What do you think of when you hear the words "horror movie"? Horny teenagers with asshole personalities being stalked by someone who wants to stab them all to death for some reason, right? How lame!
Well, this movie actually takes that "standard horror movie format" and transforms it into something fresh.
The college (not high school) students here are, for once, not mega-horny, nor are they obnoxious assholes we all want to see dead. Sex is still had, and even plays an important role in the plot, but it's handled with restraint. And the threat is supernatural, implacable, and follows consistent rules, rather than just being some dumb stalker with a knife.
Here's the basic idea: there is a curse, which is passed on via sex. Anyone who is cursed will be stalked by a creature that assumes human form, until that person is dead. The creature, which is invisible to everyone not cursed, goes on to the next victim, and so on down the line. Having sex passes the curse on, but if that person is killed, the creature changes its focus to the previous victim. Etc.
The rules are quickly established, and the heroes now have to try to subvert them, or play by them. Do they pass the curse on to buy time? Do they try to kill the creature? Run and hide endlessly?
Rather than cheap jump scares, it's all played for suspense and atmosphere. The creature can show up anywhere at any time, and look like anyone. That means any person in the background could be it. The audience is invited to play along and scan the background for clues as to who might be the creature at any given time, or if it's even there.
It Follows also deserves a lot of praise for the things it doesn't do:
There's no explanation given for the creature.
There's a minimum of jump scares, and no Scare Chords.
Fake-out scares occur naturally, fitting into the "the creature can be anyone" premise.
Nudity and sex are NOT eroticized, but are actually downplayed or used for creepy effect. (The creature is often naked in both male and female form)
Almost no gore, save for one early scene.
This is a movie that relies on smart reactions to its consistent rules, and a well-designed atmosphere. Horror movies more like this should be the norm, not the exception.
Averts the "standard horror movie" tropes to create something original and better
What do you think of when you hear the words "horror movie"? Horny teenagers with asshole personalities being stalked by someone who wants to stab them all to death for some reason, right? How lame!
Well, this movie actually takes that "standard horror movie format" and transforms it into something fresh.
The college (not high school) students here are, for once, not mega-horny, nor are they obnoxious assholes we all want to see dead. Sex is still had, and even plays an important role in the plot, but it's handled with restraint. And the threat is supernatural, implacable, and follows consistent rules, rather than just being some dumb stalker with a knife.
Here's the basic idea: there is a curse, which is passed on via sex. Anyone who is cursed will be stalked by a creature that assumes human form, until that person is dead. The creature, which is invisible to everyone not cursed, goes on to the next victim, and so on down the line. Having sex passes the curse on, but if that person is killed, the creature changes its focus to the previous victim. Etc.
The rules are quickly established, and the heroes now have to try to subvert them, or play by them. Do they pass the curse on to buy time? Do they try to kill the creature? Run and hide endlessly?
Rather than cheap jump scares, it's all played for suspense and atmosphere. The creature can show up anywhere at any time, and look like anyone. That means any person in the background could be it. The audience is invited to play along and scan the background for clues as to who might be the creature at any given time, or if it's even there.
It Follows also deserves a lot of praise for the things it doesn't do:
This is a movie that relies on smart reactions to its consistent rules, and a well-designed atmosphere. Horror movies more like this should be the norm, not the exception.