Unsettling, lo-fi horror

Rating: 8/10 (1 November 2015)

Well, here it is: IT FOLLOWS is a wonderfully old-fashioned slice of horror, a chilling ghost story that has much in common with the Japanese horror genre and is light years ahead of predictable, clichéd, American ghost story nonsense. It's a low budget but superior tale with a riveting premise: a girl is put under a curse whereby a ghost will mercilessly stalk her, taking on any appearance, and kill her if it touches her.
The plot is a simple one but the execution is spot on. The scare sequences in this one are really chilling thanks to the fact that they're subtle and straightforward and delightfully fresh-feeling. There's a classic old-school score to enhance the mood and a refreshing lack of CGI spook effects and the like; just creepy actors doing what they do best. I loved how the director has you automatically checking the background of every shot, and the sense of foreboding is next to none.
It also makes a change for the script to present likable and realistic youthful characters without resorting to that annoying and clichéd teen speak. The merciless nature of the ghost brings to mind the classic thrills of a film like THE TERMINATOR. There are a few problems with the film - it's a little overlong, for example - but none of them spoil what is a thoroughly engrossing and superior viewing experience.