7.5/10

Rating: 7/10 (1 September 2015)

After waiting for months and months to watch this horror movie, I finally managed to sit down and see what all the hype was about. I must admit: this film really deserves hype and praise, but it doesn't quite to the extents it has been. It is certainly refreshing and pleasant to get a break from the "boo!" standard of horror movies today, but it isn't as thrilling or amazing as something like "The Babadook".
Starting on a positive note Mitchell deserves amazing credit for the atmosphere he creates. Right from the first shot, which is a kind of statement, the style never wavers and maintains a visual coherence that is ultra rare to find in movies at any point in time. The cinematography is really gorgeous, throughout the film I was locked in just looking at these shots and thinking to myself: "wow that shot was fu**ing great". The lighting is impeccable and really helps painting frames that are immaculate. The music by Disasterpiece is a major component of the success movie, it's right up there as one of the best scores of the year. These ingredients combined are always serving story and tension and definitely elevate to the film a notch. It just nails the 70s feel, taking a major page from Carpenter's masterpiece "Halloween", making the most out of it and giving it a great update.
Ever since last years' "The Guest" I have been looking out for Maika Monroe and "It Follows" proves everything I said about her a year ago. She embodies her character perfectly and gives a grounded performance that deeply helps give the audience attachment to the character and elevate the credibility of the concept. Regarding the concept, I have to say it is a really smart one that lends itself perfectly to true horror and Mitchell definitely knows how to use it correctly combining it to some brilliant disturbing imagery and not relying on jump scare crap where it could have easily gone. This choice is what ultimately delivers the types of scares and tension I wanted from the film.
Unfortunately there isn't enough of that and whilst the screenplay perfectly knows how to setup and get us involved with the characters, it does not know how to fit them coherently in the story which is kind of the core problem of the film. It just never pays off. The tension is always limbering and there are great moments, but time and time again I didn't feel satisfied with what I got when the scene ended. I wanted more. Especially the ending, which is kind of telling of the whole movie, there wasn't enough context there for me to feel the adrenaline rush. I get it that you want to make the movie open ended and surprise me with a non predictable plot, which it definitely has. But there has to be something for me to go "fu*k yeah", other than the characters surviving, there has to be that relief or that shock at the end. For example in Halloween (spoilers), Micheal Myers escapes and you don't know where he goes, it really ends on an open note, but you still get that rush of adrenaline and satisfaction because you know Jaime Lee Curtis is kind of out of it.
I do still recommend this film for anyone that wants to have a thrill ride and some good and smart horror, you won't feel in anyway your time was wasted, but you will be lest with a sour taste.