May be one of the better horror films of late, but that's hardly a challenge

Rating: 4/10 (20 February 2016)

It Follows really doesn't deserve the huge favourable critical reception and positive word-of-mouth that it's getting. It definitely gets some things right: its eerie 80s inspired soundtrack adds to the tension, and there's plenty of tension to be had in some of its scenes. It also has more brains than most witless demonic horror films of the last five-ish years, ever since the popularity of Paranormal Activity suggested to filmmakers that all you need to do is shake a camera and have something go thud before an actor in prosthetic make-up screams at the camera.
However, what It Follows lacks is a decent story. Maika Monroe's competent performance doesn't disguise the lacklustre character she's been given to play, nor the unoriginal and sometimes laughable dialogue. In fact, the film's tension is diffused on several occasions by some unintentional - or perhaps just poorly constructed - comedy.
It may be one of the better horror films to arrive of late, but that's hardly a challenge.