You'll Second Guess People Walking Towards You... I Promise

Rating: 8/10 (19 August 2019)

"It Follows" hasn't been on my watch list for all that long. Once I heard about it, I heard nothing but good things from then on. The trailer itself (in my opinion) honestly wasn't all that captivating, but after reading up on it, who some of the cast was, as well as - again - all the good things I've heard from friends, those on Dreadit, and elsewhere, I figured I needed to stop being my ol' judgemental self and give it a shot.
I didn't regret that.
The opening scene with Annie doesn't last too long, but it seals the deal with starting this movie off the most puzzling, yet alluring way possible. She's clearly distressed, sprinting (in heels!) around in what seems to be a "for life or death" fashion, telling everyone she's ok. It's not explained (at this point, at least) what was wrong with poor Annie as she jumps into a car and bolts off to the middle of nowhere, but I've bitten the bait and am hooked to see what happens next. Annie makes a call and appears to have hit the machine. Seconds later we see her distorted, deceased, with just as much of an explanation as we had from the get-go.
The way "It Follows" has began absolutely sets the pace for the rest of the film. In the brief few minutes the movie has began to play it's established to us that our antagonist isn't understood and cannot be stopped, which alone is horrifying. The music (provided by Disasterpeace) so far has beautifully, yet sadistically added tension to Annie's plight and would go on to do the same for the rest of the film.
What I liked most about this film was the emphasis the setting brought along with how crap of a situation this was. There's no bright skies when you're depressed, sleep-deprived, paranoid, tormented, and being made to feel as though you're insane, just as Jay is throughout the film. The only scene that shows sunshine also winds up being the scene wherein her friends and sister finds out she's far from crazy.
Let's talk about that beach scene, shall we? So well done. The minute I noticed "it" simply walking towards Jay from behind, I was alert and anxious as person could possibly be. Is Jay going to go swim and unknowingly avoid it? Does everyone else see them and just isn't saying anything? What is going to happen?! Jay's grabbed, and as crappy as that is, fortunately for her everyone else (except Greg) can see her hair denying the laws of physics. This wouldn't be the only time Yara, Kelly, and Paul see Jay get attacked.
The pool. Arguably the best scene in the movie. Let's be frank, alright? Most teenagers - hell, most people in general - make ridiculously, mind numbingly stupid decisions in horror movies. In this scene Jay's friends put to action what they've learned from the beach. "It" may be unseen to them, but it is very much a physical entity, as they throw a blanket on to it after being guided by a distressed Jay. Once covered, they attack it, biding Jay time to escape. This scene was as smart as it was riddled with anxiety. Would this scene be the end of Jay? We've seen "it" capture others, so could this be her time? I'm not sure if I was rooting for her to survive or if I was just tense due to picturing myself in a situation like that. Either way, the scene was very well done.
The acting was fantastic. It took me a good minute to see Paul as Paul and not Marshall from United States of Tara (amazing show, btw), but despite that I have no complaints about acting. Even when it comes to pacing/progression, the film doesn't move faster than it should, and doesn't have anything that might be seen as "filler". When you look at the actual cinematography of it, the film is just superb to look at, yet unnerving all the same, but in a good way.... I mean... if there is a "good way" to be unnerving.
If you haven't had a chance to see "It Follows", I recommend it. Seeing all the disappointing duds the genre has been putting out the past decade, this film is a breath of fresh air that brings a much needed taste of something new. I know I'm definitely going to be second guessing people walking in my direction for the next couple of weeks because of it.
8 out of 10