"Whether it's an 'It Follows' sequel or something else, I think he's so insanely talented.". Therefore, their relationship is not romance but more of a survival technique. Instead, Mitchell uses it to sneak in another unexpected scare. (Which I want. Theyre meant to alert him in case anything enters. As Jay struggles to stay afloat, her friends intervene. The monster seemingly defeated, Jay and Paul go home and have sex. That ends when It Follows' residentstalkerwalks up behind Jay on the beach, disguised as her friend Yara. As Jay tries to get out of the pool, it pulls her underwater by the ankle. , a column dedicated to the most pulse-pounding moments in horror. [19] The film made its international debut in the United Kingdom on February 27, 2015, where it earned $573,290 (371,142) on 190 screens for the #8 position. If they tell you what that is all a story is about, they are very definitely wrong." I don't know if this explanation makes The Follower MORE or LESS horrifying for you. The film then closes with the two walking hand in hand down the street, with the faint outline of an unknown person walking relentlessly behind them at a modest pace. Also from the Detroit area and It made the movie that much creepier. Even though Pauls crush on Jay is evident from the start, the latter is clearly not interested in dating her childhood friend, who is a far cry from the hunky boys she seemingly goes out with. Shortly after he gets the curse, there's a scene when Greg is hanging out and flirting with a group of girls. Get our newsletter and join our community powered by horror fans like you. The murderous, seemingly unstoppable entity, simply called It, remains as mysterious as ever, and its origin is never revealed. However, Greg underestimates It Follows ' scary curse, and following his death scene, the curse goes right back to Jay. Is the monster the IT the scariest part of the movie? Let's run down the evidence for each one. I had to watch it three times before realizing Hey, wasnt she just swimming? In the films many tense moments, a lot of clues are sprinkled into the background that help make sense of the ominous ending. Shortly after Greg is killed, Jay spots three young men hanging out on the deck of a boat. Every Single Jamie Lee Curtis Horror Movie, Heres Why You Missed The Scariest Part Of It Follows. So what's this old cliche doing here? Like a person hiding an STD from their romantic partner, Hugh lies to Jay about the potential repercussions of sleeping with him, and afterwards, he abandons her. At school, Jay sees an old woman in a hospital gown walking towards her, invisible to others. The hell? Instead, it marks an important repetition we see throughout the movie:in every case, the final Follower each character sees is of their parent, walking towards them. The woman edges closer as she urinates. In fact, modern technology is mostly absent throughout the film except for this thing. They plan on luring the entity into the pool and then electrocuting it. Lead characters wear bathing suits in one scene and chilly fall coats in the next. The movie was a great commercial and critical hit. Eventually, Paul is able to shoot it, and they run away. We then meet Jay and her sister Kelly, who are childhood friends with Paul. Sure, we've just spent a long time explaining as much about this film as we could, but there are some questions that are better left unanswered. We subsequently see Jay pass the curse on to Paul by having sex with him. It looks like a vintage makeup compact but seems to act like a smartphone-combo-e-reader Yara even uses it later as a light source, the way you would a phone. Annie drives a 2012 Nissan Versa, much of the fashion seems fairly modern, and Yara reads her Dostoyevsky on some sort of miniature computer or e-reader that looks like a seashell. It doesnt exist. Even more impressive is the way Mitchell layers in visual complexity that offers multiple reads upon repeat viewings. It Follows (2014) 3 Rated-ARRR 8 yr. ago It was a really good movie. This next form taken by the entity in It Follows is another that's extremely naked. At the beginning of the film, a young woman runs out of her house wearing a pair of heels, short-shorts, and a tank top. Up until this point, the entity only appeared from a safe distance. The entity busts open a hole in the door, then comes after them as a creepy young boy. Their quiet conversation gets interrupted by the sound of breaking glass. Some even start to collide with her, disorienting her and drawing blood. Maika Monroe told ComicBook.com in January 2021 that she "would do anything" to work with director David Robert Mitchell again. When teens have sex, a monster kills them. It's the precise type of scene that would otherwise allow the viewer a moment to soothe their rapid pulse. And how is the monster defeated, at least temporarily? "[7] Mitchell said that while Jaime "opens herself up to danger through sex, the one way in which she can free herself from that danger We're all here for a limited amount of time and we can't escape our mortality but love and sex are two ways in which we can at least temporarily push death away. Assume our heroes are smart. The group plans to kill the entity by luring it into a swimming pool and dropping electrical appliances into the water. Greg doesn't realize it's not his mom, opens the door, andgets murdered in what's easily It Follows' most disturbing death scene. It works to set the mood for the film's biggest scare, a terrifying scene that delivers not one but two potent scares without a second to spare for the audience to catch their breath. Why is everyone wearing a coat? The dissonance between seasons and the way characters are dressed is just another way to make you feel off for some reason you cant necessarily put your finger on. Rather than walking into the pool so that Jay's friends can electrocute it, It starts picking up the various devices and hurling them at Jay. She's not shown close or long enough to make a positive identification, but the best guess based on characters seen in the film is Hugh's mom. In the aftermath of the traumatic event, Jay attempts to resume normalcy and attends class. Even more impressive is the way Mitchell layers in visual complexity that offers multiple reads upon repeat viewings. But I do want to say that when I wrote this, I had some bigger set pieces, a few things that I sort of simplified, and some stuff that we chose to cut out because of the budget and time, so there's all kinds of fun things that could be done with this concept and story. Regardless, it's going to mess you up pretty bad when your dad starts throwing TVs and trying to drown you, so either way, Jay's reaction totally tracks. Mr. We probably don't need to guess what she wanted from the guys on board. Heres why: In the final pool scene, the ending of the movie, Jay spots IT coming towards her. [10] Mitchell used wide-angle lenses when filming to give the film an expansive look,[10] and cited the works of George Romero and John Carpenter as influences on the film's compositions and visual aesthetic. In fact, we barely see it at all, until the end when its blurry and not the focal point of the shot. Next:Every Form IT Takes in the 1990 Miniseries. To me, it's dream logic in the sense that they're in a nightmare, and when you're in a nightmare, there's no solving the nightmare. Many signs point to it being a period piece. Mitchell intentionally creates a contrast to give his feature a timeless quality. Director David Robert Mitchell Writer David Robert Mitchell Stars Maika Monroe Keir Gilchrist Olivia Luccardi This scene is very intense and is built up over the course of a few minutes as the protagonist desperately tries to prevent it. Read this review to discover some frightening missing pieces. Here are the most notable ones: Thats just a few of the weird time discrepancies I noticed, but lets touch on that last one. Hugh points out a young girl in the back of the theater. Read More: Is It Follows Based on a True Story? That it comes from a completely different and unlikely spot in Jay's house sends the clear message that Death can come from anywhere at any time. "It wasn't a fun kind of scare. There are a few different theories at play here allow me to explain. That tendency may not be entirely born of sadism, as in a few cases it also seems to be trying to confuse its victim long enough to get caught. But is that all? With no It Follows sequel seemingly on the horizon, that mysteryis likely to stay unsolved, but as some other instances of horror movies filling in monster backstories prove, sometimes the mystery is the better option. Death isn't scary because it will catch you today or tomorrow. Jay tells the truth to her friends, and they believe her, helping her fight a monster that they themselves literally can't see. All 30 Forms IT Takes in Stephen King's Original Novel, Every Form Chucky Has Taken In The Child's Play Series, Every Form Pinhead Has Taken In The Hellraiser Franchise, Freddy's Other Forms In The Nightmare On Elm Street Franchise, Every Form IT Takes in the 1990 Miniseries, 7 Ways James Bond 26 Has To Be Different From Daniel Craig's 007 Era, Avatar: The Way of Water Breaks Major International Box Office Record, Puss In Boots: The Last Wish Set Up Shrek 5 Entirely By Accident. What's more shameful than having sex with your mom or dad? It Follows is a 2014 American supernatural psychological horror film written and directed by David Robert Mitchell and stars Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Jake Weary, Olivia Luccardi and Lili Sepe. There's also decent evidence that Jay herself passed the curse along. And I dont care who you are, that above-ground pool isnt heated so if its cold enough you need that fur-lined getup, you are NOT swimming outside at the same time. The next morning, she is found brutally murdered, with her leg twisted and snapped at an unnatural angle. The next time you watch the movie, whenever there's a scene in Jay's house, check out the pictures on her walls. 0. Then Kelly manages to throw a sheet over the creature, allowing Paul to shoot the monster in the head. When she does this, we see that the lawns on the other side of the street are littered with leaves and the trees have started to turn. It Follows is a 2014 American supernatural psychological horror film written and directed by David Robert Mitchell. There is a ton of crappy horror movies out there and this isn't one of them. For example, before Greg's death, it appeared as Greg to fool Jay for as much time as possible, and also to break his window and enter his house. Greg Hannigan - Raped to death by the Entity. Lets explain the meaning (and controversial ending) of the movie. Contents 1 Description 2 Biography 3 Personality 4 Gallery 5 Navigation Description Not hearing Jay's pleas, Greg opens the door and the entity pounces on him. But after a seemingly-innocent sexual encounter, she is plagued by strange visions and the inescapable sense that someone, or something, is following her. And then, once death has you, you're forced to meet your maker. . Yes, its frustrating when the film fails to answer vital questions, but often the answers are there if you just pay attention. There are other clues given to us purely through storytelling and small details rather than having the characters get right up in your face and shout what youre supposed to know. One of the more curious forms the entity takes comes after the beach hut, as it becomes a teenage girl and chases after Jay,who responds by hopping into Greg's car. It Follows is a 2014 American supernatural psychological horror film written and directed by David Robert Mitchell. "Why don't they drive to Mexico?" She refuses help offered to her by a neighbor and quickly gets into her car and drives away. Another idea explored throughout The Idiotis death, and how proximity to and awareness of death changes people. Jay, Kelly (Lilie Sepe), Paul (Keir Gilchrist), and Yara (Olivia Luccardi) break into an indoor public pool after hours. Inspired by a nightmare director David Robert Mitchell had wherein he was being chased by a slow but unstoppable force It Follows captures the terror of inescapable doom. Its her dad thats why she doesnt want to tell her little sister. When a tall man enters the bedroom, Jay flees the house; her friends catch up to her at a nearby playground. She then undresses and walks into the water, though it is unclear if she does anything with them. Greg has sex with Jay in the hospital, as he does not believe the entity exists. It's simply unfortunate that Greg was cornered when The Follower was in the guise of his mother. The music crescendos with a pulsing beat, signaling that a. Therefore, It is invisible but has a physical form. Greg later remarks that he hasn't seen the creature yet, long after Jay expected. stunt coordinator Craig Gubert . The set further disorients with decor from various eras- unconventional and made-up technology clashes with retro televisions that play '50s sci-fi features. Jays peach-pink underwear set just scream 1950s. The film never lays down definitive rules for how the creature works, so if you want to poke holes, it's defenseless. A malicious psychic projection born from the collective unconscious of humanity? This is what made me look for more anachronisms throughout the film and oh boy there are a lot. Even from a far-off distance, the wide angles elicit an exposed vulnerability that builds dread. Shortly after he gets the curse, there's a scene when Greg is hanging out and flirting with a group of girls. Now that's scary. Cord phones abound! Greg is gruesomely murdered by It, who accosts him in his room while taking the form of his mother. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. And what does that tell us? The next day, the police cannot find the naked woman or Hugh, who was living under a false identity. [36] Quinn has expressed the idea of flipping the concept of the first film around, with Jay or another protagonist going down the chain to find the origin of "it."[37]. His identity is also confirmed by a family photo. "[25] Tim Robey of The Daily Telegraph gave the film five out of five stars and said, "With its marvellously suggestive title and thought-provoking exploration of sex, this indie chiller is a contemporary horror fan's dream come true. [citation needed] The film had a domestic gross of $14.7 million and an international gross of $8.6 million for a worldwide total of $23.3 million. It stars Maika Monroe as a young woman who is pursued by a supernatural entity after a sexual encounter and must have sex with another individual to avoid it. Youre trying to figure out what the time period is and there simply isnt one. Next, we saw Greg's mom, who breaks his neck and then rapes him. A common criticism of It Follows is that the monster isn't particularly threatening, relative to other horror movie baddies. It wasn't the best movie I've ever seen but I thought they did a good job and it's worth a watch. No. Yara is that annoying friend whos ALWAYS on their phone no I am not going to explain to you what just happened during the movie youre SUPPOSED to be watching PUT YOUR DARN PHONE AWAY except wait, thats not a phone! Greg drives Jay, Kelly, Yara, and Paul to his family's lake house and teaches Jay to shoot a revolver. Sure, its a very cool way to set up a new universe, but its also extremely off-putting whether you realize it or not. It was given a limited release in the United States on March 13[15] and a wide release on March 27[16] in 1,200 theaters. Alone, Jay cautiously makes her way to the kitchen to see the damage for herself. The movie is written and helmed by David Robert Mitchell. To me, it's dream logic in the sense that they're in a nightmare, and when you're in a nightmare there's no solving the nightmare. Box Office: 'Exotic Marigold' Sequel Topples 'Fifty Shades', "It Follows, review: 'tender, ingenious and scalp-prickingly scary', "Toronto 2014, Day One: Judging Robert Downey Jr., catching up with Locarno and Cannes", "Why "It Follows" is the best horror movie in over a decade", "It Follows: 'Love and sex are ways we can push death away', "No Safe Space: Economic Anxiety and Post-Recession Spaces in Horror Films", "Don't Let It Touch You: Watching It Follows in the Age of Coronavirus", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=It_Follows&oldid=1136363944, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2016, Articles with MusicBrainz release group identifiers, Articles with MusicBrainz work identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Lili Sepe as Kelly Height, Jaime's sister, Bailey Spry as Annie Marshall, one of the entity's victims, Debbie Williams as Mrs. Jay tries to warn the real Greg by telephone, but he does not answer. Victims Annie Marshall - Bled to death after the Entity tore her legs in half. But then, at the theater for their date, Hugh/Jeff, Jay, and EVERY SINGLE OTHER PERSON IN LINE is wearing heavy winter coats. Here's a guide toIt Follows entity's every form it takes in the movie. Even if you try to solve it.". Of course, that's much debate about whether the entity is even a demon. For example, the young woman in the beginning is running from IT in heels. "[7] The role that sexual transmission plays came later, from Mitchell's desire for something that could transfer between people. It tells the story of Jay (Maika Monroe), a college student who starts dating a kind yet mysterious boy named Hugh (Jake Weary). It's never stated who he is, but it seems like a pretty safe assumption that this man is Jay and Kelly's father. Also, Jeffs hideout is outfitted with beer bottles, cans, etc. Then again, certain aspects of the film are undeniably modern. Bizarrely, Jay sees him standing atop the roof, and not actively pursuing her, which is out of character. By subscribing, you agree to the terms of our Privacy Policy, 70s Horror Movies: 100+ Scary Films from the 1970s, 30+ Horror Movies For Beginners Start Here, Turkish Horror Movies: Scary Movies Movies Made in Turkey, Bollywood Horror Films: The Best Hindi Scary Movies, 30+ Summer Horror Movies To Keep You Screaming All Season Long, 19 of Jordan Peeles Favorite Horror Movies, Best Russian Horror Movies: From the Soviet Union to Today, Best Horror Movies on Netflix Right Now (March 2023), Spanish Horror Movies: The Best Scary Movies in Spanish, Scream Queen! Though it is left unclear whether Paul passes on the curse, in the end, it is irrelevant because we see the entity following him and Jay in the films closing scene. . We just made it up. Whatever I was going through at that time, my parents divorced when I was around that age, so I imagine it was something to do with that. "It" is then seen moving in an aggressively sexual way on the boy's body. However, the film does offer clues as to what It can and cannot do, so lets check those out. "[24], David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter said, "Creepy, suspenseful and sustained, this skillfully made lo-fi horror movie plays knowingly with genre tropes and yet never winks at the audience, giving it a refreshing face-value earnestness that makes it all the more gripping. Later, when explaining Jays attack to Gregs mom, shes seen pouring liquor into her coffee. The entity also seemingly stalks only one person at a time, as it doesnt attack Jay until Greg (to whom she passes the curse) is dead. How long before we get It Follows 3: Pool Warriors? Upon realizing that the entity has a physical body and is not just a. If it's about trauma, the trauma is still with them. At dawn, it is revealed that she has been brutally murdered. Most recently, Michael helped launch Screen Rant's new horror section, and is now the lead staff writer when it comes to all things frightening. Of course,it keeps pursuing her relentlessly, making It Followsfeel like The Terminator in that respect. Jay, waiting in the pool, spots the entity and realizes it has taken the appearance of her deceased father. Paul reports a smashed window in the kitchen, then heads upstairs to wake Jay's sister. They try to calm Jay's nerves when there's a knock at the door. Even from a far-off distance, the wide angles elicit an exposed vulnerability that builds dread. Later, the two make love in the car, after which Hugh suddenly attacks Jay. For what it's worth, whenever David Robert Mitchell is asked about an anti-sex interpretation of It Followsin interviews, he shoots this reading down pretty definitively, saying specifically that he didn't want to make a "puritanical" film. as a compelling horror film owes much to Mitchell's use of wide shots and distinct visual style and production design. Related: All 30 Forms IT Takes in Stephen King's Original Novel. The abruptness of its appearance delivers another potent scare, clocking in just two minutes after the previous encounter. Since it relentlessly follows and kills whoever is most recently infected and then goes after whoever was infected before them, it is only a matter of time before Jay is in danger again. If the entity from It Follows starts chasing you, it's probably not going to catch you today. They seem normal enough. They try to calm Jay's nerves when there's a knock at the door. But behind them, it looks nothing like fall or even winter. The camera slows down, and all music fades, save for the drumming beat, as Jay walks into the kitchen. stunt utility . I think thats exactly what David Robert Mitchell did in It Follows. There's another way to read It Follows. For 19-year-old Jay, autumn should be about school, boys, and weekends out at the lake. ), Writer/Director David Robert Mitchell knows how to build a chilling atmosphere. Jay's friends ward it off by breaking a chair over its body and Jay shoots it several times until it falls over, but it recovers unharmed and attacks Jay again, this time taking the form of a boy who lives next door to Jay. They make you glance back over your shoulder as you walk down the street. Same man, basically same age, but shes a child. It's then that we enter into the film's thrilling and terrifying climax. Ele Bardha . Yara stands relaxed and sleepily in the doorway of Jay's bedroom, inquiring about the commotion. (Greg's Date (Pretty Girl in Car))-/5. Sure, it was shot in the head, but we don't know whether or not that's enough, and since the director isn't giving us answers, we have to figure this out ourselves by looking at the film's themes. The monster is still with them, in one form or another, because even if the literal monster is no more, death is still coming for them, and until that happens, this experience will always follow them. Staring out of the classroom window, she spies an older woman in a hospital gown crossing the grounds, seemingly unseen by those around her. And in the universe of It Follows, you are LITERALLY forced to meet your maker in the most terrifying way possible. This represents the idea that sometimes, people who are abused process their trauma in the most unhealthy way possible by becoming abusers themselves. Later, when we see things from Jay's perspective, the entity appears to be manifesting as a character we've never seen before: a middle-aged man with a beard. Try watching it through again; its an entirely different experience once you know what youre looking for. Horror movie fans lovers, straight-up warning you there are a lot of spoilers for It Follows (2015) in this review. And I'm convinced somebody is going to make them and get incredibly rich from doing it. Jay cowers in her room, and her loved ones arrive to protect her, either from herself or her unseen foe. The title refers to the idea that people view Myshkin as "an idiot" because of his kindness, but the book argues that he's far wiser than the people around him. In fact, It Follows is an anti-victim blaming masterpiece that gives a huge middle finger to the genre's antiquated approach to sex. Paul reports a smashed window in the kitchen, then heads upstairs to wake Jay's sister. A teenage boy is murdered by the central antagonist, while it takes the form of his mother. This scene marks the first time the eponymous "it" invades Jay's home and personal space. Once cursed, they are doomed to forever live in fear of being killed by It. It's Yara, half-asleep and perplexed by the uproar. See? Featured as forms of the entity are Ingrid Mortimer, Alexyss Spradlin, Mike Lanier, and Don Hails. Your pulse never changes during the initial viewing, and a week later, you barely remember the experience. Height's fate isn't explained in It Follows but he's clearly not in the picture anymore. Based on how confidently he knocked out Jay with chloroform, it didn't seem like his first time. No way, I dont think so. We imagine that would be a movie called Follow It, which would presumably tell the story of Jay working her way up the chain, trying to track down the originator of the curse. So Yara's quote clearly demonstrates how both these works have mortality on their mind. The film opens in a peaceful neighborhood where a girl suddenly runs out of her house in fright. uses wide angles and a disorienting setting to unsettle before delivering a one-two punch scare for the ages. The moment of relief gets punctuated by a music sting and the startling appearance of a tall man from the darkened room just behind Yara. [14] The digital version of the album went on sale March 10. Summaries. Its meant to show how unprepared she was when confronted with IT. It will perpetually be walking towards Jay's location at all times, no matter where she is. Most viewers seem to agree this girl is Annie, the girl who's brutally killed by the entity in It Follows' opening, and likely the last person Hugh passed the curse to before Jay. We know that the entity sometimes impersonates the loved ones of its victims, so who is It impersonating here? Obviously, whatever IT is, the monster is spooky in more ways than one. Lastly, we have Jay's final Follower, who appears as her father. All of this, combined with carefully choreographed terror that can come from anywhere in the wide-open spaces, induces agoraphobic dread.It works to set the mood for the film's biggest scare, a terrifying scene that delivers not one but two potent scares without a second to spare for the audience to catch their breath. The Follower is a punishment for that fabled, suburban image of sex, and that fear that, after sex, there's nothing left but death at your heels. the whole internet asks, collectively. The abruptness of its appearance delivers another potent scare, clocking in just two minutes after the previous encounter.That it comes from a completely different and unlikely spot in Jay's house sends the clear message that Death can come from anywhere at any time. It Follows (2014) - The arrival of a tall man Watch on Alone, Jay cautiously makes her way to the kitchen to see the damage for herself. Jay and Paul have sex. If any of you missed that detail, it was revealed subtly, by a photograph beside her bed. The Naked Climber This next form taken by the entity in It Follows is another that's extremely naked. Even if you try to solve it. It received acclaim from critics; praise was directed at the films originality and Monroes performance. The Entity, or It, is the name given to the otherwise unnamed main antagonist in the 2014 horror film, It Follows. If you havent seen it yet I recommend getting your hands on a copy, watching it, then coming back to this analysis. When Jay gets cursed after a sexual encounter, she finds herself being stalked and tries to grapple with the sinister entity that keeps changing its appearance and showing up unexpectedly. Today, we're here to explore all the confusing moments and unanswered questions of this indie horror classic's intentionally ambiguous final act, in addition to analyzing some of It Follows' deeper themes. It was the so-upset-I-feel-sick kind of . Firing blindly into the pool, Paul manages to shoot the creature again in the head, and this time, it stays dead. They rob you of your sleep. The woman edges closer as she urinates. Written By Rohan Patil It Follows is an American supernatural psychological horror film which released in 2014. Right after the two have sex for the first time, Hugh disappears from her life. Afterwards, Jaime "Jay" Height goes on a date with her new boyfriend, Hugh, to the movies. As Neil Gaiman once said, "If someone tells you what a story is about, they are probably right. Unsubscribe at any time. Highly disturbed, Jay's friends agree to spend the night to keep her company. - Cousin Greg! Finally, when Jay sees Greg dying, the motif on her T-shirt, a blonde girl and a ball, is seen clearly. Screaming, Jay fumbles her way upstairs and locks herself in her room. On another date, Hugh and Jay have sex in his car, but afterwards, he incapacitates Jay with chloroform and she wakes up tied to a wheelchair.
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