Film Road to Halloween: It Follows (2014)

The road to Halloween is paved with good films. Wherein we countdown to the spirited season with a hundred doses of horror. 77 days to go.

It Follows by Robert David Mitchell is an artistic, unique and innovative horror/thriller, that steps away from many conventions of its genre and haunts you even hours after the film’s end.

After having sex with her boyfriend for the first time, teenager Jay learns that sex doesn’t just come with the consequences of pregnancy or sexually transmitted disease. This time the result is much worse. A fatal curse that can only be stopped by passing it on.

The film is captivating from the first to the last scene. The opening acts as a taster of things to come before the story takes you back to ‘reality’ – the reality of teenagers going on dates and sleeping around. The raw emotion provided by the practically anonymous female character in this scene offers instant engagement with the narrative. And ensures you are ready to empathise with any subsequent characters you meet, whilst simultaneously serving the warning that this isn’t your typical 21^st century horror flick.

A vital element of the film’s style is its use of bright lighting and vibrant colours. They prove that this isn’t a film to be categorised alongside the countless dimly lit horror films released in its decade. Instead, the striking cinematography gives it a classic, retro feel. It is a key example of how horror can still effectively create feelings of fear and dread, without relying on things that lurk in the dark or jump at the screen. Anticipation alone is enough to build suspense.

“This film knows how to build suspense without making anything a gimmick, something which is a downfall of many contemporary horrors.”

It is the cinematography that ultimately makes the film stand out. Each shot speaks volumes about the characters and overall narrative. The use of symbolism and visual clues are integral in the unfolding of the story. Alongside this, the film’s focus on symmetry, lighting, colour and composition means that, at any point, the film could be paused and the frame would liken a photograph or painting.

Possibly the most unique element of It Follows is that nothing is over the top. This film knows how to build suspense without making anything a gimmick, something which is a downfall of many contemporary horrors. The score is a perfect example of this, it is unsettling and intense but by no means overdone. It works effortlessly with the film’s other elements – such as calculated camera movements – to create a sense of hopelessness and desperation, causing the film, as a whole, to really get under your skin.

In terms of performances, Maika Monroe really stands out in this film. Her solid performance ensures that the viewer feels her fear and is dragged through the story with her. A particularly interesting and well portrayed aspect of her character is the moral dilemma of passing on the curse. Should she pass it on to save her own skin? Or find another option to prevent it happening to someone else? This could have been a more central focus of the narrative, but ultimately her final decision did come with a sufficient amount of justification and thought.

This film is bound to be a modern classic due to its stunning look, attention to detail and original story. It Follows is a horror you don’t want to miss, especially if looking for a modern tale with a retro feel.