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BOX OFFICE REVIEW: It Follows
A Fresh Take On Classic American Horror...
Metaphorically deep yet surprisingly straightforward and simple to understand, It Follows begins by introducing our protagonist Jay as a carefree, innocent lass; the every young woman living in every small house in every populated neighborhood in every American town. Thoughtful, kind, educated and intelligent, Jay is popular with her peers and friendly and pleasant to be around. Seeking an enjoyable evening out with a gent she's just recently met, Jay soon finds herself in the backseat of the ruggedly attractive Hugh's car. However, Hugh has a secret he's been looking to share and, unfortunately for Jay, Hugh has chosen her.
Almost immediately, most horror film buffs will recognize the formula of nearly every teen horror film ever made. As we all know, sex - be it once or a hundred times - in any horror film means death. However, this is where It Follows veers radically into more engaging, unexplored territory. While no doubt sex in It Follows means death, death comes to us all in very different ways and here, in It Follows, the death is not at the hands of an axe-wielding psychopath nor is it a part of a maniacal plot of some deranged serial killer; no. Instead, in It Follows, death comes as a constant and continual fear, a deep-soaked guilt and shame that's both instantly recognizable and undeniably human. Maybe even worse is the recognition of how one might go about resolving the guilt; only to find the shame and guilt increased ten-fold and the perpetuation of a never-ending cycle of fear.
One most shocking scene finds Hugh (Jake Weary) having tied up Jay immediately after their having had sex. However, he's seeks not to torture her or hurt her, but - instead - to warn her and provide her with context as to what will soon overcome her life. "This thing, it's gonna follow you," says Hugh, truly concerned for the young Jay, whom he's now polluted. "Somebody gave it to me, and I passed it to you."
So what is "it" exactly?
While "it" manifests on-screen as random people - both friends, family members and strangers - forever walking towards the last person to be exposed; audiences could no doubt consider "it" a metaphor for STDs, HIV and AIDS...and well it might be. However, I find "it" represents far more than the physical harm that can be caused by sex; here, "it" is also the emotional, spiritual and psychological distress, distrust and hurt one creates - both to one's self and the other - when sex is had without consideration for the deeper consequences of the act. Thus, It Follows, a film that might on the surface appear as a good old supernatural film taunt with tension and scares, quickly turns into a beaming commentary on cultural views of sex in modern society. While some might think gone are the days of the "summer fling" and "one night stand," at least, not without protection; in It Follows there are no precautionary protections; only reactionary results. And how does one rid one's self of "it" once exposed? You give it to someone else of course and hope they don't die - otherwise it comes back to you! Thus you must first decide to giveaway this deadly threat and then, once rid of it, you never quite know if it'll pop up it's dangerous, frightening head again. Enter: perpetual cycle of fear, shame and guilt.
Writer/director David Robert Mitchell (The Myth of the American Sleepover) brilliantly uses a meager $2 million budget to capture viwer's attention throughout this deliberately paced slowburner. Mitchell uses each and ever scene as a source of angst and fear; wide angles providing viewers with plenty to see as they wonder where the threat might appear next while tight angles provide close-ups of those we know are targets...and those we know are possessed. Maybe best of all, a rhythmic, synth-driven score by the band Disasterpiece lends itself perfectly to the film's methodical pacing, haunting our ears while our eyes bear witness to a film unlike any we've seen before.
While some might wonder where a film like It Follows finds resolution; my realistic interpretation of the film is there really is none to be had. What Jay and her friends experience, and later perpetuate, might never find an ending, much less an ending that's satisfactory to the American movie goer whose come to expect our heroes to live and fight another day. And it's this fact that may well be what makes It Follows truly original, frightening and well worth seeing.
It Follows is in theaters now and is rated R for disturbing violent and sexual content including graphic nudity, and language.
- Jess C. Horsley
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