A FL native, Michael is passionate about pop culture, and earned an AS degree in film production in 2012. Even if you try to solve it.". [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. The layered clues continue if we consider that the man at the pool house looks exactly the same age as the one in the photographs. Sure, it was shot in the head, but we don't know whether or not that's enough, and since the director isn't giving us answers, we have to figure this out ourselves by looking at the film's themes. After Jay and Hugh have sex for the first time, Hugh abandons her, and Jay learns that he's given her a terrible curse. Are you ready to get under the skin of It Follows and see what its trying to tell us? For example, before Greg's death, it appeared as Greg to fool Jay for as much time as possible, and also to break his window and enter his house. Maybe sometimes it disappears for months, and other times it shows up everywhere you go, appearing suddenly and without warning. After Jay has slept with Greg, a ball is seen bouncing from the direction of Jay's house towards Greg's house. It doesnt exist. Categories. )Writer/Director David Robert Mitchell knows how to build a chilling atmosphere. Instead, Mitchell uses it to sneak in another unexpected scare. It Follows (2014) 3 Rated-ARRR 8 yr. ago It was a really good movie. Whatever I was going through at that time, my parents divorced when I was around that age, so I imagine it was something to do with that. 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. [7] The film's monster, shot composition and overall aesthetic were influenced by the work of contemporary photographer Gregory Crewdson. Jay's sister, Kelly and her friends, Paul Bolduan and Yara Davis, agree to help and spend the night in Jay and Kelly's house. 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. Not only that, but it reveals another layer of the movie's metaphorical stalker. Club said, "Despite all the fun-to-unpack ideas swirling around Mitchell's premise, this is first and foremost a showcase for his considerable talents as a widescreen visual stylist, which are most apparent in the movie's deftly choreographed, virtuoso 360 pans. That night, Paul drives through town, passing prostitutes. With the help of their neighbor, Greg Hannigan, the group discovers Hugh's real name Jeff Redmond and traces him to his address. It bears many similarities to one, but part of the reason It Follows works so well is that so little information is given about how the creature at its center functions. They plan on luring the entity into the pool and then electrocuting it. The Follower may also represent the anxiety of STDs, adulthood, the fear of poverty (Yara has an important monologue about Detroit)I've read a slew of interpretations, few of which completely miss the mark. He then drives them away from the area, dropping a shaken and exposed Jay off in front of her house before fleeing. Well, the pan beyond Jays mother shows an older family photo. It is a supernatural being that incessantly pursues its victims at a walking pace. Or perhaps he was a total saint who died tragically, so seeing his image being stolen by this horrible monster feels like a violation of their memories. Therefore, as long as Jay is alive, the entity will not come for him. It was released theatrically in France on February 4, 2015 and in the United Kingdom on February 27. Sure, Jeff couldve told Jay IT makes noise! Afterwards, Jaime "Jay" Height goes on a date with her new boyfriend, Hugh, to the movies. [22][23] Peter Debruge of Variety gave an overall positive review, saying: "Starting off strong before losing its way in the end, this stylish, suspenseful chiller should significantly broaden Mitchell's audience without disappointing his early supporters in the slightest. So what's this old cliche doing here? However, with It Follows, you have to get a little more creative if you want to know more. Subtle shifts in seasons and time subconsciously unsettle as viewers cannot place when and where the narrative takes place. (Greg's Date (Pretty Girl in Car))-/5. We probably don't need to guess what she wanted from the guys on board. Paul and Kelly immediately drop their guard, and the ominous score stops for a fleeting instant. Not a single cordless phone in sight. Hugh/Jeff's mom was the naked woman in the abandoned building. There are 2010-era modern cars but there are vintage cars as well in perfect condition. Both ask, "How do you spend your life when you know that death is inevitable? Jay's still reeling from her own assault. Michael Kennedy is an avid movie and TV fan that's been working for Screen Rant in various capacities since 2014. Then Kelly manages to throw a sheet over the creature, allowing Paul to shoot the monster in the head. This hints that Jay and Kellys father, who remains unseen throughout the film, likely died (or disappeared) many years ago, which is why the entity takes on the appearance of what he looked like when the girls were still children. One potential way to read the events of the film is thatIt Followsis about the inevitability of death. With no It Follows sequel seemingly on the horizon, that mysteryis likely to stay unsolved, but as some other instances of horror movies filling in monster backstories prove, sometimes the mystery is the better option. [34][35] Mitchell stated: "I'm not personally that interested in where 'it' comes from. The hell? I don't know if this explanation makes The Follower MORE or LESS horrifying for you. The Ending Of It Follows Finally Explained. Jay responds, "I don't want to tell you." Maika Monroe stars as Jay Height, a carefree teen whose life is upended thanks to a bizarre sexual encounter with her new boyfriend Hugh (Jake Weary). Its all on purpose, though. The entity busts open a hole in the door, then comes after them as a creepy young boy. Additionally, we see Kelly throw a sheet over the entity in the films climax so that Paul can see exactly where it is. She approaches the pool and sees no body, but a mist of blood. . The music crescendos with a pulsing beat, signaling that a scare looms near. In an interview with Yahoo Movies, director David Robert Mitchell clarified that Hugh's understanding of the monster's "rules" are just based on his experiences, and they're perhaps inaccurate. If they tell you what that is all a story is about, they are very definitely wrong." She refuses help offered to her by a neighbor and quickly gets into her car and drives away. This form is at least more clothed than usual, but that doesn't make using one of Jay's closest allies any less creepy. It's precisely because Jay doesn't see her that Hugh knows he's in serious trouble. Jay and Kelly are much younger, but the man to their mothers left is the EXACT man IT was portraying. The music crescendos with a pulsing beat, signaling that a. A young woman named Annie flees from her house in fear, but there is no visible threat. Greg later remarks that he hasn't seen the creature yet, long after Jay expected. Screaming, Jay fumbles her way upstairs and locks herself in her room. Therefore, It is invisible but has a physical form. Jeff's mother answers the door and Jay realizes that the naked woman she had seen coming for her in the Packard Plant was in the form of Mrs. Redmond. Today, we're here to explore all the confusing moments and unanswered questions of this indie horror classic's intentionally ambiguous final act, in addition to analyzing some of It Follows' deeper themes. After turning into Greg, the entity then transformsinto his mother, who's naked under an open robe. Paul and Kelly arrive, confused as they insist no one else is in the house. The protagonist, Prince Myshkin, is an extremely kind person trying to make his way in an unkind world. When Jay says she cannot see the girl, Hugh becomes unnerved and asks that they leave. In the films many tense moments, a lot of clues are sprinkled into the background that help make sense of the ominous ending. Its her dad thats why she doesnt want to tell her little sister. In an interviewwith Yahoo, Mitchell says, "People ask me where the shell phone is, or if they can get one, more than almost anything. However, she continues to cross the street, then loops back around to her house. The monster in It Followsseems to enjoy using naked forms to go after its prey, which makes sense given its links to sexuality. The set further disorients with decor from various eras- unconventional and made-up technology clashes with retro televisions that play '50s sci-fi features. She's not shown close or long enough to make a positive identification, but the best guess based on characters seen in the film is Hugh's mom. For example, the young woman in the beginning is running from IT in heels. The ball is covered by her hair up until the very moment he dies. There are other clues given to us purely through storytelling and small details rather than having the characters get right up in your face and shout what youre supposed to know. Menu. The movie is written and helmed by David Robert Mitchell. Again, the tall man doesn't look like any other character seen in the movie, so outside of being scary, the significance of this form to Jay is unclear. Jay, Paul, Kelly, and Yara then come up with a plan to try and stop the entity and head to the community pool. Before he leaves for good, though, he reveals that he's leaving behind a curse for her. That wouldn't have any immediate significance to Jay but could be one last taunt directed at its previous target. It Follows 2014 R 1 h 40 m IMDb RATING 6.8 /10 249K YOUR RATING Rate POPULARITY 1,198 Play trailer 1:46 4 Videos 99+ Photos Horror Mystery Thriller A young woman is followed by an unknown supernatural force after a sexual encounter. Therefore, Paul is most likely the person that the entity is following at the end, and if he dies, then Jay is next on the list of victims. In a way, the It of It Follows ends up being the scariest monster in horror film history, because from a certain point of view, it's real, and one day, it really will get you. The next day, the police cannot find the naked woman or Hugh, who was living under a false identity. Her inciting consensual experience was savagely undone by Hugh's chloroforming and binding of her before she could even dress. Therefore, the major reason the two are together is most likely so they dont have to deal with the entity alone. The Old Maid cards Paul, Kelly, and Yara play with on the porch look like theyre from the 1940s-1950s. Up until this point, the entity only appeared from a safe distance. But did they? Okay, fine, maybe late summer/early fall. In an interview with Digital Spy, Mitchell says, "I'm not personally that interested in where 'it' comes from. Just another horror movie bimbo? They make you glance back over your shoulder as you walk down the street. In a few brief scenes throughout the film, we see photographs of younger versions of Jay and Kelly with the same man that It looks like in the end. Jay returns home and, sure enough, is soon accosted by grotesque strangers who no one else seems to notice. Contents 1 Description 2 Biography 3 Personality 4 Gallery 5 Navigation Description On another date, Hugh and Jay have sex in his car, but afterwards, he incapacitates Jay with chloroform and she wakes up tied to a wheelchair. Next, we saw Greg's mom, who breaks his neck and then rapes him. It Follows is currently the highest-rated film on Metacritic, though some critics have actually found it too scary. The monster is still with them, in one form or another, because even if the literal monster is no more, death is still coming for them, and until that happens, this experience will always follow them. When the creature enters the pool room during the climax, Jay's sister, Kelly, asks her, "What do you see?" However, Greg underestimates It Follows ' scary curse, and following his death scene, the curse goes right back to Jay. Maika Monroe told ComicBook.com in January 2021 that she "would do anything" to work with director David Robert Mitchell again. 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!) It's more often presented with a knowing wink in the context of a satiric horror comedies like Scream or The Cabin in the Woods. (Which I want. The actual death is very brief and is only onscreen . Not a day older. . We simply don't know what this thing can do and can't do, as the film is unconcerned with dumping exposition to inoculate itself against this form of "plot hole"-centric film criticism, opting instead to keep the monster unknowable and mysterious, for good and for ill. Other horror movies make an impression. One of the mysterious It Follows entity's most memorable forms was its second onscreen appearance, an old woman wearing a nightgownwhoslowly but surely pursue's Jay at school. [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. It has some kind of insight into determined causality of events. You can't kill it, you can't reason with it, and you can run for a little while, but you can't run from it forever. The entity didn't just enter her home to claim her, but it exploited her trauma, too. It's easy to remember [EXTREME SPOILER ALERT] that Greg is basically fucked to death by his mom, but again, the mom detail can easily be ignored if we remember one simple rule: The Follower takes whatever form is most useful to it. After a night of terror Jay, her sister, her neighbor Greg, and their friends all head off to the beach to put some distance between themselves - which if someone had enough resources, could be an easy way to defeat It Follows' curse - and the slow-moving entity. Well, Yara mentions earlier in the film that she's reading The Idiotby Fyodor Dostoevsky, and this passage is indeed from that book. 0. The worst thing is that it is certain.". The abruptness of its appearance delivers another potent scare, clocking in just two minutes after the previous encounter. It takes various forms until, somehow, it knows when it will be able to destroy your body in its very specific way. However, when Paul volunteers to let Jay pass the curse on to him, she eventually agrees, and the two have sex. Worried that she's suffering a mental breakdown, Jay's sister Kelly (Lili Sepe), friends Yara (Olivia Luccardi) and Paul (Keir Gilchrist), and neighbor Greg (Daniel Zovatto) rally around her. Apart from the literal monster that starts chasing her, what makes Jay's date with Hugh so horrifying isn't the sex, it's the abuse. The set further disorients with decor from various eras- unconventional and made-up technology clashes with retro televisions that play '50s sci-fi features. 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. Height. Since everyone thats been cursed can see It, both Paul and Jay are able to see the entity and seem to have decided to try and survive the curse together. One common interpretation of It Follows is that it's primarily about sex. 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. However, when the entity in the form of a middle-aged man arrives, it begins to fling appliances into the pool without getting in. [Spoilers for "It Follows"] Did anyone else who saw "It Follows" find it weird and confusing? It's never confirmed, but it's possible that Hugh, Jay, Paul, or Greg (Daniel Zovatto) passed the curse along to one or more unnamed side characters at some point to buy themselves a bit more time. Read More: Is It Follows Based on a True Story? It Follows (2014) - The arrival of a tall man Watch on Alone, Jay cautiously makes her way to the kitchen to see the damage for herself. One other aspect of the creature that seems apparent is a sadistic side, given its tendency to take forms sure to emotionally upset its prey. 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. The director has stated in various interviews that he intentionally mixed in a bunch of different bits of fashion and technology from different decades, to keep the film from becoming immediately dated and to give it a bit of a timeless and dreamlike feel. 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. "[8], The film was shot in late 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Sorry to break it to you, but there's definitively, purposefully no answer to these questions. Death isn't scary because it will catch you today or tomorrow. Maybe he left? Based on her delivery, Jay seems deeply shaken by whatever she's looking at. Between the gorgeous cinematography, bewitching soundtrack, and fresh plot devices, this may just be my new favorite horror movie. 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