Film Review: Tense Creepy Factor Along the Way for ‘It Follows’

CHICAGO – There is a particular atmosphere in “It Follows,” that stalks a viewer long after the credits recede. That is a fine legacy for a horror film, which contains symbolic elements of life itself, and some graveyard humor that breaks the agitation. Yet it also relies on the same old, same old.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The fascination with the walking “undead” or dream monsters or whatever the followers are in this film is approaching it’s expiration date (hyyy-ooh), but writer/director David Robert Mitchell does breathe some creativity into the state of things within the story, and it formulates a stark creepiness. His use of these followers also symbolizes the simple notion that death is stalking us all, and what sets off this path has much to do with our own biology and consciousness. Yes, you can get a lot out of “It Follows,” even if you just like naked zombies.

The film opens with a grisly murder, and then begins a story of a teenager named Jay (Maika Monroe) who goes out on a date with Hugh (Jake Weary). They have sex, and Hugh now informs Jay that he has “passed on” a curse that allows them to see pursuers, who stalk them for nefarious purposes. Jay sees an example of this, and Hugh dumps her at her home side curb.

Jay’s nerdy friends, Paul (Keir Gilchrist), Kelly (Lili Sepe) and Yara (Olivia Luccardi) vow to help her through her weird new condition. When broken windows and more “followers” start to haunt the girl, her neighbor Greg (Daniel Zovatto) helps her to find Hugh and unravel the scary entities. In gratitude, Jay has sex with him, and starts the cycle anew. Meanwhile, the gang seeks to confront the followers, and break the visions.

”It Follows” continues its limited release in Chicago on March 20th. See local listings for theaters and show times. Featuring Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Olivia Luccardi, Jake Weary and Lili Sepe. Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell. Rated “R”