As a horror enthusiast who has seen more than my fair share of spine-chilling films, I must say that “It Follows” stands out as one of the most unsettling and thought-provoking experiences I’ve ever had while watching a movie. Ten years after its premiere, it remains just as haunting and relevant as ever.
This year signifies ten years since the groundbreaking horror movie “It Follows,” directed by writer/director David Robert Mitchell, first premiered on a global scale. Although its broader release didn’t happen until spring 2015, the electrifying anticipation surrounding this innovative horror concept was so intense and captivating that it’s worth recalling the film as soon as possible.
At present, you have an excellent opportunity to revisit this contemporary horror classic, It Follows. This spine-tingling masterpiece is currently available for streaming on Peacock in time for Halloween. With just a few clicks, you can enjoy Mitchell’s brilliant direction, Maika Monroe’s standout horror debut, and one of the most significant horror films of the 21st century thus far. Ten years after its release, it may well be even more captivating than when it first thrilled audiences.
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Why You Should Watch It Follows
Among horror films, this particular one has left a profound impact, standing alongside titles like “The Babadook,” “The Witch,” and “Only Lovers Left Alive” that were all released around the same period in the mid-2010s. This movie is so popular that even those who haven’t watched it are familiar with its plot. The story revolves around Jay, a college student who finds herself in a frightening predicament after a night of intimacy goes awry. She learns she has been cursed, and an invisible entity will persistently follow her until it eventually kills her, unless she transfers the curse to someone else. The only escape, she’s informed, is to pass on the curse itself.
At first, Jay finds it hard to accept what seems to be unfolding before her eyes. She tries to carry on with her usual routine, but discovers that the mysterious being is indeed shadowing her – changing its shape to blend in as a human, appearing at her home, school, and virtually everywhere she goes. To increase her chances of survival, Jay must rely on a tight-knit circle of friends and make every effort to vanquish this entity.
In the midst of discussions about “elevated horror” during the 2010s, the film “It Follows” draws upon deeply ingrained, universal human fears. We’ve all had that uneasy feeling at the back of our neck, the one that makes us want to turn around because it seems like someone is watching or following us. We’ve also noticed those odd individuals in a crowd who seem out of place or appear to be staring at us. Generally, we tend to misjudge such situations. Most people we encounter are harmless, and we can take comfort in knowing that our fears are often just figments of our imagination. However, in “It Follows“, this sense of fear is brought to the forefront, intensified by a presence that only the main character can perceive.
Mitchell’s script masterfully blends humor and suspense with terrifying moments, delving deep into universal fears while also exploring innovative angles. The entity’s interactions with a world it largely inhabits invisibly are both chilling and thoughtfully executed, as is the portrayal of varying human reactions to this horrifying event. In essence, this movie is an instinctual fright, one that will leave you looking over your shoulder for days after watching, just to be sure.
Why It Follows Endures
Following the debut of the movie “It Follows“, many critics and viewers began dissecting its complex, intricate storyline for hidden symbolism within its narrative about a monstrous entity spread through sexual transmission. The interpretations varied from the straightforward to the enigmatic, but eventually, the director himself offered a more abstract perspective on the film’s meaning.
He shared with Digital Spy, “I don’t find myself overly curious about the origins of ‘it’. For me, it’s more like dream reasoning: they’re in a bad dream, and as we know, dreams can’t be solved. No matter how much you try to figure them out.
In Mitchell’s explanation, the dreamlike quality of the story is mirrored by the peculiar timelessness in its narrative progression. The film It Follows, in a sense, exists within a time distortion, a realm where antiquated TVs coexist with e-readers; where there’s scarcely a trace of laptops or smartphones, yet contemporary cars and houses occasionally appear. This setting seems to be rooted in the past while also being contemporaneous, and this ambiguity is not only visible but also reflected in the characters’ lives.
As a young gamer, I find myself resonating deeply with the characters in “It Follows.” We’re all on the cusp of adulthood, college-aged or just a bit younger, with our lives stretching out before us like an endless highway. Yet, we can’t help but look back at simpler times, the first kisses, the first sips of beer, the sleepovers that have long since passed. In a poignant moment, Jay confesses to her date that she used to dream about such moments, and now she’s unsure where life is supposed to take her next because those dreams have become reality. The film masterfully captures the liminal space of early adulthood, a time when everything is potential energy, and the world suddenly becomes more complex all at once, leaving us yearning for the past while eagerly pushing forward.
The enigmatic background of the entity found in “It Follows” allows for numerous plausible interpretations that harmonize with the film’s narrative, contributing to its longevity. Moreover, this movie has not only survived the test of time over the past decade but also resonates deeply because it symbolizes the universal fears associated with growing up. At some point, whether it be your initial sexual experience or simply a mature moment in life, childhood memories seem to fade away, and this transition can be genuinely terrifying. It may sometimes feel as if death is the only constant now, relentlessly pursuing you, and no matter how hard you try to escape, it remains steadfastly behind you. The only course of action is to continue moving forward, cherishing those dear to you, and finding happiness whenever possible.
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2024-10-05 01:16