It Follows

It Follows is a horror movie that was released in 2014, directed and written by David Robert Mitchell. The film features strong performances from its cast, including Maika Monroe as Jay Height, a young woman who becomes the target of a mysterious and deadly entity. The supporting cast includes Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Jake Weary, Olivia Luccardi, and Lili Sepe.

The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival on 17 May 2014 and was later distributed in the United States starting on 13 March 2015. It Follows was made on a budget of $1.3 million and grossed over $23 million worldwide, achieving significant success and earning a dedicated fanbase.

The story begins with a young woman, Annie Marshall, who appears to be running from something unseen. She ultimately meets a tragic fate on a beach. The film then shifts focus to Jay Height, who goes to a movie with her boyfriend Hugh. After a tense encounter, they have sex for the first time, but Hugh then knocks her out with chloroform. When Jay wakes up, she finds herself tied to a wheelchair and learns that she has been cursed to be followed by a supernatural entity that can change its appearance to look like anyone, including people she knows. It can only be seen by Jay and those who have been cursed before her.

The rules are clear: if the entity catches Jay, she will die, and it will then pursue the person who passed it on to her. Hugh urges her to have sex with someone else to pass on the curse. As the story unfolds, Jay and her friends begin to witness the terrifying presence of the entity, which leads to a series of harrowing encounters.

As the tension escalates, Jay and her friends come up with a plan to confront the entity. They attempt to trap it in a swimming pool and use electrical devices to destroy it. However, the plan does not go as hoped, leading to a chilling finale where the true nature of the entity is revealed.

The film has been praised for its fresh take on the horror genre, utilizing clever cinematography and an evocative score by Disasterpeace. Critics have highlighted its themes of anxiety and the consequences of intimacy, making it resonate deeply with modern audiences. It Follows has been hailed as a contemporary classic, and many consider it one of the best horror films of the 2010s.

In October 2023, it was announced that a sequel titled They Follow is in the works, with plans to begin filming in 2025. Fans of the original film are eager to see how this new chapter will unfold.

For those interested in a gripping horror experience that explores the darker sides of human relationships, It Follows is a must-watch.