They Follow," its chilling legacy continues.