It Follows

[Biely Králik]

It Follows



"Is Detroit the new Transylvania? A year or so after Jim Jarmusch brought us Only Lovers Left Alive, David Robert Mitchell, director of The Myth of the American Sleepover, returns to that depleted city for a stunning horror that somehow manages to soak itself in the 1970s while still appearing utterly fresh. One more Motor City shocker and we have ourselves a trope."

"What Mitchell has given us is a contemporary reworking of ideas from MR James; in particular, his 1911 ghost story Casting the Runes"

"There is something of MR James’s great ghost story Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad about It Follows. The core menace concerns a deliberately ill-defined entity – spirit, virus, metaphor – that passes from one person to the next during sexual intercourse."



(Also, remember this - Kristian Levring + Lars Von Trier - Levring's next film is already in the making, and it is a horror movie written by none other than Lars von Trier. Trier is currently working on the script, which has the working title 'Detroit'.)

[bendk]

This sounds great. Excellent reviews on Rotten Tomatoes. I was aware of the Lars Von Trier project, but I haven't heard any updates in a while. Detroit definitely qualifies for a locus of horror. I wish I could recommend the script Michigan Basement for an ambitious director out there, but I haven't had the pleasure of reading it yet. Hint, hint...
Now would be the time to move on it with Ligotti's name in the press. "Co-authored by Thomas Ligotti, a major influence on HBO's True Detective and author of the number one Amazon best selling nihilistic philosophy book The Conspiracy Against the Human Race. "

Tom might not approve of the "nihilistic" description, but I think it would sell tickets to a horror movie. It's all about money, folks.

[dr. locrian]

Wheels are turning in the rafters behind the scenes.

[Stu]

I enjoyed It Follows. It's moodier and more slow-burning than most Hollywood horror films and, being an indie flick, doesn't have that glossy MTV look; the cast actually look like real people instead of extras from the latest teen drama. The film also boasts an effective 80's style synth soundtrack (although this is fast on its way to becoming a cliche after Drive, Cold in July and probably some other films I'm forgetting).

On the downside the script has some plotholes. And the rules governing the monster seem to change halfway through the film, which switches the tone from inexorable dread to a slightly more actiony "Kill the monster before it kills us" vibe. I can't help thinking that writer/director Mitchell could have used some help on the screenplay to iron out some of these problems. As it is, although the script is better than the typical Hollywood horror film, and has a great central concept, it's the direction and performances that elevate it above the norm.

Overall, an entertainingly creepy film, if not quite the masterpiece that some people are claiming.

[ChildofOldLeech]

- In a happy coincidence, a couple of days ago I found out that this was a featured selection at my city's film festival, so I am quite excited that my brother and I will be checking this out tonight; was also considering going to see John Waters live later this weekend, but I'm not enough of a fan to fork over 35 bucks to meet Mr. Waters, delightful old pervert he may be.

[DoktorH]

i saw the trailer for this and look forward to seeing the whole thing. I like the idea of the transferrable menace.

[Severini]

I can´t say how much I hated this movie.Scare factor is zero and the movie is also marred by the easy way out of every talentless director: black eyed moaning soundless humanoid monsters. The setting and the atmosphere are good and the premise of a fear sexually transmited is great but it was totally misused in this movie.

[Robin Davies]

Quote Originally Posted by Stu

I enjoyed It Follows. It's moodier and more slow-burning than most Hollywood horror films and, being an indie flick, doesn't have that glossy MTV look; the cast actually look like real people instead of extras from the latest teen drama. The film also boasts an effective 80's style synth soundtrack (although this is fast on its way to becoming a cliche after Drive, Cold in July and probably some other films I'm forgetting). On the downside the script has some plotholes. And the rules governing the monster seem to change halfway through the film, which switches the tone from inexorable dread to a slightly more actiony "Kill the monster before it kills us" vibe. I can't help thinking that writer/director Mitchell could have used some help on the screenplay to iron out some of these problems. As it is, although the script is better than the typical Hollywood horror film, and has a great central concept, it's the direction and performances that elevate it above the norm. Overall, an entertainingly creepy film, if not quite the masterpiece that some people are claiming.

I've just watched this on Blu-ray and I agree with all you say. After being disappointed with the equally highly praised The Babadook I found this to be a wonderfully atmospheric treat which avoided most (though not all) of the cliches that spoil so many modern horror films. It makes good use of the Detroit locations without over-emphasising the town's decay in a "ruin porn" kind of way.

[faliol]

I though the first half was pretty good, atmospheric and creepy, like the tall man part, and just the suggestiveness. Then for some reason toward the end it lost me.

It definitely has that M.R. James type of feel, which is good.

It sorta reminded me in atmosphere of the old movie Let's Scare Jessica to Death, a great subtle vampire movie from the 70s.

[curatorialentity]

It was an incredibly poor horror film.