WEEKLY FILM: It Follows

It Follows is a 2014 Supernatural Mystery Thriller that tells the story of a young girl named Jay who is the latest recipient of a curse passed to each victim through sex. The main themes of the film include death, trust and friendship. 

The film was written and directed by David Robert Mitchell and produced by 5 different producers under the production companies Northern Lights Films, Animal Kingdom & Two Flints. Mitchell began writing the film whilst working on a separate project that was intended to be his second feature film in 2011, which was pushed aside when Mitchell decided It Follows should be his next big film. He conceived the idea for the film based on his recurring dreams he had when he was younger about being followed: 'I didn't use those images for the film, but the basic idea and the feeling I used.' The idea to use the concept of sexual transmission came into play later in his writing as he liked the idea of something that could transfer person to person.

Cinematography was carried out by Mike Gioulakis, who wasn't too well known before It Follows. The main thing that stands out about the cinematography in the film is the minimalistic style and muted colour palette. Everything was shot in Detroit, Michigan on a wide-angled lenses, which Mitchell wanted to use to give the film an expansive look; this explains why the background of each scene is very apparent and gets the audience to pay more attention to everything going on in every scene. Mitchell took creative inspiration from the works of Gregory Crewdson, an American photographer best known for his slightly minimalistic and melancholy artworks; this explains the film's slight sense of 80's surreal suburban aesthetic, particularly the scene in which Jay sleeps with Hugh in his car. Lighting in the film is dim and melancholy, which again is due to Crewdson being Mitchell's main inspiration in terms of visuals.

Performances in the film are very impressive and convincing. Every actor helped to add to the sort of miserable, dark theme that runs throughout the film, but to me the most notable performance is that of Maika Monroe who plays main character Jay. Some other great honourable mentions are Jake Weary as Hugh, Keir Gilchrist as Paul and Olivia Luccardi as Yara. 

Editing in the film is mostly invisible, with smooth transitions and no harsh jump cuts, so there's not too much to say about It Follows' editing.

Sound in It Follows is one of the film's best features. The film's score was written and composed by Disasterpeace under the Editions Milan Music label. The whole score has an electronic vibe which enhances the 80's vibe I mentioned previously; overall, it is very reminiscent of typical 80's horror soundtracks, but has its own unique twist which makes it easily recognisable as the music from It Follows. 

It Follows received extremely positive response from both seasoned critics and general audiences, receiving an overall 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and getting a critic consensus of 'a rare modern horror film that works on multiple levels - and leaves a lingering sting'. 

Something interesting to note about It Follows is the interpretation of the films themes and meanings: many viewers theorised that Mitchell intended the film to be a parable to HIV/AIDS, other STIs and the social perceptions of the 'sexual revolution' and 'primal anxieties' of intimacy.

Overall, It Follows is an interesting take of psychological thrillers and horrors that gives audiences a fresh, new category of horror to enjoy.