It Follows Film Review

Teen under demonic attack in hair-raising horror film

Jay, played by Maika Moore, never expected that her anticipated romance and makeout session with her boyfriend Hugh, played by Jake Weary, would turn out to be so scary, or that a demonic spirit would follow her after the steamy incident in the moonlight.

Oblivious to everything and overwhelmed with passion, Hugh sneaks up from behind and knocks out the girl he’s just made love to by covering her face with a cloth dipped in chloroform.

When Jay comes to, she finds herself bound and gagged in a strange basement. Hugh explains that she’s just been used by him, but not for a thrill. Rather, he had been followed by a demonic force that could only be eluded by having sex with a partner. Before freeing her, he urges her to sleep with someone else in order to pass on the curse before the ghost has a chance to kill her.

moore
Monroe at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Although initially skeptical, it doesn’t take long for the sudden appearance of apparitions to convince terrified Jay that something supernatural is really in play. And the more she’s in fear for her life, she more she actually has to consider seduction for the sake of survival. For instance, there’s Paul, played by Keir Gilchrist, the nerdy neighbor who has had a crush on her since childhood.

That novel scenario is established right at the start in this harrowing horror flick written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, It Follows. The movie marks the sophomore offering from the innovative director, who first made a splash five years ago with The Myth of the American Sleepover.

It Follows is a truly groundbreaking thriller that would be a crime to spoil in a review. Suffice to say it’s as much of a mindbender as the equally-inscrutable Memento (2000).

It Follows is a creepy, counterintuitive fright fest that puts a perverse spin on the meaning of getting lucky. It is so good that it gets four stars.

It Follows

Excellent (4 stars)

Rated R for sexuality, profanity, graphic nudity and disturbing violence

Running time: 101 minutes

Distributor: Radius-TWC

Watch the It Follows trailer:

Kam Williams

Kam Williams is a popular and top NewsBlaze reviewer, our chief critic. Kam gives his unvarnished opinion on movies, DVDs and books, plus many in-depth and revealing celebrity interviews.

Sadly, Lloyd Kam Williams passed away in 2019, leaving behind a huge body of work focused on America’s black entertainment community. We were as sad to hear of his passing as we were overjoyed to have him as part of our team.