This is the stuff of nightmares

Rating: 8/10 (7 May 2015)

It is indie horror films like 'It Follows' that are the reason why i still have much faith in future of the horror genre. Whenever a film like this comes out where it manages to scare you from start to finish without using jump scares and other modern horror movie clichés i get really excited. This film utilised amazing camera techniques and sounds that alone just absolutely scare the crap out of you just like old, classic horror films used to. I found myself constantly trying to hide from the screen because the imagery was just so damn terrifying. Much of the film uses the idea that someone might be following you at all times to get you to always be in fear no matter what is happening. As well as being a device to scare the living daylights out of you it really helps to keep the story moving and adds to some pretty major plot points. Also there are scenes where this mysterious thing actually shows up and that is just the stuff of nightmares. I felt like a little kid looking up and getting the life scared out of me by anything that looked even remotely weird. In terms of the plot, the film does well to stay away from 95% of predictable moments and that really helps in a horror film so you don't have much time to brace for a huge scary moment (not a jump scare).
In terms of performances, i thought they were pretty good all round, with the standout being Maika Monroe who i also remember did a great job in The Guest last year. You always bought into her actions and the way she reacted to certain events which made the film a lot more believable. Where the film let me down was towards the end. The ending sequence of the movie was still pretty damn terrifying but not as terrifying as the rest of the movie, it felt a little cheesy or messy and i was just taken out of the film for a little over 10 minutes. Not only did the ending sequence disappoint me but the very very end didn't work for me, there are quite a few films that do this and sometimes it works, but sometimes it doesn't and this time it didn't. So despite a disappointing ending, this directorial debut for David Robert Mitchell will keep you up for days with endless nightmares. - 8.1