Review of It Follows (2015) by Dana F — 27 Oct 2015

I wasn't sure about this one given that it's about a sexually transmitted death-curse.  I mean, c'mon, that's ludicrous, and I expected a blatantly cautionary tale about the perils of having casual sex.

  But as it turns out, there is a lot more substance here than I imagined.  On the surface, the curse is an on-the-nose metaphor for STDs... except that the only way to get rid of the curse by having MORE casual sex?  Hmm.

..  But the curse is also an allegory for the fear of aging and the inescapable reality that death will eventually come for all of us.  The film is aptly named, as it is never quite explained what "It" is that follows you, so the viewer can draw his/her own conclusions.

  This film along with "The Babadook" seems to herald a new age in horror films, where the stories have deeper levels and can be interpreted in different ways.  I never thought I would see the day when horror films would be based on thoughtful storytelling!  And the ambiguous ending will give you something to talk about.

  As a whole, it's a well written, acted, and directed film, with a distinct visual style - there is some really cool and complex camerawork going on here.  I really liked that it took the 'horny teenager" trope of the horror genre and made the horror the result of being a horny teenager.

  I will say that some of the plot elements that are introduced towards the end don't really jibe with the supernatural elements already established earlier in the film, so I was a little confused towards the end.

  Overall, as a horror flick, the movie isn't that scary, it's more on the creepy/eerie side.  But as a film, it's extremely well done and has a lot going for it. .