'You don't believe me do you?'

Rating: 10/10 (29 April 2016)

Easily one of the best and most original films of the last decade, it's actually the best horror film I've seen in years. I think fans of popular, jump scare horror will tend to find It Follows fairly dull and bizarre, but to people who love slow burning, suspenseful, well made film, this is as good as they come. The synopsis is simple, a young woman finds herself 'infected' by a curse passed on to her from sex, which in term can then be passed on to someone else by sleeping with them. The curse involved being followed by an unknown entity, taking the form of a stranger in a crowd or someone you know, but wherever you are, no matter how far away you are from it, it will follow. Personally, I find this concept absolutely terrifying.
The portrayal of Jay, the lead, and her small circle of friends, is extremely believable and well acted. Nothing anyone does seems stupid, or without reason. Even the not so bright things they do (maybe the pool scene) is fairly justified, they're scared, desperate and young.
The real factor that puts It Follows above the rest though is the cinematography and atmosphere. The film is absolutely dripping in dreamlike dread. The chalky colours of American suburbia, the shots of childlike imagery, the fact the seasons and timing don't quite make sense, the soft light and absence of adult supervision, the long wide angle shots and setting of a decaying Detroit. All these create an unnerving, nightmarish situation where nothing is quite how it should be. It's basically like one long moving Gregory Crewdson image, and coupled with the fact a demon is constantly following the main character, the concept is downright frightening.
On par with It Follows' cinematography is its score. Produced by Disasterpeace it's one of the best soundtracks I've ever heard. I actually own this on vinyl (which looks as good as it sounds) and it's just flawless. Clearly influenced (much like the film) by 80's horror such as Halloween, its a pulsating ride of unsettling ambiance, harsh, vibrating drones and heavy synths; dull bleeps & desolate keys. It bumps up the unsettling factor by about 80%.
The combination of It Follows' score, acting, cinematography and unbelievable atmosphere make it a must watch for fans of real horror and surreal film. Its gorgeous and dreamlike, but also utterly terrifying and very, very unnerving.