He comes to regret that a few days later when the entity breaks into his house, first taking his own form for itself. Hugh points out a young girl in the back of the theater. It's likely that Annie, the girl killed at the beginning of the film, was a former lover of his that he sacrificed to the creature. visual effects supervisor (uncredited) Stunts . Jay's still reeling from her own assault. 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. The police can find no trace of the naked woman or Hugh, as they discover it was a fake identity. Later, Jay and Paul walk down the street holding hands, as a figure walks behind them. Next, we saw Greg's mom, who breaks his neck and then rapes him. 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. No. . 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. Their quiet conversation gets interrupted by the sound of breaking glass. [21] On Rotten Tomatoes' aggregation, it was ranked as the sixth most-praised film of the year, and the ninth most-praised horror film of the 2010s. We know that the entity sometimes impersonates the loved ones of its victims, so who is It impersonating here? Mitchell intentionally creates a contrast to give his feature a timeless quality. Everything they watch on TV is either a vintage-era cartoon or a 1950s black-and-white monster movie. With a minimalist approach to storytelling, the success ofIt Followsas a compelling horror film owes much to Mitchell's use of wide shots and distinct visual style and production design. Height, Jaime and Kelly's mother, Ruby Harris as Mrs. Redmond, Jeff's mother, This page was last edited on 30 January 2023, at 00:15. 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. His identity is also confirmed by a family photo. The movie was a great commercial and critical hit. Then again, certain aspects of the film are undeniably modern. 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. "[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. The set further disorients with decor from various eras- unconventional and made-up technology clashes with retro televisions that play '50s sci-fi features. Is she stupid? Its meant to show how unprepared she was when confronted with IT. For example, the young woman in the beginning is running from IT in heels. If it's about trauma, the trauma is still with them. Lastly, the way the girls leg is snapped at the beginning of the film and how Paul goes flying when he tries to hit the entity with a lawn chair also tells us that It is very strong and can therefore eventually make its way through most barriers. The way he carelessly dumps her on the street only further the assault metaphor. Therefore, we can piece together that the entity has taken on the likeness of the girls father. This scene is one of the most horrifying of the movie, so visceral, so brutal, so disturbed and so difficult to mention that after my boyfriend and I walked out of the movie for the first time, we didn't even talk about it for most of our conversation. The monster in It Followsseems to enjoy using naked forms to go after its prey, which makes sense given its links to sexuality. as a compelling horror film owes much to Mitchell's use of wide shots and distinct visual style and production design. She keeps saying There he is! When her sister Kelly asks what it looks like, her response is: I dont wanna tell you. Upon revealing IT, we see a normal-looking man in his late 30s-early 40s. One common interpretation of It Follows is that it's primarily about sex. Here's every form taken by the demonicEntity in It Follows. Even more impressive is the way Mitchell layers in visual complexity that offers multiple reads upon repeat viewings. This includes furniture, decor, and wallpaper. 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. When she comes around, Hugh tells her that by having sex, he has passed a curse on to her and that It will now follow her around. [4] 'It Follows' Disorients With Atmosphere So It Can Set Up A Perfect Scare. What's more shameful than having sex with your mom or dad? The concept of home invasion is inherently petrifying because it removes the one place meant to offer security and comfort, but the entity's appearance heightens that natural fear thanks to the form it chooses; a victim of sexual assault. [8], Mitchell started writing the film in 2011 while working on a separate film he intended to be his second feature film; however, Mitchell struggled with this would-be second feature and made It Follows as his next film instead. It Follows Spoiler Bomb: The Director Explains All Those Twists and Shocks By Kyle Buchanan Photo: RADiUS/TWC It Follows has quickly become the horror hit of the year, expanding into over 1,200. Jay's still reeling from her own assault. Did Hugh give the curse to anyone before Jay? Mr. Subtle shifts in seasons and time subconsciously unsettle as viewers cannot place when and where the narrative takes place. IT is not a ghost; IT can make noise and cant walk through walls. Greg Strasz . It's then that we enter into the film's thrilling and terrifying climax. Sometimes, it seems like its only motivation is to get closer to you. Greg wants to see Jay but is told that she is in her room with the door locked. The entity busts open a hole in the door, then comes after them as a creepy young boy. That IT has a physical body. Hugh drives Jay home and flees. See? Seeing as how Jay and Paul are seen walking down the street holding hands in the films closing scene, it looks like the two end up together. [34][35] Mitchell stated: "I'm not personally that interested in where 'it' comes from. Read this review to discover some frightening missing pieces. 'It Follows' is a 2014 psychological supernatural horror film that centers on a mysterious entity that relentlessly follows its victims. 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. This next form taken by the entity in It Follows is another that's extremely naked. 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. Highly disturbed, Jay's friends agree to spend the night to keep her company. It doesnt exist. It's funny, everybody keeps asking me if they can get one of those. In terms of whether or not the creature is truly dead, the film doesn't say. "Whether it's an 'It Follows' sequel or something else, I think he's so insanely talented.". If anyone noticed why the camera lingered for so long on Hugh/Jeff's mom when we finally met her, THAT IS WHY. Her first appearance in the kitchen, shes drinking wine in the afternoon. She turns and is faced with a disheveled woman her age, her clothes torn and missing teeth. What's missing, however, is the discussion about the parents. We then see her sitting outside her car in a clearing, talking to her parents on the phone. Therefore, the major reason the two are together is most likely so they dont have to deal with the entity alone. Based on how confidently he knocked out Jay with chloroform, it didn't seem like his first time. Alone, Jay cautiously makes her way to the kitchen to see the damage for herself. The camera slows down, and all music fades, save for the drumming beat, as Jay walks into the kitchen. It's about a girl who, through absolutely no fault of her own,. 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. [9] Mitchell realized that the concept he was working on was tough to describe and thus refused to discuss the plot when asked what he was working on, reasoning later, "When you say it out loud, it sounds like the worst thing ever. They rob you of your sleep. 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. In the distance, a figure slowly approaches from behind. Writer and director David Robert Mitchell conceived the film based on recurring dreams he had in his youth about being followed: "I didn't use those images for the film, but the basic idea and the feeling I used. It has some kind of insight into determined causality of events. Alone, Jay cautiously makes her way to the kitchen to see the damage for herself. But is that all? Cord phones abound! With a minimalist approach to storytelling, the success of. The next time you watch the movie, whenever there's a scene in Jay's house, check out the pictures on her walls. "[31], Following the film's success, Radius-TWC co-president Tom Quinn announced that the studio was looking into a possible sequel. Menu. The abruptness of its appearance delivers another potent scare, clocking in just two minutes after the previous encounter. Paul and Kelly arrive, confused as they insist no one else is in the house. However, it could actually be a subtle allusion to Jay's unresolved issues with her unnamed, deceased father Mr. 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. After their plan to electrocute their tormentor fails, Jay has sex with Paul, and the film ends with her seemingly shielded by him (for the time being). However, Greg underestimates It Follows ' scary curse, and following his death scene, the curse goes right back to Jay. Paul and Kelly immediately drop their guard, and the ominous score stops for a fleeting instant. It was supposed to be somewhat subtle, a thing that you might not notice the first time you watch it, but apparently Yara's "shell phone" stood out quite a bit to viewers because they keep asking the director where they can get one. So the answer that makes the most sense, thematically, is "yes." In an interview with Digital Spy, Mitchell says, "I'm not personally that interested in where 'it' comes from. The worst thing is that it is certain.". Let's run down the evidence for each one. Following The Babadook (2014), The Conjuring (2013), and Insidious (2010), It Follows is the next big thing when it comes to horror. We subsequently see Jay pass the curse on to Paul by having sex with him. After Jay and Hugh have sex for the first time, Hugh abandons her, and Jay learns that he's given her a terrible curse. Thats a brand-spanking-new Cadillac from the 1970s. Her inciting consensual experience was savagely undone by Hugh's chloroforming and binding of her before she could even dress. [20] On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 95% approval rating and a rating average score of 8.10/10, based on 270 reviews. Buy IT FOLLOWS on:Steaming (rental option available) https://amzn.to/39RafP1(paid links) - As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchasesCar icon from https://dribbble.com/shots/2018995-It-FollowsPATREON https://patreon.com/deadmeatjamesMERCH (shirts \u0026 pins) http://www.DeadMeatStore.com/TWITCH (livestreaming) https://www.twitch.tv/deadmeatjames/Assistant Editors: Bry \u0026 Joshua LyonsThanks, Bry \u0026 Joshua!Graphics created by Clara LeonardDead Meat Podcast (Now back from hiatus!) Its all on purpose, though. It Follows, and this critical double-scare scene demonstrates how not much else gets under our skin quite like visceral reminders of our fleeting mortality. 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. Bonus: if you pay attention to the polaroids tacked to Jays bedroom mirror, theres a photo of her and her father. It tells the story of Jay (Maika Monroe), a college student who starts dating a kind yet mysterious boy named Hugh (Jake Weary). In an interviewwith Yahoo, Mitchell says, "People ask me where the shell phone is, or if they can get one, more than almost anything. This synopsis of It Follows covers all the scary moments fans didnt catch. "[27] Mike Pereira of Bloody Disgusting described the film as a "creepy, mesmerizing exercise in minimalist horror" and labeled it as "a classical horror masterpiece. Your pulse never changes during the initial viewing, and a week later, you barely remember the experience. Evidence also points to this form being Jay's grandfather, who's seen in a family photo earlier in the movie. The score was composed by Rich Vreeland, better known as Disasterpeace. It's Yara, half-asleep and perplexed by the uproar. Beyond that, what exactly It Follows' titular "it" is or where it came from remains a mystery. As Jay struggles to stay afloat, her friends intervene. Despite not having any hard evidence of this creature's existence, Jay's friends decide to believe her story and band together to come up with a plan to kill this monster once and for all. For example, windows appearing in offices where there couldnt have been a window, Jack Torrance inexplicably reading an issue of Playgirl magazine before his job interview it goes on. 8/10 0 More posts from r/creepy The murderous, seemingly unstoppable entity, simply called It, remains as mysterious as ever, and its origin is never revealed. 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. Similarly, later when Kelly and Jay are wandering the neighborhood, theyre both dressed for at the very least pretty chilly weather. 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 is a supernatural being that incessantly pursues its victims at a walking pace. Screaming, Jay fumbles her way upstairs and locks herself in her room. That wouldn't have any immediate significance to Jay but could be one last taunt directed at its previous target. So wait, is it summer or fall? 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. Sure, Jeff couldve told Jay IT makes noise! Finally, she convinces her sister Kelly and their friends of the danger, and they take shelter in her neighbor Gregs lakeside hideout. Featured as forms of the entity are Ingrid Mortimer, Alexyss Spradlin, Mike Lanier, and Don Hails. Here's a guide toIt Follows entity's every form it takes in the movie. So what's this old cliche doing here? A ghost? Bizarrely, Jay sees him standing atop the roof, and not actively pursuing her, which is out of character. All around the pool, they plug in dozens of electric appliances hair dryers, televisions, toaster ovens, and more. Yara stands relaxed and sleepily in the doorway of Jay's bedroom, inquiring about the commotion. 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. What answer makes the most sense, given what the film is actually about and what the monster represents? Did you also notice that again, except for the last shot of her in Jays bedroom, her mother is always day drinking? Each of its appearances happens to fulfill a specific purpose. [7] The film's monster, shot composition and overall aesthetic were influenced by the work of contemporary photographer Gregory Crewdson. It Follows is currently the highest-rated film on Metacritic, though some critics have actually found it too scary. From the moment Jay's neighbor Greg began offering her help, it was clear he was attracted to her. Mitchell intentionally creates a contrast to give his feature a timeless quality. This scene is very intense and is built up over the course of a few minutes as the protagonist desperately tries to prevent it. All the TVs are either clunky CRT units from the 1980s-1990s or even older models with rabbit-ears and dials. By passing it along and abusing someone else. Why does this prove he killed himself? After a successful limited release beginning on March 13, 2015, the film had a wide release on March 27, 2015. Then Kelly manages to throw a sheet over the creature, allowing Paul to shoot the monster in the head. In a couple of the photographs, you'll see that same bearded man. Perhaps it's no coincidence that, whatever appearance the entity adopts, they're always in some state of undress, and they're also often covered in bruises, looking very much like a victim of sexual abuse. Director David Robert Mitchell Writer David Robert Mitchell Stars Maika Monroe Keir Gilchrist Olivia Luccardi It then falls into the water, but as Jay tries to swim out of the pool, the creature grabs her and holds her underwater. Read More: Is It Follows Based on a True Story? 2014 horror film by David Robert Mitchell, "An Unpredictable Release: Four Surprising Facts about It Follows' Road to Success", "Exploring the horror of 'It Follows': David Robert Mitchell interview", "David Robert Mitchell on his striking new horror film, 'It Follows', "U.K. Retro televisions that play '50s sci-fi features appliances hair dryers, televisions, toaster ovens, and Don Hails over... On Hugh/Jeff 's mom, who 's seen in a couple of the,! 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