IT FOLLOWS: LURKING SHADOWS OF INESCAPABLE DOOM IN THE HEARTBEAT OF YOUTH

Chilling Pursuit: An Ominous Shadow in Suburbia

“It’s very slow, but it’s not dumb.” This subtle quote from It Follows encapsulates the creeping dread that the 2015 breakthrough film by director David Robert Mitchell masterfully instills in its viewers. On the surface, the movie presents a simple premise: after a seemingly innocent sexual encounter, the protagonist is cursed with a relentless spectral entity that only she can see. The entity walks slowly towards her, taking the form of various people, and should it reach her, the outcome is fatal. Set against the backdrop of suburban Detroit with a group of teenagers grappling with an intangible yet deadly threat, this horror tale quietly subverts norms, making for an unnerving experience.

A Masterclass in Atmospheric Tension

Building horror is an art, and It Follows uses a palette of suspense and foreboding rather than shocks and gore. Mitchell’s approach is methodical, allowing the horror to simmer rather than boil over. Each frame is suffused with a sense of unease. As viewers, we are constantly scanning the scene, identifying who or what is out of place. Fear is omnipresent; almost every frame could hide the entity’s next incarnation, which fuels an anxiety both visceral and cerebral.

Cinematography that Haunts the Senses

The cinematography of It Follows is a character in itself. The film employs a retro aesthetic that blurs the lines between decades, creating a timeless nightmarish suburbia. Lighting is used sparingly, allowing shadows to creep around the edges of the viewer’s consciousness. The camera work, with its 360-degree pans, creates a voyeuristic experience, artfully capturing the protagonists’ paranoia. A noticeable lack of special effects makes the few present all the more jarring, demanding attention with their starkness against the otherwise mundane backdrop.

An Eerie Symphony of Sound

Sound is the stealthy accomplice of the visuals in It Follows. The synth-heavy soundtrack, reminiscent of horror classics by John Carpenter, is both a nod to the past and an effective tool in escalating the film’s tension. Each musical cue is deliberate, escalating in tandem with the on-screen threat, while also masterfully employing silence to create a void where the audience’s fear can echo. The sound design amplifies the persistent nature of the entity with subtle cues that it might be lurking nearby, unseen.

Humanizing Horror: Characters and Fright Mechanics

Authentic Terror Through Performance

The actors deliver performances rooted in relatability, accentuating the horror of their predicament. Protagonist Maika Monroe’s portrayal of Jay heightens the film’s terror with her convincingly palpable fear and vulnerability. The ensemble cast complements this with solid dynamics that sell their shared dread. Unlike many horror victims, these characters respond like real people might, adding a layer of believability to their eerie world.

Psychological Terror Over Gore

The film employs psychological dread instead of reliance on gore. It’s the tension of the inevitable, the slow approach of an unstoppable force, that provides the primary source of fear. This minimalist tactic of horror, juxtaposed with instances of body horror native to the genre, is executed with finesse to deliver a lingering sense of unease rather than momentary disgust.

Subtext and Effectiveness: A Deeper Dread

More Than Meets the Eye

Beyond its surface scares, It Follows delves into deeper societal and existential musings. It challenges norms around sexuality, adolescence, and death, confronting viewers with allegories for persistent, inescapable threats. These thematic undercurrents add to the film’s resonance and staying power, creating a horror work with intellectual as well as emotional impact.

A Haunting Verdict

As a piece of horror cinema, It Follows triumphs. It is frightening, not through cheap thrills but by nurturing a pervasive sense of existential dread. It’s a thought-provoking film that lingers, gnawing at the edges of the mind long after the credits roll. With its innovative approach and minimalistic yet rich storytelling, it merits attention from dedicated horror fans as well as those seeking a more profound cinematic experience.

The movie might resonate particularly with viewers who appreciate the mingling of classic and modern horror elements. While some may find its pace too languid, those attuned to atmospheric chills will find much to admire. It’s a rarity—a film that may not jolt with jump scares, but instead stalks the audience subtly and relentlessly, much like the entity it portrays.

Final Appraisal

In the landscape of horror, It Follows emerges as a paragon of psychological terror. By forging its path with confident storytelling and visionary direction, it reshapes familiar frights into something wholly original. The film’s tension-building is exceptional, and its stylistic choices in cinematography and sound forge an unforgettable horror experience, though it may not cater to every viewer’s taste. Warnings of sexual content and disturbing imagery are apt, but for those willing to embrace its ominous stride, It Follows is a chilling masterpiece that promises to haunt in the quiet moments, well after the film has ended.