There are certain films where I think it's best to go in with no expectations of quite what to expect, oftentimes this lack of foreknowledge allows you to experience the character's journeys in a manner almost similar to that of the characters themselves. Having seen a few positive reviews from sources I trusted - though not having actually read the details - I decided that I was keen to watch It Follows and deliberately avoided finding out anything more about it, other than it being a particularly well regarded new horror movie.


Personally, if you are a fan of well-made, smart horror films stop reading, go to the cinema, and give this movie a chance.


If you insist on knowing more then feel free to read on!


The film follows a small group of teenagers. Yara (Olivia Luccardi) and Paul (Keir Gilchrist) are friends with Kelly (Lili Sepe) and her older sister Jay (Maika Monroe), whilst Paul has some lingered feelings for Jay - based upon sharing some intimacy when they were much younger - she is currently dating Hugh (Jake Weary) who is new in town.


After Jay and Hugh have sex, Hugh drugs Jay and takes her to a delapidated car park to explain the curse he has passed onto her. From this day on she will be followed by a slow moving presence, it can appear as anyone, but it will always be walking, advancing towards whoever currently has the curse. Nobody but those who are - and have been - afflicted with the curse can see it. When it catches you, it kills you, and the curse will move back down the line to whomsoever gave it to you. The only way to stop it from following you is to pass the curse on.


From then on the film is a taut, terrifying, brilliant exercise in impending doom and how one might attempt to cope with such a relentless menace. It is, both obviously and subtly, laced in metaphor, but carefully balances its loftier ideas with delivering a nerve-jangling, exhilirating ride.


Beautifully photographed by Mike Gioulakis, with a bold and confident electro-tinged score by Rich Vreeland (aka. Disasterpeace), it's a showcase for David Robert Mitchell's assured writing and direction that he manages to set out the rules of his film's world and the titular It's rules whilst giving his fantastic ensemble cast the chance to flesh out their characters in a manner often neglected by contemporary horror. With this and last year's The Guest, Maika Monroe is practically guaranteed to be an enduring genre icon.


It Follows is a fantastic, imaginative, unsettling and thoughtful film that I found myself wanting to watch again as soon as the credits had finished rolling.

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Readers who submit articles must agree to our terms of use. The content is the sole responsibility of the contributor and is unmoderated. But we will react if anything that breaks the rules comes to our attention. If you wish to complain about this article, contact us here