It Follows Review

Fearful Following Frightens

It was interesting leaving my screening of It Follows, as I heard the other audience members murmur to each other their thoughts on the film, which ran quite contrary to mine. "I could film a better movie in my garage!" "What terrible acting!" "Nothing even happened!" It was pity to hear that, as I was sorry to hear these viewers had not enjoyed the movie like I had. As they say, one mans trash is another mans treasure, or in this case, the slower pace they found to be excruciating was something I found to be exhilarating.

No, really, that slower pacing is all kinds of awesome here, especially since it allows for numerous smaller moments between the main four person cast, led by Jay (Maika Monroe) and containing her sister, Kelly (Lili Sepe) and Jay's first kiss, Paul, (Keir Gilchrist). These bits help sell a realistic dynamic between these amigos that feels quite realistic and helps heighten the tension once the films primary source of scares comes into the picture. This source is an entity (that I'll be referring to as It during this review) that can take the form of any human being and pursues it's target relentlessly. If it catches you, well, a grisly fate awaits you.

It's newest prey? Jay.

This creature is given very little background and typically enters the film with very little fanfare. No ominous score to indicate it's presence; it fades so well into the background that one can be forgiven for missing it on first glance. This approach to It works incredibly well, especially when combined with the choice to not reveal much at all about the creature that ensures both we, the viewer, and Jay are unprepared to face such a mysterious and deadly creation. One caveat to note though; the vulnerability of It in one of the movies final scenes seems to be inconsistent with the monsters past scenes, which took me out of the film a bit.

To face something as daunting as It is challenging, but luckily, Jay is facing it with her aforementioned comrades like her sister and neighbor Greg (Daniel Zovatto). The fact that they try to help her and not just dismiss her as "crazy" is a smart writing choice, especially in how it reinforces the close connection between these guys and gals. It also adds a layer of tragedy to scenes where It attacks Jay and her pals, since the character's are fleshed out enough that these sequences feel truly compelling.

It doesn't hurt that a terrific musical score, courtesy of Rich Vreeland, accompanies these moments as well as the rest of the movie. Here is the kind of music that sets one on edge immediately (especially when mixed with the stories numerous moments of suspenseful visuals) and has it's own distinct identity in terms of structure and execution. Few things I've seen recently are as terrifying as a moment where this score comes in as Jay is held hostage on a rolling chair in a parking garage, though in terms of scariness, hearing those audience members disparage It Follows certainly comes close!