Welcome to rgthree's Spooky Scary Movie Night

rgthree • 9.34/10 2024/10/18

I can't believe it's a decade old. I've always considered “my favorite terror movie” but I think now I'm convinced it may be my outright favorite horror movie.

It Follows is such a masterpiece. I know it's not necessarily a novel take--you'll easily find it on any "top horror movies" list. But, for me, from the throwback cinematography of horror movies from decades ago, to the untouchable soundtrack from Disasterpeace, It Follows is top-class.

The demon's simplicity is balanced both in its outsized force but escapable pace that leaves us both terrorized but not without hope.

And let's call out the genius that Mitchell employs in the world building that creates a surreal, dream-state uneasiness with clashing imagery that forces the viewer to subconsciously remain uneasy trying to decipher basic details. You're thrown TVs & cars from decades ago alongside handheld devices from the future, and then are met with characters swimming in their above ground pool in one scene, and then wearing coats in the next; all feeding into this unconsious "off" feeling of dread.

Underneath the dread and tension on the surface lies fantastic layers of symbolism. While those who decide not to dive deeply may trivially associate the demon with an STD or alike, I believe a deeper meaning lies within.

The movie is a coming-of-age story which chooses, arguably, the most pivotal moment of that transition: having sex. Once the characters end up on the other side, they find themself chased by the slow, inevitable march of adulthood and the weight of responsibility that comes along with it; unable to return to any sort of child-like innocence from before. They may be able to outrun it and delay it catching up, but it's always marching towards us until it ultimately kills us.

Anyway, if you haven't see It Follows I think you should give it a shot. While it's often heralded as on of the best horror movies of its decade, some people need a faster or gorier movie. For me, it's definitively at the top of my list.