I think the scariest part was *SPOILER* *SPOILER* *SPOILER* Near the beginning when they let her sister in and it came in the room as the super tall dude
Thank you for you spoiler alert. I didn't read the comment..... but I've been seeing comments that just talk about shit that happens in the movie. Like... it's a review... A lot of us haven't seen the movie yet
MyZ001 Exactly! I had the "saddest part" of interstellar spoiled to me before i watched it because of a comment. They put a spoiler warning on it but the very next word was the spoiler lol
Compence Aww man... Watched the movie this weekend. Such a badass simple movie. I mean... Its not unbelievable.... but considering how low budget it is.. They did a really good job.
Exactly what I think as well, they are very unnerving. I hate when people say "oh that's not scary" but yes it is actually if you think about it. It's freaking downright creepy to have some ghoul following you around.
I think it should have been more of a suspense thriller then a horror. Mostly because I just feel like when the scenes with the most subtly work the best. Scenes and moments were "it" was just kind of there, in the background no music or acknowledging it. That was much scarier and unnerving then anything else.
Multiplex It's called 'pychological horror', which tends to use less jump scares. The Ring was one of the first, I think, though there's probably many others.
Multiplex Yeah but isn't that the best sort of horror? The kind that sits in your subconscious after you watch it and has you looking over your shoulder? I would much rather see a film that did that than a film I walk out of and forget within the first half hour of leaving the theater. I could care less about the whole jump scare horror genre. Its cheap. Unsettling, to me, is the best way you can describe good horror because most adults are pretty hard to scare. Once you reach a certain age you stop believing in the boogie man...but if something can plague your mind to the point of uneasiness or fear. That is horror.
It Follows didn't scare me while I was watching. But when I was going to bed that night I started thinking about it and was extremely freaked out. Just imagining that old woman version of "IT" walking up my stairs and into my room.
JackSturmanFilms It’s not 2 mph that’s supposed to be scary. You don’t even know how fast she could go. She could be going much faster to get you later, man!!
@Rusty Shackleford, yeah I got that after watching it tonight. Watched the movie, thought 'Ok, creepy, but am not scared'. Went to poop after & grazed myself on the wall running back to my room!
Honestly, define "SCARY"... This movie for me was scary, the fact that no matter what you do you cant kill it or hide from it because it'll eventually find you, and even if you do pass it on it can still come back to get you. That CONSTANT tension and unpredictability throughout the film is what "scares" me in horror movies, not predictable jump scares that have a screeching sound building up to 5 seconds of silence before something jumps in front of the screen.
In that logic Paranormal Activity is frightening. I get why some people could think that but for me it has to rely more on the movie making than the concept. Get Out was not actually that scary of a concept compared to other horror films but its execution made me on the edge of my seat constantly, even if the jumpscares were a little cheap sometimes.
I think at the end of the day, there's only so much scare you can get from shear unease and tension. Don't get me wrong, I love those elements in movies, horror or otherwise, and It Follows executes them *masterfully* - but at the end of the day, this movie doesn't kill any characters, and there's not much violence, so the stakes don't feel all that high. I like the movie, but it doesn't really strike me as horror. It strikes me as a thriller with light horror stylization. I like to bring up the movie Hereditary a lot when I talk about horror, because that too is a film that doesn't really use many jumpscares or other spineless cliches, much like It Follows, and yet it doesn't feel weak at being scary *in the slightest* - in fact, its pretty aggressively scary, to the point of really fucking up my head the first time I watched it, and this is just down to it utilizing much more morbidity and gruesomeness, and going much darker with its storyline. It's a movie that doesn't fuck around and I respect it for that
This movie didn't scare me at all while watching it, but after finishing the movie, I kept looking behind me especially in the middle of the night, checking whether there's it following me. The scare lingers quiet a while.
The babadook is one of the most depressing movies Iv ever seen idk it’s just not for me I hated it I’ll never watch it again, it just leaves you feeling like shit
Its funny how people can have such a different reaction to horror movies. Especially with what scares a person. I've so many horror movies including the babadook and this one scared me more than the babadook. I would forgive the thing about the parents not being there because I think it added a creepy surrealism to the film. It also felt like the kids were entirely alone in dealing with the situation without any parents to help them.
pyote5 I found this movie scarier just as an idea of something infinitely following you. The idea of having that unease gives me that unease as if it were real. Anxiety like crazy. The lack of a safe place, ever.
pyote5 The missing parent are related to the overall theme of growing up and realizing that sooner or later you will be gone. Before that happens your parents will be gone - and as an adult your parent at some will not be there to help you any longer. This is a story about the harsh conditions of real life nicely wrapped into a fairy tale complete with monsters and all.
the unknown time period was very unique. At times you would think they're in the 90s but then Yara was reading on some weird shell compact. Also the season kept changing as well. The director said he never specified to make it a dream sequence.
The lingering creepiness and uneasiness this movie evoked was as scary as I've ever been scared. I can't think of a movie that scares me more. I'm not sure I completely understand the difference between scary and creepy in a horror context. I might be scared if I'm standing on the edge of a cliff looking down, but I don't consider that a horror context. When it comes to horror, it is more psychological, and while there is a sub-genre specifically for "psychological horror," I think pretty much any good horror movie has elements of it.
Now that I've seen The Babadook, I will say that It Follows was far scarier. The Babadook was a better film overall, but it just didn't affect me like It Follows did.
I thought it was a genius movie. I love how you'd see things in the background far away that the characters weren't seeing. Plus it was entertaining, I'd definitely watch again.
I love how the movie made the audience as a secondary character in the film. We were able to see everything Jay was seeing, but we couldn't do anything to help her. The audience became paranoid as well, because we weren't even sure what was real and what wasn't. Soon enough, everyone became of "suspect", especially after seeing the doppelgänger. My favorite scene has to be the scene where the camera rotates in a 360. If anyone has seeing the movie, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Awesome and creative scene.
Loved the urgency you expressed in going to see this as soon as possible! My cousin was the Producer and I've been hearing about It Follows for literally years, so as you could imagine, I was excited as hell to finally go see it too! I enjoyed your review and agree with most everything you said, the cast, the soundtrack, the screenplay, the camerawork, even the title, "It Follows" was so perfect, it all came together so well and really made everything so effective.. But personally, I liked how they didn't go into more detail on what "It" was or the origins of "It", I enjoyed not having everything explained or spoon-fed. I was left with the perfect amount of questions.. Anyway, thanks for the review and supporting the film!
This movie honestly terrified me more than any other movie I've ever seen. Not the jump scare type of fear, but the absolutely unnerving, under-your-skin, deep-seated fear that doesn't leave you. It gives me anxiety to this day to think about it and listen to parts of the score.
I was so impressed by this movie. Watched it twice back to back. The musical score was amazing! I loved the fact that you never got to see the identity of the thing. I was scared throughout the entire thing. I thought every person walking in the background was the ghost thing. Such an incredible film.
I feel that if you have a cast full of teenagers, you're gonna get what you're gonna get acting wise, and personally I'm a sucker for movies that focus on atmosphere and setting a tone that is distinct to itself. Everything about the movie felt like a dream, there was a constant presence of old and new things that didn't quite feel right, just how dreams can be. That along with some dreamy soundtracks and film locations that feel that they are real and not just a set makes for a great setting. And I love how the soundtrack just commands parts of the movie, I feel like it really makes things uneasy. And as far as the whole parents thing it was implied that they were heavy drinkers and basically not functioning parents.
Michael Lotzer Admittedly that's a great film, but it's so close to a crime drama movie that it doesn't even seem like a graphic novel. I wouldn't put History of Violence up as a movie that's a great comic book film, because it's a lot more than that and a lot less than that at the same time.
The parents weren't shown much because they were alcoholics and the scene with the ball and boy on the roof was to show the roof was accessible which was how "It" was on the roof in one scene. I really enjoyed It Follows, but I didn't find the movie scary but it seemed really eerie due to the cinematography and the soundtrack along with the concept of something always following.
I don't really understand why so many people are confused as to what "It" is, and more so, what the underlying meaning of this film was. When I first heard about it and how it transferred to people, I thought "It" was a metaphor for STD's. I was completely wrong though. "It" is a metaphor for adulthood. Really, when you think about it, the entire movie is about the underlying paranoia of life beyond the safety you feel as a teenager. Sex is a very sacred and taboo thing in this film because these are, let's face it, teenagers we're talking about. Does anyone else remember or, hell, even still feel that anxiety of the "grown up world"? The fear of having to live on your own for the first time, taking responsibility for your sexual actions, the overwhelming factors that are introduced to you as you enter adulthood that continue to pursue you for the rest of your life? Yeah, that's what this entire movie entails. "It" is literally a physical manifestation of the adult world and how it "follows" you. It's not ever something we're taught about, it's just something we have to learn on our own to do. Some people make it, some people don't, some people take a long time to get past that area of their lives where they need to depend on others. In that sense, the movie isn't really that scary as it is enlightening, because let's face it, we've all been scared of the ambiguity of life and what we may encounter in the future. And no uncoincidentally, it all begins around the same time most of us probably had sex, almost like that was our ticket or entrance into the burdens of life.
+Crucillus Thorn If it was less threatening i could see it as being a metaphor for STD's or adulthood but since that first girl's leg was brutally desecrated and it plays some sick game of assuming the form of friends or family i immediately got the idea that it's far more sinister than those things.
+Lachie Hurburgh It's a metaphorical STD. It can be more brutal. Yeah, STDs don't twist your leg around but they are brutal and they are transmitted through sex. It's sort of like the Babadook. The Babadook is a monster that is a symbol of depression and grief. Does grief and depression make you kill your dog? Or necessarily murder your child? Or vomit up black gunk? Or rip your teeth out? No, but it is still a metaphorical representation of an STD.
tbh it was the only movie that ever REALLY scared me I think it was the mix of the dreamlike setting and the cheesy but strangely unnerving music mixed with the thought of never being safe that really got to me I know a lot of people say it didn't scare them but I think this one hit me on a personal level the whole thing is just a giant metaphor for the uncertain struggle of the adolescent and as a teenager, I can definitely relate
POTENTIAL SPOILERS: I think that the director said that the way he wanted it to be was like a dream. I was so confused about those neighborhood kids, that one kid who was peeping through the window, the ball that hit the window the lack of any adults especially the police whom never even get screen time, the weird retro futuristic dystopian setting and pool that was randomly broken. But the more I thought about how dreams are, its true they are just like that! They're so weird, disjointed and irrational and there is always something quite not right and thats what this movie did with like the shell kindle thing, the old cars, the weird old time movies they always seemed to be watching, the girl sleeping on the hood of her car and strange electronics during the pool scene and also the fact that the pool didn't electrocute the girl. It really felt like a nightmare, and honestly it didn't "scare" me either in the general sense with cheap jump scares or a scary looking monster but it was so unsettling and similar to dreams that I've had that my stomach twisted and turned during it and it legitimately gave me nightmares. Its really great the more you look at it as an inescapable dream instead of reality. And just a great film in general for horror fans!
I loved this movie. It wasn’t jump scare scary, but the suspense was great. I felt on edge the entire movie. I love a good horror movie that just has a different story line then so many of the others, haunted houses, deranged killers that won’t ever die. This story was a bit more unique to say the least.
Just watched this late last night. Put it on and was going to fall asleep and then rewatch it in the morning (that's my process...don't know why). Despite having slept 2-3 hours a night for a week now, and how dead tired I was, this movie was so damn tense I just couldn't fall asleep. Then, once it was over, I spent a solid hour online trying to see what the filmmaker had to say about a few key scenes. I was startled by the jump scares (including the big one that we see in the trailer), and I've never spent so much time studying the horizon of a shot. Good thing the cinematography was stunning, because you would notice if it wasn't in this movie, you spend so much time looking at everything BUT the actors. But the movie wasn't that "scary" in the traditional sense, certainly not like Paranormal Activity was (don't pretend that movie didn't scare the shit out of you when it first came out). But it was just as tense and much, much, much more creepy. Going into SPOILER talk about the creepy aspect, because two scenes really stuck with me and I can't convince myself either way: (SPOILERS) The boat scene. What the fuck happened!? Did she do it or not? I'm leaning 60-40 that she did. That her cast wasn't wet because she swam halfway there and changed her mind, but that she swam out to a boat filled with strangers and had sex with all of them to kill them (a small boat like that, it's not as though there was anywhere to secret away and have sex with just one of them - plus two of IT's incarnations later looked very much like those boat guys, I'll rewatch the movie on my HDTV and probably on BluRay soon to be sure). Either way, that is fucking creepy as SHIT! To push a young girl, a kid really, to a situation where she's willing to get gang fucked just so she doesn't die? That's just straight horrific. I'm a guy, so it's different, but I can't imagine I'd ever have group sex with a bunch of strangers just to stay alive - but I also recognize that's BECAUSE I'm a guy and guys are conditioned to think that it'd be better to be dead than to be emasculated like that. Then the prostitute scene, too. Did he do it? Certainly he planned to when he left his house, dressed like Eminem from 8 Mile and all. But could he do it? Going to a prostitute is no big deal to me, personally. I've never done it, doubtful I ever will, but I'm all for individual rights - do whatever the fuck you want with your body, so long as it doesn't endanger others. But he is, potentially, carrying the Darth Vader of STDs. And that's some dark shit, because he'd be killing every guy that goes to that prostitute - as well as potentially killing those guys wives/girlfriends. In other words, he'd be murdering a LOT of innocent people. Then the ending, of course. They, as the director himself said so eloquently, "Scooby Doo'd" IT. Ridiculous and with no clear plan. Did it work? Did it fail? I'm leaning towards it probably did. As utterly stupid and ridiculous as it sounds. We've seen IT get shot a number of times before, go down, and then get right back up (including in that same scene), so why did IT not get up and out of the water this time? And then there's the last scene. Someone's following them, a bit fast, sure, but whoever that is is wearing IT's favorite color - white. But so are they, because fuck you, clear endings are for suckers.
It had some problems, but it definitely gave me chills and I haven't seen a movie pull off that real horror feel in quite a while. I almost was too scared to put the disc back in the case afterwards lol and pretty much didn't want it my house, haha. The photos and videos were the scariest for me and also the box scene. It had so much suspense and didn't know what to expect. I knew there was going to be a scare there but I had no clue what it was going to be. Ethan Hawks character kind of pissed me off but he is a great actor and I found I could still root for the dude.
Jj Vieira Would definitely love to see a Darko review from Chris. Despite not being being a 'horror' movie as such, it really manages to be absorbing and can be quite terrifying.
I'm a huge classic horror guy and I thought the movie was just ok. Nothing spectacular to brag about. The beginning was great but after a while it seemed like the movie kind of dragged too much. Overall I give it a 6/10
It Follows remains the most terrifying horror film I have ever seen. I screamed out loud at least 3 times. It just got me in a way that no other film ever has.
I've already given my response regarding "The Babadook," so I'll just add here that I did not find it that terrifying and didn't think it was as intense as "It Follows," although I understand its appeal to many.I acknowledge that there are some scenes that seemed to just end, then you find the character(s) in another setting. It bugged me a little, but I did find myself weeks later still thinking about it beyond what I'd thought the night I watched it, and unraveling some of the things that bugged me. For example, a scene at the lake in which she meets a couple of new guys, then the next thing you now you're in some other setting. It's left to us to deduce what must have transpired because of the story and nature of "it," and it's so obvious when you get it that you feel stupid for not having gotten it the first time. Not quite as stupid as you felt five minutes after walking out of BWP just after you figured out it made no sense. Or is that more like shame that you thought it was really good for 299 seconds?Regardless, the fact that it still nagged at me weeks after viewing tells me it did its job. I wasn't unnerved, but just going back to it from time to time. BTW, I see you have not reviewed "Absentia." It's a 2011 release that is no longer streaming on NF, but I think you would enjoy it.
"I knew when it was over I'd have a good night's sleep" If this is how we're judging our horror films, I pity the genre. No wonder it needs to be constant jump scare, orchestra battle, bullshit that panders to the audience. If someone tries, it still gets marked up with the verbal red ink of a review because of something subjective like how you slept after the film. I'm not saying Chris said that quote, but someone in the comments did, and this isn't how we should judge horror films. It's like taking a comedy movie and saying "I never laughed out loud. The entire film had me smiling and chuckling and internally enjoying it in every way, but I never got a VERY PHYSICAL reaction, so therefore it's lesser" That's crap. Just because you aren't terrified, doesn't mean someone else won't be. Judge the film by things you can actually judge and we will be much better off. Chris's review did not harp on the "I wasn't scared therefore it's bad" and it's mostly valid viewpoints on the film. I loved the film, but I also slept calmly. The last film that made me sleep poorly was The Ring and that was because I was 11 when I watched it. Does that mean The Ring is the best horror film because it "got" me specifically? No? So why does that argument work here in reverse? Just my thoughts.
zeusbacchushades True, but I don't feel it really set out to be scary - For example, Shaun of the Dead is a horror comedy, but that never tried to actually scare the audience :)
When I announced on instagram I was going to see this everyone said I was going to hate it and I left the theatre very satisfied. It was a great movie & was way better than horror movies now a days.
The people who didn't like this movie are... maybe not very keen on the horror genre? Granted, the genre is big and not two things are alike, but if you like modern horror, a la new Dawn of the Dead, you will probably dislike the original Dawn of the Dead. Films like Repulsion, which are slow, minimalist movies, but really terrifying. The original Nightmare on Elm Street takes its time, too. A matter of taste, I suppose. I didn't find many "jump scares" here, what I really liked is the feeling of dread that permeates the film, as well as the many hints into the real themes of the movie, particularly the loss of innocence (any of you realized that all of this starts as Jay sleeps with a guy and later the characters do many infantile things trying to feel safe, like going to a playground and sitting in circles in the yard?). I, for one, loved it. But then again, I loved Lon Chaney Jr's The Wolf-Man. Slow flicks, but real smart.
It's strange, because I did see the characters and understood their motivations and why they acted like they did. Again, we both may be horror fans and I may love Jaws, while you hate it and you may love Suspiria while I hate it (which I don't). A matter of taste.
Connor Kennington i agree 100 percent as a matter of fact unfriended was one of the trailers to it follows and as soon as i saw it i said TRASH!!! and two people belowm are like woah looks really good lets come watch it!! just like chris said people are just interested in watching the same thing over and over again. over rated horror fil that will make a lot of money
Sorry for Chris, he couldn't connect with the scary element of the movie, I mean, how often we see ghost or zombies in our homes or street ? and how often we're looking back over our shoulder when returning home in the night or when we're alone in the darkness and get the feeling that something is lurkinng around? The creature from the movie take that to a whole new level and defies everything because it hunt you even in daylight!!! on an open field, would you lock into a car? or would you ratter to stay out and wait to see where it comes from and then make a decision before put yourself inside a box. I'm surprised Chris couldn't see this , specially when in the movie , every time they lock themselves in one room the creature finds the way to get in . It Follows is definitely an *A*
you have a good point, but the movie just feels so cheap, that most people will probably miss it because they will be distracted by the flaws, maybe with a better script, an actually scary enemy, and protagonists with a bit of brain, it would be more interesting.
This enemy wasn't scary? Put yourself in their shoes. I can't think of a worse predicament. My life would be overrun with paranoia. I'd rather deal with ghosts or zombies any day.
Cmon. Spoilers》》》》 The enemies were only normal random people that walked reaaaally slow. And acted like drugged or drunk. I know it could take any form but... the protagonists were real pussies . They were 5 on 1 . And they didnt even try to fight it. They only run the whole movie. So basically we dont know if it is strong or not . Or what attacks/powers does it have. We only saw it once fucking that dead dude. Its just a cheap script to disguise the lack of a real enemy and to make the movie longer.
I love seeing these iconic movie reviews pop up in my feed again. I rewatched the film earlier this year and this movie does more with visual storytelling you just have to pay attention.. like the protagonist comes from a broken home. In the beginning of the movie in like a really subtle scene her mom is drunk and passed out and i think something happened to the dad which explains both their absence from the movie. And then like in the end pool part the creeper takes the form of her dad like fuck that was weird. The movie has some creepy and disturbing moments I don't really get how some people weren't scared by them? But also kinda laughable parts too like the naked man on her roof i was cracking up. I think your grading was accurate.
I just got this movie... I know, I know, a little late to the party. I loved it! Finally, something unique and refreshing. This is what we need more of. Although some of the elements were things we've seen before, they still had a unique sauce that made the new and exciting. It you watch this in a good theater environment with good sound and a big picture it will definitely creep you out. I would give IT FOLLOWS an A-.
I thought this movie was incredible, and it really terrified me. Mainly the atmosphere, and the fact you dont know where "IT" is. I love this movie to death and it gets a 9 out of 10 from me.
Very disappointing in this film.. First of all, the movie literally didn't scare me for one second ! This is a massive problem. I'm not a fan of horror, but I am a fan of indie films so I was looking forward to this one. I don't understand where all the praise is coming from. Sure, it wasn't like every other horror movie, but that alone doesn't make for a good film. The acting was solid, but that's about it. I thought the soundtrack didn't work in a lot of places. I love 80's movies, and I love those soundtracks, but it just doesn't work for a film this day and age. Some tracks were pretty good, but the main theme (like when she prepares herself to go on a date - aka, not meant to be scary) just annoyed me to death. I feel like people are only praising this film cause it was "different", not because it was any good. I mean, you said it yourself, the film wasn't scary, so why exactly are people praising it ? It's like saying a comedy doesn't have to be funny as long as the acting is good. A horror NEEDS to be scary, else it just fails. The cinematography was decent, and sometimes even quite good, but imo it doesn't elevate this film from "okay" to "great". The story was nothing special, and as far as I'm concerned, it's just an exaggeration of aids/std's and symbolism alone just doesn't make for a good film. It wasn't awful, but it was nowhere near as good as I thought it would be.
Lovely review as always. When I walked out of theaters, I had no idea what to think of this movie. I walked in with two "cliche horror film" friends, which may or may not have been a bad choice. But after careful thought, I came to a conclusion that this movie was done brilliantly. I agree with everything in the review. It was shot brilliantly, and I am a huge fan of the 360 shots in particular like when they were talking to the teacher. The suspense was unreal.
Chris Stuckmann I just discovered your channel and boy, I must say I'm suprised how much I've agreed with your reviews. I trust your judgment on films and have gone on a binge watching your posts, keep up the great work. 😊👍👌👏
I actually really liked this movie and the ending really made me think. I thought the Babadook was scarier but this movie had the same theme of creating a scary atmosphere
+Lachie Hurburgh yes in my opinion. In my opinion this movie was a big pile of shit. Did you not know that a big part of things people say are opinions? It's not mandatory for someone to state that they're expressing an opinion. anyone with a shred of common since can figure it out and not have to make an ignorant comment about it.
Thank you for reviewing this, I was curious what you thought about it. My only thing, and I'm not sure if someone has already said this, is that the director has said in interviews about this movie that he wanted it to be like a dream. This explains why we seem to be in several different time periods at once. (The future shell phone, the saline solution, the black and white television) This, I believe, also explains the ambiguity. (Particularly with the parents being gone)
Great review Chris. I finally caught a screening last night and I agree with almost everything you said. The Halloween shots right of the bat with the opening scene and throughout the film were great, but that classroom scene was definitely a bit much. Great job as always.
The film is meant to be full of 80s tropes/clichés cause it's being subversive. Also the lack of explanation on 'IT' is what makes the film more tense, not everything needs to be spelled out.
Ben Hibburd This film was barely written at all. The characters had no development, by the end of it we knew jack shit about them except for the fact that that one guy she eventually hooks up with is a prick who just want to bone all the time. I'd be surprised if the script for this thing has more than 30 pages.
Levi Everaerts you don't sound like a horror fan, and it's great that someone made a film like this instead of the crap they release in theatres from Hollywood....we need more slowburn, intelligent horror films like it follows, the babadook, the house of the devil, etc. as they are so far and few between....anyone who knows anything about horror is suspense and tension are key to a great horror film, and if you throw in an amazingly smart script you have a masterpiece....there was NEVER a need for an explanation for 'it' and people who need to be spoon fed this information are what's wrong with the movie going public today.you are exactly what chris stuckman talks about disliking about filmgoers today...that you need to be spoon fed everything and don't like it when movies let you think for yourself.sounds like you need to go to a different channel that praises films like ouji and annabelle
Levi Everaerts and your criticism of the script just shows your unintelligence for writing in general....I dare you to take on all the reviewers (including chris stuckman) who praise the films writing....watch the bluray, there's a special commentary feature where a bunch of film critics talk about how much of a brilliant film it follows really is (just like they did for snowpiercer - another film you probably think 'is stupid')
Did it seem stupid to anyone else that though every television in the movie had dials and rabbit ears, the film kept referencing the girls faux cosmetic mirror smartphone? Just pick a time period for your setting! (I also noticed every vehicle in the film was a sedan.) I get the point. I don't think the play-on-time-periods angle works.
Saw this movie two days ago and I loved it. I have not been able to stop thinking about it since then. The score, cinematography, and direction particularly stood out to me. The only problem I had with this movie was the climax of the movie (scene at the pool) did not make much logical sense. Great ending after that though so it didn't detract from the movie too much. I would personally give this an A. One of my favorites of the year thus far
I am usually easily scared by horror films, but I watched the babadook and I wasn't fazed in the slightest. I could see it was well made and I appreciate that, but overall I was slightly underwhelmed. It Follows though? Holy shit I have never been so unnerved by a film before. Goddamn
Great review. Watched it this weekend and agree with you on most points. Excellent cinematography and music. The tension build-up definitely makes this movie a must watch for any "horror" fan.
I think the scariest part of this film was *Spoiler* The part at night where Jay goes into the kitchen because she hears the window smash, and she sees that "it" right there. This was EXTREMELY disturbing, because: It was missing a sock, it had just a terrifying look on its face, and the fact that it was walking slowly only made it more horrifying
Cinematography: brilliant. Music score: brilliant. Acting: brilliant. Scary? No. Different? Yes. Memorable? Not really, I'd sum this movie up with the word 'Meh'! For me it had a weird tone, it seemed confused by it's own antagonist, and the decisions the characters make are random and bizarre. I don't really feel the need to ever re-watch this one.
This movie was very unsettling to me because when I was little, I had this really irrational fear that I would be followed by a monster exactly in the way that it's depicted in the movie: moving slowly but unrelentingly that would chase me across the world until it finally got me. Kind of scary to get that weird negative nostalgic feeling when watching it because of how eerily similar it was.
Around the middle, this film lost a lot of its scare factor for me, but the beginning was extremely suspenseful and disturbing in my opinion, especially the slow motion kitchen scene. I believe that the mother was implied to be a largely apathetic alcoholic, and the father was dead before the film began, so that's a satisfactory explanation for me for the parent's absence. I would give it a little more credit than you did but I'm a sucker for the soundtrack and the very original take on the the "chain-ghost" trope. I would give it an A- instead of a B+ but I respect your score and opinion. I did find this film more "scary" per-say than the Babadook over-all, but the plot in the Babadook was definitely more well put together and I really appreciated that about it. I love that both these films used practical effects in a very genuine way. That was one of the best aspects of both of them. Anyway, nice video. I'm subscribing.
I just finished watching It Follows and Blu-ray and I gotta say, I love the movie. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this movie!!! I want to do a full video review on my channel next week, but it's currently my second favorite movie of the year. My favorite is still "Inside Out".
i mean we need to stop sugar coating it this movie had abseloutly no climax and it was kind of boring and the ending wasn't satisfying at all it tottaly didn't live up to the expectations of course it has amazing cinematography some good elements but it excels at all the elements that don't actually make up a good horror film? maybe a thriller since there was good tention! but it was actually a bad horror film it wasn't remotly scary it had kind of cliché elements the ghost was stupid af it's jsut it wasn't good tbh i didn't like it i can see why someone can love it but i didn't and it's my opinion
JoSoong i havent seen an anime in like 7 months and an otaku was chosen when i was like 15 and first created this account i don't know how to change my name nor care to, but of course you'd judge somebody based on their online name because they simply disagree with your opinion, how dumb do you sound? i did not like the demon of the movie, i went in with very hig expectations because i heard alot of good things about it but it disapointed me, it was thrilling at first then it got very very boring, like the demon keeps following her not doing anything, over, and over , and over again until like literally nothing happened in the and i was left like ....ok? for someone who apreciates psychological thrillers and loves horror movies, i was not very pleased by this movie at all, it was mediocre at best, the cinematography was very good i'll give it that but it didn't capture my attention i mean it just didn't satisfy me and i was disapointed in the end and i'm fucking SORRY if you don't agree with me, you're allowed to think what you think, mister apreciate subtility, lol talk about pretentious twats
JoSoong i have never been so calm in my entire life, lmao just because i was stting my own opinion and delivering my point to you so you'd understand what i'm coming from does not mean i was hyper lmao you're the definition of an internet troll
The ending wad great in my opinion. There was somebody behind the protagonists, going towards them, and it's not clear if it was a human or "it" because there is no zoom or any highlight to the person. To me that was just masterful.
I guess I'm in the vast minority of folks who think It Follows was shit. I was extremely disappointed. Yes, it had good atmosphere, but it also had a lot of cheap jump scares. Yes, it had a great score and interesting cinematography, but it was also boring as hell throughout most of it. Yes, it doesn't hold your hand, but I'm just left wondering what the hell the movie was going for, particularly with the climax and the ending. Yes, it has a neat, probably symbolically poignant premise, but the execution and story are so numb, I just couldn't bring myself to care. Rhetorical, spoiler-laden questions: What was the point of the follower being able to appear as people the main character knew when that never fooled her and plays literally no part in the story? Why did the film imply that the main character was going out to a boat of people on the beach to spread her curse when the dialog reveals she didn't do so? Why was the skinny kid everyone ragged on SO SURE that the way to defeat the follower was to lure it to an indoor swimming pool and try to electrocute it, particularly when that idea is shown to be a complete dud (as it would be in real life; a breaker would snap before anyone got electrocuted)? Why not any other method of killing, like hitting it with a car or throwing it from a tall building? Why, after the follower was shot by a 1-in-a-million lucky shot to the head, did everyone just shrug and walk away and assume it was dead when nothing else seemed to faze it before? The guy shooting the gun didn't even know he had hit it at all, or where he had hit it, for that matter, so why did everyone act like they saw the bullseye shot? Why did the main girl then have sex with the scrawny kid when it was clear that they had no chemistry and she wasn't interested in him? Why didn't she just get on a plane and fly to a different continent, knowing that the follower either wouldn't pursue her into the water, or it would have to walk thousands of miles through the crushingly deep ocean to get to her, thus pretty much guaranteeing her safety?
Hold up the only jump scares I counted were two. That's it. And I was looking for it. That's not a shit load like you state. And I think the demon just did what It did to try and get near you. It wasn't fooling them most of the time but then again it did work. One with Jeff. His mom is knocking at his door...He opens it and screams mom wtf and boom. Got him. And then it trys to look like the father. Or Jeff afterwards. For reason it did work to a degree
nytolstoy It's not like there was any point to it looking like Jeff's mom: it was on the other side of a door. It could have looked like anyone. You don't really impersonate a knock by looking like someone. I don't recall the jump-scares off the top of my head, I just recall being surprised how many there were. I definitely remember the ball-off-the-window one.
datam0sh same here I only remembered two. But the whole mom demon look. I'm sure it did it just for him to open the door. It does things just to do it. I honestly don't remember seeing any more then the ball and when the window breaks. Maybe when the demon who's a tall man walks behind the sister but that's an actual frightening shot. And has a point as the demon chases after her
Well actually about the boat scene, she DOES go out and spread her curse. A lot of people might have missed that because they cut it out. But if you payed attention right after that scene, she's in her car and her hair is soaked, implying she swam out to them, THEN whoever she had sex with, the thing killed them and that's why it continues to follow her, cuz they died and it goes right back to her! She may have not even told them about it, she was just trying to get away from it. Hmm about the headshot, I assumed they had all seen it because of the sheet they had put over its head? But idk for sure... As for the it being disguised as the boy's mother, He could have been awake wondering in the house and so looking like the mother would have made it easier but yea he was asleep sooo... It didn't add up. yea I agree with some of the points you made that things don't stay consistent with each other in the film, but I have to say I liked the plot it just could have been done better.
Kim j well her hair could of been wet just because she got into the water. She could of turned back. And I'm guessing she did because it was imidiatley following her.
Hi Chris - I've intended to see this film for quite awhile. Your review encourages me & I will get to it in a few weeks. I also noticed how you said you loved the cinematography. I was looking for your review of "Let The Right One In". I couldn't find one. Even if you don't review it, you must see it. The cinematography is stunning, the story is very original, & it is as much an art film as it is a vampire film. I like your reviews because they are reviews & not a synopsis of the plot. No unannounced spoilers & reviews in a reasonable amount of time. Best wishes, Ted
Saw this for the first time last night and I really loved it, the score, the acting, and the overall metaphoric basis. And who can forget the gorgeous cinematography.
Best parts of this movie were the gorgeous low-budget cinematography from Mike Gioulakis and Disasterpeace's wonderfully unnerving chip-score. Really looking forward to see how David Robert Mitchell utilizes those same talents with his upcoming film, Under the Silver Lake.
This is easily the best horror movie I've seen in a long time. I haven't seen the Babadook yet, but regardless of my thoughts on that later this movie could only potentially move down to second. It reminds me of a creepypasta story a little(not one I read just stylistically). I love the ambiguity and how much is left to your imagination. It wasn't nightmare fuel like I hoped it would be, but it did mess with me enough. The only thing that really bothered me in the movie was that I couldn't tell when it was taking place. The girl in the beginning has a cell phone and a pretty recentish looking car, but then the main characters have nothing but old looking tech. they're TV has nobs and antennaes the radio is ancient looking, they use land lines and drive old cars. There was the little touchpad book thing that the one girl had though and that just makes me more uncertain. It's a weird thing to obscess on I know but it drove me crazy. I think the parents aren't around in the movie cause their either working all the time or they just suck. I had anticipated that the longer "it" followed and the closer "it" got that it's façade would get weirder and just slightly off. I was a little disappointed by that but it makes sense why that wouldn't work out for "it" too. That just could have been to push the audience a bit more.
did you just say if someone didn't like the Babadook it was because they just want the same thing over and over? Thats BS Chris. Some people like myself didn't like it because it was boring and not in anyway scary.
I agree. I didn't think the Babadook was scary, I don't understand the hype surrounding that film. Then again I loved It Follows, but there is a lot of hype around it too. Some of it is deserved, some of it isn't.
Mariusz Zieliński Ha no. I watch a ton of foreign movies. Nothing against the Aussies. Off the top of my head, one Aussie film I did like was Animal Kingdom. The Babadook is a well made film, but I just personally didn't find it scary. Only one scene involving the TV news, makes it even memorable to me. Different strokes for different folks.
Chris, you're my fave reviewer and a smart guy, but please stop misusing the word "literally" like so many others do! She wasn't "literally" a sitting duck, she was "figuratively" a sitting duck. And they didn't "literally" lift the scene, they lifted elements from a scene. Sorry, I know grammar police are annoying as Hell, but it's one of my pet peeves. Keep up the fantastic work!
Spoiler. The pool being wrecked I think represented the std destroying her life. The random jump scare with the kickball or other "random" jump scares works for this film in particular because it could represent that the std is constantly with you lingering around at all times. The kickball could of been kicked by the neighborhood kids or thrown by "it" because it did not have the intelligence to use a rock. Either way I could see those moments as representing an ingrained doom. Also, with all the hospital visits, property damage, and deaths the law or adults are never really involved. If someone was to think this unintentional I would say this metaphoric feature is speaking a different language. Realism is obviously not of interest over atmosphere. How about the campy scene with Gregg's mom anyone? Overall I actually think this is one of the better horror films to ever exist.
What I don't get is how he can be so positive about a horror movie that he didn't find to be scary. Things like great cinematography are fine but they wouldn't have saved "It Follows" from being a failure (as a horror film) if it wasn't scary. I think it was.
Humberto Duran That's nice. Just because you liked it better than you liked The Guest doesn't mean everyone else agrees with you. Do you know what the word opinion means? Look it up.
One of the forerunners of the often debated new subgenres ‘Elevated Horror’, along with ‘The Babadook’, ‘The Witch’, ‘The Lighthouse’, even the films of Ari Aster, though I’m not the biggest fan of them, the films of Jordan Peele, ‘It Comes at Night’ and so on. This one is the best at throwing back to the ‘80s in every aspect! Definitely Carpenter-esque with the way it’s shot, suspense, and of course, it’s AMAZING synth score!
The ball hitting the window DOES make sense beyond just being a jump scare. It's already established (when Jay is floating in the pool) that the neighbor kids are watching her, undoubtedly out of a budding sexual fascination (immediately after the ball hits the window you see one of them trying to get a peek at her in her underwear), which is just another psychological layer to this film; the protagonist is already the center of some not entirely welcome attention before this supernatural thing focuses on her. The feeling (and reality) of always being watched is something women deal with daily, and that's one of the fears this story gnaws at and exacerbates to unsettling effect. I enjoyed your review, by the way, and think you're spot on in almost every other particular. This was just one quibbling detail I felt warranted a defense. I'll be watching more of your videos. Thanks.
Wow this movie was not scary at all and the ending sucked. Ya the cinematography was cool the music or score I guess was really cool but other than that I would only recommend this movie if it was on Netflix streaming 2.9/5
it's one of the best movie i saw in 2015 and even of this first half of a decade. It wasn't meant to be scary, it was meant to just be a great movie. It's beautiful, the shots are photographic, artistic, the music is its own character, the tension never ends, the acting is good, the concept is simple yet genius, it's not spoon feded like you said (hate that too), and there s so many symbolism and beautiful scenes. I'd give it an A+
Less STD and more the 'sex-death' trope; where the virgin survives and the people who have sex don't. *see every slasher from the 70's onwards - this trope was also parodied in Scream. So kinda.
No there is definitely a being that follows them, but it's never fully explained and that's a good thing. Some kind of sex curse with an entity that comes and kills you rather than an actual disease.
What I loved about the ending is that we don't know if the person following them was IT, or just some guy walking. This movie had no jumps cares. Just gets in under your skin. The music freaked me the fuck out. It was definitely the better horror movie we've seen in theaters for awhile.
I enjoy movies with story that I have to analyze and follow, but same time I just really couldn't wrap my head around this. Although I enjoyed the set up and that this was something that hasn't been done before, it really interested me, but I felt that they had a good idea and failed to create a full origin of it. Like all I got was "Don't have sex, because STD kills". I saw a lot of potential in this movie and I was disappointed that it really didn't take off how I was expecting for it to. Like I wanted to see how it all began, like what started this thing. I wanted them to go further in depth with it and explain what exactly IT is and how it even started. I think that was the only thing I was disappointed in was the fact that it was never explained and to me that felt like a movie being rushed into production without much creativity with a new and fresh idea. I could have seen so much more potential if there was more of an origin for IT instead of just seeing people sitting around doing nothing and then out comes the thing ready to grab it's next victim ordeal. I don't mind leaving movies open to guessing, but for me personally, it would have been better if it was more explained than just going "I had sex and then the thing was there". It was an idea falling flat to me. But that's just me.
I think the scariest part was
*SPOILER*
*SPOILER*
*SPOILER*
Near the beginning when they let her sister in and it came in the room as the super tall dude
very true
I just saw it and I was shitting myself when that happened.
Thank you for you spoiler alert. I didn't read the comment..... but I've been seeing comments that just talk about shit that happens in the movie. Like... it's a review... A lot of us haven't seen the movie yet
MyZ001
Exactly! I had the "saddest part" of interstellar spoiled to me before i watched it because of a comment. They put a spoiler warning on it but the very next word was the spoiler lol
Compence Aww man... Watched the movie this weekend. Such a badass simple movie. I mean... Its not unbelievable.... but considering how low budget it is.. They did a really good job.
I didn't find It Follows scary as much as it was very unsettling. Same response I got from The Babadook. They have an ability to get under your skin.
Exactly what I think as well, they are very unnerving. I hate when people say "oh that's not scary" but yes it is actually if you think about it. It's freaking downright creepy to have some ghoul following you around.
Multiplex That's what good horror movies do.
I think it should have been more of a suspense thriller then a horror. Mostly because I just feel like when the scenes with the most subtly work the best. Scenes and moments were "it" was just kind of there, in the background no music or acknowledging it. That was much scarier and unnerving then anything else.
Multiplex It's called 'pychological horror', which tends to use less jump scares. The Ring was one of the first, I think, though there's probably many others.
Multiplex Yeah but isn't that the best sort of horror? The kind that sits in your subconscious after you watch it and has you looking over your shoulder? I would much rather see a film that did that than a film I walk out of and forget within the first half hour of leaving the theater. I could care less about the whole jump scare horror genre. Its cheap. Unsettling, to me, is the best way you can describe good horror because most adults are pretty hard to scare. Once you reach a certain age you stop believing in the boogie man...but if something can plague your mind to the point of uneasiness or fear. That is horror.
It Follows didn't scare me while I was watching. But when I was going to bed that night I started thinking about it and was extremely freaked out. Just imagining that old woman version of "IT" walking up my stairs and into my room.
Exactly
Totally disagree. An old woman walking at like 2mph is the least intimidating thing I could possibly think of.
JackSturmanFilms It’s not 2 mph that’s supposed to be scary. You don’t even know how fast she could go. She could be going much faster to get you later, man!!
Good thing I'm a virgin
@Rusty Shackleford, yeah I got that after watching it tonight. Watched the movie, thought 'Ok, creepy, but am not scared'. Went to poop after & grazed myself on the wall running back to my room!
Honestly, define "SCARY"... This movie for me was scary, the fact that no matter what you do you cant kill it or hide from it because it'll eventually find you, and even if you do pass it on it can still come back to get you. That CONSTANT tension and unpredictability throughout the film is what "scares" me in horror movies, not predictable jump scares that have a screeching sound building up to 5 seconds of silence before something jumps in front of the screen.
In that logic Paranormal Activity is frightening. I get why some people could think that but for me it has to rely more on the movie making than the concept. Get Out was not actually that scary of a concept compared to other horror films but its execution made me on the edge of my seat constantly, even if the jumpscares were a little cheap sometimes.
Machewsan. I agree with you 100%.
@Leaving Blank You sound insecure.
I think at the end of the day, there's only so much scare you can get from shear unease and tension. Don't get me wrong, I love those elements in movies, horror or otherwise, and It Follows executes them *masterfully* - but at the end of the day, this movie doesn't kill any characters, and there's not much violence, so the stakes don't feel all that high. I like the movie, but it doesn't really strike me as horror. It strikes me as a thriller with light horror stylization.
I like to bring up the movie Hereditary a lot when I talk about horror, because that too is a film that doesn't really use many jumpscares or other spineless cliches, much like It Follows, and yet it doesn't feel weak at being scary *in the slightest* - in fact, its pretty aggressively scary, to the point of really fucking up my head the first time I watched it, and this is just down to it utilizing much more morbidity and gruesomeness, and going much darker with its storyline. It's a movie that doesn't fuck around and I respect it for that
I watched this video then watched film theories how to beat it follows
"And once you get 'it' you're basically fucked" hehe
Is it aids
Once you're fucked, you basically get it*
fixed
And once you’ve been fucked, you’re basically fucked.
This movie didn't scare me at all while watching it, but after finishing the movie, I kept looking behind me especially in the middle of the night, checking whether there's it following me. The scare lingers quiet a while.
That's why i loved it it was DIFFERENT in amazing way best movie for me
YES I literally just watched the movie 10 min ago and I can't stop checking over my shoulder. Definitely scary in a completely different way.
It stayed with me for over a year
This movie was surprisingly good. I also enjoyed "The Babadook".
The babadook is one of the most depressing movies Iv ever seen idk it’s just not for me I hated it I’ll never watch it again, it just leaves you feeling like shit
@@toriwalthers9916 but it's also a 9/10 so
Its funny how people can have such a different reaction to horror movies. Especially with what scares a person. I've so many horror movies including the babadook and this one scared me more than the babadook. I would forgive the thing about the parents not being there because I think it added a creepy surrealism to the film. It also felt like the kids were entirely alone in dealing with the situation without any parents to help them.
Same here. It Follows, the kitchen scene, scared me way more than anything in the Babadook.
pyote5 I found this movie scarier just as an idea of something infinitely following you. The idea of having that unease gives me that unease as if it were real. Anxiety like crazy. The lack of a safe place, ever.
pyote5 The missing parent are related to the overall theme of growing up and realizing that sooner or later you will be gone. Before that happens your parents will be gone - and as an adult your parent at some will not be there to help you any longer. This is a story about the harsh conditions of real life nicely wrapped into a fairy tale complete with monsters and all.
pyote5 Yeah, this movie had a good ongoing trepidation and some genuinely creepy visuals. The kitchen scene was just disturbing. Loved it.
pyote5 Same, I found the whole atmosphere unsettling yet beautiful.
the unknown time period was very unique. At times you would think they're in the 90s but then Yara was reading on some weird shell compact. Also the season kept changing as well. The director said he never specified to make it a dream sequence.
The lingering creepiness and uneasiness this movie evoked was as scary as I've ever been scared. I can't think of a movie that scares me more. I'm not sure I completely understand the difference between scary and creepy in a horror context. I might be scared if I'm standing on the edge of a cliff looking down, but I don't consider that a horror context. When it comes to horror, it is more psychological, and while there is a sub-genre specifically for "psychological horror," I think pretty much any good horror movie has elements of it.
Now that I've seen The Babadook, I will say that It Follows was far scarier. The Babadook was a better film overall, but it just didn't affect me like It Follows did.
@@amjiva cap
I thought it was a genius movie. I love how you'd see things in the background far away that the characters weren't seeing. Plus it was entertaining, I'd definitely watch again.
I spent most of this movie slowly realizing it took place in my hometown, Detroit, which I appreciated haha
I love how the movie made the audience as a secondary character in the film. We were able to see everything Jay was seeing, but we couldn't do anything to help her. The audience became paranoid as well, because we weren't even sure what was real and what wasn't. Soon enough, everyone became of "suspect", especially after seeing the doppelgänger. My favorite scene has to be the scene where the camera rotates in a 360. If anyone has seeing the movie, you know exactly what I'm talking about. Awesome and creative scene.
Loved the urgency you expressed in going to see this as soon as possible! My cousin was the Producer and I've been hearing about It Follows for literally years, so as you could imagine, I was excited as hell to finally go see it too! I enjoyed your review and agree with most everything you said, the cast, the soundtrack, the screenplay, the camerawork, even the title, "It Follows" was so perfect, it all came together so well and really made everything so effective.. But personally, I liked how they didn't go into more detail on what "It" was or the origins of "It", I enjoyed not having everything explained or spoon-fed. I was left with the perfect amount of questions.. Anyway, thanks for the review and supporting the film!
This movie honestly terrified me more than any other movie I've ever seen. Not the jump scare type of fear, but the absolutely unnerving, under-your-skin, deep-seated fear that doesn't leave you. It gives me anxiety to this day to think about it and listen to parts of the score.
"No, the babadook was definitely more terrifying"
Nope, terrifying is knowing that fifty shades of grey made $530,720,000 worldwide.
The word I would use to describe both is “disturbing”
Excellent point.
Literally being a sitting duck? Wow I have to see this movie
LOL
Haha I have that same annoyance. Literally shouldn't be used figuratively, it's extremely contradicting.
Dean444ful Should you say "figuratively a sitting duck"?
Josh Oliver
no just say "a sitting duck" the statement itself is already assumed to be figurative, since people don't normally just turn into ducks.
No it isn't a literal duck
I was so impressed by this movie. Watched it twice back to back. The musical score was amazing! I loved the fact that you never got to see the identity of the thing. I was scared throughout the entire thing. I thought every person walking in the background was the ghost thing. Such an incredible film.
Easily my favorite movie of 2015 so far. Of course, I haven't seen nearly as many movies as you haha
ARTV oh shit
just finished watching the movie, did not expect to see you here haha
One of the worst movies I’ve seen this year
Jabba Fut why?
I feel that if you have a cast full of teenagers, you're gonna get what you're gonna get acting wise, and personally I'm a sucker for movies that focus on atmosphere and setting a tone that is distinct to itself. Everything about the movie felt like a dream, there was a constant presence of old and new things that didn't quite feel right, just how dreams can be. That along with some dreamy soundtracks and film locations that feel that they are real and not just a set makes for a great setting. And I love how the soundtrack just commands parts of the movie, I feel like it really makes things uneasy. And as far as the whole parents thing it was implied that they were heavy drinkers and basically not functioning parents.
Watchmen ! Chris, you shoud make a review of Zack Snyder's Watchmen. (Director's Cut version)
I know he really should but I think it's harder because that's just a whole nother video sat in between videos he doing about current movies
Best comic book film of all time
WolverinesNation92
I'll see your Watchmen, and raise you The Dark Knight Returns.
WolverinesNation92 Steven Bishop Road to Perdition? Anyone?
Michael Lotzer Admittedly that's a great film, but it's so close to a crime drama movie that it doesn't even seem like a graphic novel. I wouldn't put History of Violence up as a movie that's a great comic book film, because it's a lot more than that and a lot less than that at the same time.
The parents weren't shown much because they were alcoholics and the scene with the ball and boy on the roof was to show the roof was accessible which was how "It" was on the roof in one scene. I really enjoyed It Follows, but I didn't find the movie scary but it seemed really eerie due to the cinematography and the soundtrack along with the concept of something always following.
What are the hints that the parents are alcoholic?
I don't really understand why so many people are confused as to what "It" is, and more so, what the underlying meaning of this film was.
When I first heard about it and how it transferred to people, I thought "It" was a metaphor for STD's.
I was completely wrong though. "It" is a metaphor for adulthood.
Really, when you think about it, the entire movie is about the underlying paranoia of life beyond the safety you feel as a teenager. Sex is a very sacred and taboo thing in this film because these are, let's face it, teenagers we're talking about.
Does anyone else remember or, hell, even still feel that anxiety of the "grown up world"? The fear of having to live on your own for the first time, taking responsibility for your sexual actions, the overwhelming factors that are introduced to you as you enter adulthood that continue to pursue you for the rest of your life?
Yeah, that's what this entire movie entails. "It" is literally a physical manifestation of the adult world and how it "follows" you. It's not ever something we're taught about, it's just something we have to learn on our own to do. Some people make it, some people don't, some people take a long time to get past that area of their lives where they need to depend on others.
In that sense, the movie isn't really that scary as it is enlightening, because let's face it, we've all been scared of the ambiguity of life and what we may encounter in the future. And no uncoincidentally, it all begins around the same time most of us probably had sex, almost like that was our ticket or entrance into the burdens of life.
Crucillus Thorn sorry that's not it. nice try though. the director explained it, go watch
+Crucillus Thorn If it was less threatening i could see it as being a metaphor for STD's or adulthood but since that first girl's leg was brutally desecrated and it plays some sick game of assuming the form of friends or family i immediately got the idea that it's far more sinister than those things.
+Lachie Hurburgh It's a metaphorical STD. It can be more brutal. Yeah, STDs don't twist your leg around but they are brutal and they are transmitted through sex. It's sort of like the Babadook. The Babadook is a monster that is a symbol of depression and grief. Does grief and depression make you kill your dog? Or necessarily murder your child? Or vomit up black gunk? Or rip your teeth out? No, but it is still a metaphorical representation of an STD.
+Rusty Shackleford Considering that is exactly what the director explained, that is indeed it.
I totally agree with you even though he didn't mean to, more than likely he unintentionally did.
"....And once you get IT, you're basically FUCKED!!!!"
Chris you made my day :,)
tbh it was the only movie that ever REALLY scared me
I think it was the mix of the dreamlike setting and the cheesy but strangely unnerving music mixed with the thought of never being safe that really got to me
I know a lot of people say it didn't scare them but I think this one hit me on a personal level
the whole thing is just a giant metaphor for the uncertain struggle of the adolescent and as a teenager, I can definitely relate
This movie was scarier after the movie was over. A general sense of being watched and feeling creeped out stayed with me for days
POTENTIAL SPOILERS: I think that the director said that the way he wanted it to be was like a dream. I was so confused about those neighborhood kids, that one kid who was peeping through the window, the ball that hit the window the lack of any adults especially the police whom never even get screen time, the weird retro futuristic dystopian setting and pool that was randomly broken.
But the more I thought about how dreams are, its true they are just like that! They're so weird, disjointed and irrational and there is always something quite not right and thats what this movie did with like the shell kindle thing, the old cars, the weird old time movies they always seemed to be watching, the girl sleeping on the hood of her car and strange electronics during the pool scene and also the fact that the pool didn't electrocute the girl.
It really felt like a nightmare, and honestly it didn't "scare" me either in the general sense with cheap jump scares or a scary looking monster but it was so unsettling and similar to dreams that I've had that my stomach twisted and turned during it and it legitimately gave me nightmares. Its really great the more you look at it as an inescapable dream instead of reality. And just a great film in general for horror fans!
I loved this movie. It wasn’t jump scare scary, but the suspense was great. I felt on edge the entire movie. I love a good horror movie that just has a different story line then so many of the others, haunted houses, deranged killers that won’t ever die. This story was a bit more unique to say the least.
Just watched this late last night. Put it on and was going to fall asleep and then rewatch it in the morning (that's my process...don't know why). Despite having slept 2-3 hours a night for a week now, and how dead tired I was, this movie was so damn tense I just couldn't fall asleep. Then, once it was over, I spent a solid hour online trying to see what the filmmaker had to say about a few key scenes. I was startled by the jump scares (including the big one that we see in the trailer), and I've never spent so much time studying the horizon of a shot. Good thing the cinematography was stunning, because you would notice if it wasn't in this movie, you spend so much time looking at everything BUT the actors. But the movie wasn't that "scary" in the traditional sense, certainly not like Paranormal Activity was (don't pretend that movie didn't scare the shit out of you when it first came out). But it was just as tense and much, much, much more creepy.
Going into SPOILER talk about the creepy aspect, because two scenes really stuck with me and I can't convince myself either way: (SPOILERS) The boat scene. What the fuck happened!? Did she do it or not? I'm leaning 60-40 that she did. That her cast wasn't wet because she swam halfway there and changed her mind, but that she swam out to a boat filled with strangers and had sex with all of them to kill them (a small boat like that, it's not as though there was anywhere to secret away and have sex with just one of them - plus two of IT's incarnations later looked very much like those boat guys, I'll rewatch the movie on my HDTV and probably on BluRay soon to be sure). Either way, that is fucking creepy as SHIT! To push a young girl, a kid really, to a situation where she's willing to get gang fucked just so she doesn't die? That's just straight horrific. I'm a guy, so it's different, but I can't imagine I'd ever have group sex with a bunch of strangers just to stay alive - but I also recognize that's BECAUSE I'm a guy and guys are conditioned to think that it'd be better to be dead than to be emasculated like that. Then the prostitute scene, too. Did he do it? Certainly he planned to when he left his house, dressed like Eminem from 8 Mile and all. But could he do it? Going to a prostitute is no big deal to me, personally. I've never done it, doubtful I ever will, but I'm all for individual rights - do whatever the fuck you want with your body, so long as it doesn't endanger others. But he is, potentially, carrying the Darth Vader of STDs. And that's some dark shit, because he'd be killing every guy that goes to that prostitute - as well as potentially killing those guys wives/girlfriends. In other words, he'd be murdering a LOT of innocent people.
Then the ending, of course. They, as the director himself said so eloquently, "Scooby Doo'd" IT. Ridiculous and with no clear plan. Did it work? Did it fail? I'm leaning towards it probably did. As utterly stupid and ridiculous as it sounds. We've seen IT get shot a number of times before, go down, and then get right back up (including in that same scene), so why did IT not get up and out of the water this time? And then there's the last scene. Someone's following them, a bit fast, sure, but whoever that is is wearing IT's favorite color - white. But so are they, because fuck you, clear endings are for suckers.
Think about writing this for a living getting paid for it.
@@nameless.greyceo i was about to say the same he really should be making use of that analysis 😅
I agree with this review on so many levels, especially the car sleep thing. HOW DID THAT MAKE SENSE?!
Did someone watch "Sinister"?
That was a really good horror movie
I did I love that film it was genuinely scary which was the scariest shirt in it for u mine was the one with the car on fire the music just got to me
I didn't really like the last third of the movie. The snuff stuff was scary as fuck though.
***** Yes it was
It had some problems, but it definitely gave me chills and I haven't seen a movie pull off that real horror feel in quite a while. I almost was too scared to put the disc back in the case afterwards lol and pretty much didn't want it my house, haha.
The photos and videos were the scariest for me and also the box scene. It had so much suspense and didn't know what to expect. I knew there was going to be a scare there but I had no clue what it was going to be. Ethan Hawks character kind of pissed me off but he is a great actor and I found I could still root for the dude.
*SPOILERS*
I meant box scene where the kid flies out. I realised after my comment that there was a lot of box scenes lol.
Can you do a review on Donnie Darko? Or have you already? I loved that movie
Jj Vieira Would definitely love to see a Darko review from Chris. Despite not being being a 'horror' movie as such, it really manages to be absorbing and can be quite terrifying.
I think I would enjoy it better in his "Explained" video format then his reviewed.
John Klein For sure, An in depth review of DD would be AMAZING!
why go in depth on a terrible movie?
solo_00 Curious, what are your feelings on Enemy?
I'm a huge classic horror guy and I thought the movie was just ok. Nothing spectacular to brag about. The beginning was great but after a while it seemed like the movie kind of dragged too much. Overall I give it a 6/10
It Follows remains the most terrifying horror film I have ever seen. I screamed out loud at least 3 times. It just got me in a way that no other film ever has.
I've already given my response regarding "The Babadook," so I'll just add here that I did not find it that terrifying and didn't think it was as intense as "It Follows," although I understand its appeal to many.I acknowledge that there are some scenes that seemed to just end, then you find the character(s) in another setting. It bugged me a little, but I did find myself weeks later still thinking about it beyond what I'd thought the night I watched it, and unraveling some of the things that bugged me. For example, a scene at the lake in which she meets a couple of new guys, then the next thing you now you're in some other setting. It's left to us to deduce what must have transpired because of the story and nature of "it," and it's so obvious when you get it that you feel stupid for not having gotten it the first time. Not quite as stupid as you felt five minutes after walking out of BWP just after you figured out it made no sense. Or is that more like shame that you thought it was really good for 299 seconds?Regardless, the fact that it still nagged at me weeks after viewing tells me it did its job. I wasn't unnerved, but just going back to it from time to time. BTW, I see you have not reviewed "Absentia." It's a 2011 release that is no longer streaming on NF, but I think you would enjoy it.
"I knew when it was over I'd have a good night's sleep"
If this is how we're judging our horror films, I pity the genre. No wonder it needs to be constant jump scare, orchestra battle, bullshit that panders to the audience. If someone tries, it still gets marked up with the verbal red ink of a review because of something subjective like how you slept after the film.
I'm not saying Chris said that quote, but someone in the comments did, and this isn't how we should judge horror films. It's like taking a comedy movie and saying "I never laughed out loud. The entire film had me smiling and chuckling and internally enjoying it in every way, but I never got a VERY PHYSICAL reaction, so therefore it's lesser"
That's crap. Just because you aren't terrified, doesn't mean someone else won't be. Judge the film by things you can actually judge and we will be much better off.
Chris's review did not harp on the "I wasn't scared therefore it's bad" and it's mostly valid viewpoints on the film. I loved the film, but I also slept calmly. The last film that made me sleep poorly was The Ring and that was because I was 11 when I watched it. Does that mean The Ring is the best horror film because it "got" me specifically? No? So why does that argument work here in reverse?
Just my thoughts.
i know this comment is 6 years old but this was very well said lol
One of the best horror films I have seen! Amazing!
Virgil Hawkins wartched that the other night, loved the dry hurmour
Good movie but it wasn't scary.
zeusbacchushades True, but I don't feel it really set out to be scary - For example, Shaun of the Dead is a horror comedy, but that never tried to actually scare the audience :)
zeusbacchushades be honest tho...are any scary movies really that..."scary" i cant name one that really had me frightened since ive been an adult
If a horror movie is not scary then is not good and it failed.
It wasn't scary but it was unnerving,disturbing, freaky, creepy seriously the situation it poses seems terrifying.
When I announced on instagram I was going to see this everyone said I was going to hate it and I left the theatre very satisfied. It was a great movie & was way better than horror movies now a days.
The people who didn't like this movie are... maybe not very keen on the horror genre? Granted, the genre is big and not two things are alike, but if you like modern horror, a la new Dawn of the Dead, you will probably dislike the original Dawn of the Dead. Films like Repulsion, which are slow, minimalist movies, but really terrifying. The original Nightmare on Elm Street takes its time, too.
A matter of taste, I suppose. I didn't find many "jump scares" here, what I really liked is the feeling of dread that permeates the film, as well as the many hints into the real themes of the movie, particularly the loss of innocence (any of you realized that all of this starts as Jay sleeps with a guy and later the characters do many infantile things trying to feel safe, like going to a playground and sitting in circles in the yard?).
I, for one, loved it. But then again, I loved Lon Chaney Jr's The Wolf-Man. Slow flicks, but real smart.
Dr Wolfenstein I hated this movie and not because of how I don't like horror movies, I do. This movie had a pathetic story with no characters at all.
Michael Colby there were actually multiple characters. You must not be all there
Sam Hain blank people with no development are not characters.
It's strange, because I did see the characters and understood their motivations and why they acted like they did. Again, we both may be horror fans and I may love Jaws, while you hate it and you may love Suspiria while I hate it (which I don't). A matter of taste.
Dr Wolfenstein no you did not because there was no character development.
I can't wait for his review on "unfriended" cause that movie looks terrible😂😂
That movie is going to be complete garbage
Connor Kennington i agree 100 percent as a matter of fact unfriended was one of the trailers to it follows and as soon as i saw it i said TRASH!!! and two people belowm are like woah looks really good lets come watch it!! just like chris said people are just interested in watching the same thing over and over again. over rated horror fil that will make a lot of money
Agree, but there is a concern of being a festival pick
Has a 80% on rotten tomatoes..that's pretty Damn good.
Seriously, it should be illegal to have a skype notification sound on a youtube ad.
It Follows had a great 80s vibe and some tense/frightening moments. A great movie to experience in the theater. I enjoyed it.
Sorry for Chris, he couldn't connect with the scary element of the movie, I mean, how often we see ghost or zombies in our homes or street ? and how often we're looking back over our shoulder when returning home in the night or when we're alone in the darkness and get the feeling that something is lurkinng around? The creature from the movie take that to a whole new level and defies everything because it hunt you even in daylight!!!
on an open field, would you lock into a car? or would you ratter to stay out and wait to see where it comes from and then make a decision before put yourself inside a box. I'm surprised Chris couldn't see this , specially when in the movie , every time they lock themselves in one room the creature finds the way to get in .
It Follows is definitely an *A*
you have a good point, but the movie just feels so cheap, that most people will probably miss it because they will be distracted by the flaws, maybe with a better script, an actually scary enemy, and protagonists with a bit of brain, it would be more interesting.
This enemy wasn't scary?
Put yourself in their shoes. I can't think of a worse predicament. My life would be overrun with paranoia.
I'd rather deal with ghosts or zombies any day.
Cmon. Spoilers》》》》
The enemies were only normal random people that walked reaaaally slow. And acted like drugged or drunk. I know it could take any form but... the protagonists were real pussies . They were 5 on 1 . And they didnt even try to fight it. They only run the whole movie. So basically we dont know if it is strong or not . Or what attacks/powers does it have. We only saw it once fucking that dead dude. Its just a cheap script to disguise the lack of a real enemy and to make the movie longer.
I love seeing these iconic movie reviews pop up in my feed again. I rewatched the film earlier this year and this movie does more with visual storytelling you just have to pay attention.. like the protagonist comes from a broken home. In the beginning of the movie in like a really subtle scene her mom is drunk and passed out and i think something happened to the dad which explains both their absence from the movie. And then like in the end pool part the creeper takes the form of her dad like fuck that was weird.
The movie has some creepy and disturbing moments I don't really get how some people weren't scared by them? But also kinda laughable parts too like the naked man on her roof i was cracking up.
I think your grading was accurate.
I just got this movie... I know, I know, a little late to the party. I loved it! Finally, something unique and refreshing. This is what we need more of. Although some of the elements were things we've seen before, they still had a unique sauce that made the new and exciting. It you watch this in a good theater environment with good sound and a big picture it will definitely creep you out. I would give IT FOLLOWS an A-.
I thought this movie was incredible, and it really terrified me. Mainly the atmosphere, and the fact you dont know where "IT" is. I love this movie to death and it gets a 9 out of 10 from me.
reviewing horror and comedies is tricky because horror and comedy are extremely subjective
Very disappointing in this film.. First of all, the movie literally didn't scare me for one second ! This is a massive problem.
I'm not a fan of horror, but I am a fan of indie films so I was looking forward to this one.
I don't understand where all the praise is coming from. Sure, it wasn't like every other horror movie, but that alone doesn't make for a good film. The acting was solid, but that's about it.
I thought the soundtrack didn't work in a lot of places. I love 80's movies, and I love those soundtracks, but it just doesn't work for a film this day and age. Some tracks were pretty good, but the main theme (like when she prepares herself to go on a date - aka, not meant to be scary) just annoyed me to death.
I feel like people are only praising this film cause it was "different", not because it was any good. I mean, you said it yourself, the film wasn't scary, so why exactly are people praising it ? It's like saying a comedy doesn't have to be funny as long as the acting is good. A horror NEEDS to be scary, else it just fails.
The cinematography was decent, and sometimes even quite good, but imo it doesn't elevate this film from "okay" to "great".
The story was nothing special, and as far as I'm concerned, it's just an exaggeration of aids/std's and symbolism alone just doesn't make for a good film. It wasn't awful, but it was nowhere near as good as I thought it would be.
Lovely review as always. When I walked out of theaters, I had no idea what to think of this movie. I walked in with two "cliche horror film" friends, which may or may not have been a bad choice. But after careful thought, I came to a conclusion that this movie was done brilliantly. I agree with everything in the review. It was shot brilliantly, and I am a huge fan of the 360 shots in particular like when they were talking to the teacher. The suspense was unreal.
Chris Stuckmann I just discovered your channel and boy, I must say I'm suprised how much I've agreed with your reviews. I trust your judgment on films and have gone on a binge watching your posts, keep up the great work. 😊👍👌👏
I think this review is spot on. I agree with all of your points and like your point of view. And The Babadook was freaking horrifying!
I actually really liked this movie and the ending really made me think. I thought the Babadook was scarier but this movie had the same theme of creating a scary atmosphere
Not gonna lie I hate this movie, it's really boring :( Please don't fight me
+christian baluyot *punch kick fireball*
christian baluyot fight!!!!
I agree. this movie was pretty bad.
+Michael Gonzalez *in your opinion
+Lachie Hurburgh yes in my opinion. In my opinion this movie was a big pile of shit. Did you not know that a big part of things people say are opinions? It's not mandatory for someone to state that they're expressing an opinion. anyone with a shred of common since can figure it out and not have to make an ignorant comment about it.
Thank you for reviewing this, I was curious what you thought about it. My only thing, and I'm not sure if someone has already said this, is that the director has said in interviews about this movie that he wanted it to be like a dream. This explains why we seem to be in several different time periods at once. (The future shell phone, the saline solution, the black and white television) This, I believe, also explains the ambiguity. (Particularly with the parents being gone)
Great review Chris. I finally caught a screening last night and I agree with almost everything you said. The Halloween shots right of the bat with the opening scene and throughout the film were great, but that classroom scene was definitely a bit much. Great job as always.
The film is meant to be full of 80s tropes/clichés cause it's being subversive. Also the lack of explanation on 'IT' is what makes the film more tense, not everything needs to be spelled out.
lol that's a cop out for bad writing.
It's not really, if it was written that way.
Ben Hibburd This film was barely written at all. The characters had no development, by the end of it we knew jack shit about them except for the fact that that one guy she eventually hooks up with is a prick who just want to bone all the time. I'd be surprised if the script for this thing has more than 30 pages.
Levi Everaerts you don't sound like a horror fan, and it's great that someone made a film like this instead of the crap they release in theatres from Hollywood....we need more slowburn, intelligent horror films like it follows, the babadook, the house of the devil, etc. as they are so far and few between....anyone who knows anything about horror is suspense and tension are key to a great horror film, and if you throw in an amazingly smart script you have a masterpiece....there was NEVER a need for an explanation for 'it' and people who need to be spoon fed this information are what's wrong with the movie going public today.you are exactly what chris stuckman talks about disliking about filmgoers today...that you need to be spoon fed everything and don't like it when movies let you think for yourself.sounds like you need to go to a different channel that praises films like ouji and annabelle
Levi Everaerts and your criticism of the script just shows your unintelligence for writing in general....I dare you to take on all the reviewers (including chris stuckman) who praise the films writing....watch the bluray, there's a special commentary feature where a bunch of film critics talk about how much of a brilliant film it follows really is (just like they did for snowpiercer - another film you probably think 'is stupid')
Ever since I watched It Follows, I’ve been looking over my shoulder constantly to make sure nobody’s following me.
Did it seem stupid to anyone else that though every television in the movie had dials and rabbit ears, the film kept referencing the girls faux cosmetic mirror smartphone? Just pick a time period for your setting! (I also noticed every vehicle in the film was a sedan.) I get the point. I don't think the play-on-time-periods angle works.
I think it adds to the film, it creates a sense of a loss of time. Like it’s all some dream.
hmm, the main actress has a bit of a young Gwen Stefani thing going on
Or Dakota fanning
YouAreTearingMeApart Lisa or bree Larsen
Brittany Murphy
Nah keira knightley
Saw this movie two days ago and I loved it. I have not been able to stop thinking about it since then. The score, cinematography, and direction particularly stood out to me. The only problem I had with this movie was the climax of the movie (scene at the pool) did not make much logical sense. Great ending after that though so it didn't detract from the movie too much. I would personally give this an A. One of my favorites of the year thus far
Oh i cannot wait to see you review Unfriended
I am usually easily scared by horror films, but I watched the babadook and I wasn't fazed in the slightest. I could see it was well made and I appreciate that, but overall I was slightly underwhelmed. It Follows though? Holy shit I have never been so unnerved by a film before. Goddamn
I guess it depends what kind of thing scares you. I am the opposite, babadook is the scariest film I've ever seen without a doubt.
Same.
If you don't have or *like* kids... The Babadook is scary AF!
Rumor has it , Fury of the Film Fan is coming BACK.
Great review. Watched it this weekend and agree with you on most points. Excellent cinematography and music. The tension build-up definitely makes this movie a must watch for any "horror" fan.
I think the scariest part of this film was
*Spoiler*
The part at night where Jay goes into the kitchen because she hears the window smash, and she sees that "it" right there. This was EXTREMELY disturbing, because: It was missing a sock, it had just a terrifying look on its face, and the fact that it was walking slowly only made it more horrifying
Cinematography: brilliant. Music score: brilliant. Acting: brilliant. Scary? No. Different? Yes. Memorable? Not really, I'd sum this movie up with the word 'Meh'! For me it had a weird tone, it seemed confused by it's own antagonist, and the decisions the characters make are random and bizarre. I don't really feel the need to ever re-watch this one.
wayne morris brilliant brilliant brilliant....memorable, no. lol
The Horror genre as everyone knows has been real bad the last 30 years but "It Follows" was pretty good actually
This movie was very unsettling to me because when I was little, I had this really irrational fear that I would be followed by a monster exactly in the way that it's depicted in the movie: moving slowly but unrelentingly that would chase me across the world until it finally got me. Kind of scary to get that weird negative nostalgic feeling when watching it because of how eerily similar it was.
Around the middle, this film lost a lot of its scare factor for me, but the beginning was extremely suspenseful and disturbing in my opinion, especially the slow motion kitchen scene. I believe that the mother was implied to be a largely apathetic alcoholic, and the father was dead before the film began, so that's a satisfactory explanation for me for the parent's absence. I would give it a little more credit than you did but I'm a sucker for the soundtrack and the very original take on the the "chain-ghost" trope. I would give it an A- instead of a B+ but I respect your score and opinion. I did find this film more "scary" per-say than the Babadook over-all, but the plot in the Babadook was definitely more well put together and I really appreciated that about it. I love that both these films used practical effects in a very genuine way. That was one of the best aspects of both of them. Anyway, nice video. I'm subscribing.
I just finished watching It Follows and Blu-ray and I gotta say, I love the movie. I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this movie!!! I want to do a full video review on my channel next week, but it's currently my second favorite movie of the year. My favorite is still "Inside Out".
i mean we need to stop sugar coating it this movie had abseloutly no climax and it was kind of boring and the ending wasn't satisfying at all it tottaly didn't live up to the expectations of course it has amazing cinematography some good elements but it excels at all the elements that don't actually make up a good horror film? maybe a thriller since there was good tention! but it was actually a bad horror film it wasn't remotly scary it had kind of cliché elements the ghost was stupid af it's jsut it wasn't good tbh i didn't like it i can see why someone can love it but i didn't and it's my opinion
of course, the anime nerd has no appreciation for subtlety.
JoSoong i havent seen an anime in like 7 months and an otaku was chosen when i was like 15 and first created this account i don't know how to change my name nor care to, but of course you'd judge somebody based on their online name because they simply disagree with your opinion, how dumb do you sound? i did not like the demon of the movie, i went in with very hig expectations because i heard alot of good things about it but it disapointed me, it was thrilling at first then it got very very boring, like the demon keeps following her not doing anything, over, and over , and over again until like literally nothing happened in the and i was left like ....ok? for someone who apreciates psychological thrillers and loves horror movies, i was not very pleased by this movie at all, it was mediocre at best, the cinematography was very good i'll give it that but it didn't capture my attention i mean it just didn't satisfy me and i was disapointed in the end and i'm fucking SORRY if you don't agree with me, you're allowed to think what you think, mister apreciate subtility, lol talk about pretentious twats
Soniele Otaku of course, the anime nerd has a spastic fit over a youtube comment.
JoSoong i have never been so calm in my entire life, lmao just because i was stting my own opinion and delivering my point to you so you'd understand what i'm coming from does not mean i was hyper lmao you're the definition of an internet troll
The ending wad great in my opinion. There was somebody behind the protagonists, going towards them, and it's not clear if it was a human or "it" because there is no zoom or any highlight to the person. To me that was just masterful.
I guess I'm in the vast minority of folks who think It Follows was shit. I was extremely disappointed.
Yes, it had good atmosphere, but it also had a lot of cheap jump scares. Yes, it had a great score and interesting cinematography, but it was also boring as hell throughout most of it. Yes, it doesn't hold your hand, but I'm just left wondering what the hell the movie was going for, particularly with the climax and the ending. Yes, it has a neat, probably symbolically poignant premise, but the execution and story are so numb, I just couldn't bring myself to care.
Rhetorical, spoiler-laden questions:
What was the point of the follower being able to appear as people the main character knew when that never fooled her and plays literally no part in the story? Why did the film imply that the main character was going out to a boat of people on the beach to spread her curse when the dialog reveals she didn't do so? Why was the skinny kid everyone ragged on SO SURE that the way to defeat the follower was to lure it to an indoor swimming pool and try to electrocute it, particularly when that idea is shown to be a complete dud (as it would be in real life; a breaker would snap before anyone got electrocuted)? Why not any other method of killing, like hitting it with a car or throwing it from a tall building? Why, after the follower was shot by a 1-in-a-million lucky shot to the head, did everyone just shrug and walk away and assume it was dead when nothing else seemed to faze it before? The guy shooting the gun didn't even know he had hit it at all, or where he had hit it, for that matter, so why did everyone act like they saw the bullseye shot? Why did the main girl then have sex with the scrawny kid when it was clear that they had no chemistry and she wasn't interested in him? Why didn't she just get on a plane and fly to a different continent, knowing that the follower either wouldn't pursue her into the water, or it would have to walk thousands of miles through the crushingly deep ocean to get to her, thus pretty much guaranteeing her safety?
Hold up the only jump scares I counted were two. That's it. And I was looking for it. That's not a shit load like you state. And I think the demon just did what It did to try and get near you. It wasn't fooling them most of the time but then again it did work. One with Jeff. His mom is knocking at his door...He opens it and screams mom wtf and boom. Got him. And then it trys to look like the father. Or Jeff afterwards. For reason it did work to a degree
nytolstoy It's not like there was any point to it looking like Jeff's mom: it was on the other side of a door. It could have looked like anyone. You don't really impersonate a knock by looking like someone.
I don't recall the jump-scares off the top of my head, I just recall being surprised how many there were. I definitely remember the ball-off-the-window one.
datam0sh same here I only remembered two. But the whole mom demon look. I'm sure it did it just for him to open the door. It does things just to do it. I honestly don't remember seeing any more then the ball and when the window breaks. Maybe when the demon who's a tall man walks behind the sister but that's an actual frightening shot. And has a point as the demon chases after her
Well actually about the boat scene, she DOES go out and spread her curse. A lot of people might have missed that because they cut it out. But if you payed attention right after that scene, she's in her car and her hair is soaked, implying she swam out to them, THEN whoever she had sex with, the thing killed them and that's why it continues to follow her, cuz they died and it goes right back to her! She may have not even told them about it, she was just trying to get away from it. Hmm about the headshot, I assumed they had all seen it because of the sheet they had put over its head? But idk for sure... As for the it being disguised as the boy's mother, He could have been awake wondering in the house and so looking like the mother would have made it easier but yea he was asleep sooo... It didn't add up. yea I agree with some of the points you made that things don't stay consistent with each other in the film, but I have to say I liked the plot it just could have been done better.
Kim j well her hair could of been wet just because she got into the water. She could of turned back. And I'm guessing she did because it was imidiatley following her.
one of the best and most fearful movies i've seen in a long long time!
Exactly my views!!!!!
Hi Chris - I've intended to see this film for quite awhile. Your review encourages me & I will get to it in a few weeks. I also noticed how you said you loved the cinematography. I was looking for your review of "Let The Right One In". I couldn't find one. Even if you don't review it, you must see it. The cinematography is stunning, the story is very original, & it is as much an art film as it is a vampire film. I like your reviews because they are reviews & not a synopsis of the plot. No unannounced spoilers & reviews in a reasonable amount of time. Best wishes, Ted
It Follows is one of my top 5 movies of this year. It was GREAT. Good review btw Chris
Saw this for the first time last night and I really loved it, the score, the acting, and the overall metaphoric basis. And who can forget the gorgeous cinematography.
is it okay to think The Babadook was a terrible horror film?
***** ok, cool. I didn't know that given today's cultural climate.
Dee Kay that movie sucked so bad lol.
It was ok as a thriller but horror? Nah
I got fed up with the kid and couldn't continue the movie ... oops
Dee Kay Oh, yes. It was not at all scary to me. I think it fits more in the drama/suspense category than horror.
This movie shoulda been called "It Swallows" cuz it did more than just suck.
Thanks, best review I've seen so far... Utter waste of time... It Swallos the porn version may be worth a look in comparison...?
Best parts of this movie were the gorgeous low-budget cinematography from Mike Gioulakis and Disasterpeace's wonderfully unnerving chip-score. Really looking forward to see how David Robert Mitchell utilizes those same talents with his upcoming film, Under the Silver Lake.
This is easily the best horror movie I've seen in a long time. I haven't seen the Babadook yet, but regardless of my thoughts on that later this movie could only potentially move down to second. It reminds me of a creepypasta story a little(not one I read just stylistically). I love the ambiguity and how much is left to your imagination. It wasn't nightmare fuel like I hoped it would be, but it did mess with me enough. The only thing that really bothered me in the movie was that I couldn't tell when it was taking place. The girl in the beginning has a cell phone and a pretty recentish looking car, but then the main characters have nothing but old looking tech. they're TV has nobs and antennaes the radio is ancient looking, they use land lines and drive old cars. There was the little touchpad book thing that the one girl had though and that just makes me more uncertain. It's a weird thing to obscess on I know but it drove me crazy. I think the parents aren't around in the movie cause their either working all the time or they just suck. I had anticipated that the longer "it" followed and the closer "it" got that it's façade would get weirder and just slightly off. I was a little disappointed by that but it makes sense why that wouldn't work out for "it" too. That just could have been to push the audience a bit more.
STG - Sexual Transmitted Ghost
StoneCold316 STD - Sexually Transmitted Demon
I just watched it. It isn't scary at all. It has no plot line.
I don't think you know what a plot line is mate
did you just say if someone didn't like the Babadook it was because they just want the same thing over and over? Thats BS Chris. Some people like myself didn't like it because it was boring and not in anyway scary.
I agree. I didn't think the Babadook was scary, I don't understand the hype surrounding that film. Then again I loved It Follows, but there is a lot of hype around it too. Some of it is deserved, some of it isn't.
Josh Deaton Maybe you just didnt enjoy Babadook cos it's Australian?
Mariusz Zieliński
Ha no. I watch a ton of foreign movies. Nothing against the Aussies. Off the top of my head, one Aussie film I did like was Animal Kingdom. The Babadook is a well made film, but I just personally didn't find it scary. Only one scene involving the TV news, makes it even memorable to me. Different strokes for different folks.
Actually is Predestination considered an Aussie film? Cause I liked that, one of those films that messes with your head the more you think about it.
Just remembered, a good Aussie horror flick. That I like, couldn't remember the name, is The Loved Ones. Check that one out
Chris, you're my fave reviewer and a smart guy, but please stop misusing the word "literally" like so many others do! She wasn't "literally" a sitting duck, she was "figuratively" a sitting duck. And they didn't "literally" lift the scene, they lifted elements from a scene. Sorry, I know grammar police are annoying as Hell, but it's one of my pet peeves. Keep up the fantastic work!
Spoiler. The pool being wrecked I think represented the std destroying her life. The random jump scare with the kickball or other "random" jump scares works for this film in particular because it could represent that the std is constantly with you lingering around at all times. The kickball could of been kicked by the neighborhood kids or thrown by "it" because it did not have the intelligence to use a rock. Either way I could see those moments as representing an ingrained doom. Also, with all the hospital visits, property damage, and deaths the law or adults are never really involved. If someone was to think this unintentional I would say this metaphoric feature is speaking a different language. Realism is obviously not of interest over atmosphere. How about the campy scene with Gregg's mom anyone? Overall I actually think this is one of the better horror films to ever exist.
0:58 Best line Chris ever said
Lolol
What I don't get is how he can be so positive about a horror movie that he didn't find to be scary. Things like great cinematography are fine but they wouldn't have saved "It Follows" from being a failure (as a horror film) if it wasn't scary. I think it was.
horror comes in many different ways. I'd say a crazy thing that can look like anyone and kills to be pretty terrifying. Also the mystery of 'it'
Pedro Bretones Right. Though in the end it's not so much the story idea that makes a movie scary/terrifying but the way it is executed.
Come on bro u gave The Guest an A but It Follows a B pfft please.
So?
It Follows is great "so" my ass.
Humberto Duran That's nice. Just because you liked it better than you liked The Guest doesn't mean everyone else agrees with you. Do you know what the word opinion means? Look it up.
Shut up you you obviously dont care of opinions since you said "so" gtfo
The Guest is better
One of the forerunners of the often debated new subgenres ‘Elevated Horror’, along with ‘The Babadook’, ‘The Witch’, ‘The Lighthouse’, even the films of Ari Aster, though I’m not the biggest fan of them, the films of Jordan Peele, ‘It Comes at Night’ and so on. This one is the best at throwing back to the ‘80s in every aspect! Definitely Carpenter-esque with the way it’s shot, suspense, and of course, it’s AMAZING synth score!
The ball hitting the window DOES make sense beyond just being a jump scare. It's already established (when Jay is floating in the pool) that the neighbor kids are watching her, undoubtedly out of a budding sexual fascination (immediately after the ball hits the window you see one of them trying to get a peek at her in her underwear), which is just another psychological layer to this film; the protagonist is already the center of some not entirely welcome attention before this supernatural thing focuses on her. The feeling (and reality) of always being watched is something women deal with daily, and that's one of the fears this story gnaws at and exacerbates to unsettling effect.
I enjoyed your review, by the way, and think you're spot on in almost every other particular. This was just one quibbling detail I felt warranted a defense. I'll be watching more of your videos. Thanks.
You found The Babadook scary but not It Follows? Guess you'd have to be getting laid to be scared by It Follows.
Wow this movie was not scary at all and the ending sucked. Ya the cinematography was cool the music or score I guess was really cool but other than that I would only recommend this movie if it was on Netflix streaming 2.9/5
When I was watching this movie, I found myself writing a better movie in my head. So many missed opportunities.
i feel you man, and i was also writing a parody at the same time hahaha
can you say some of missed opportunities, i am interested
The soundtrack helps this movie so much!! you feel what Jay is feeling throughout the whole movie. Should have gotten an Oscar nod..
it's one of the best movie i saw in 2015 and even of this first half of a decade.
It wasn't meant to be scary, it was meant to just be a great movie.
It's beautiful, the shots are photographic, artistic, the music is its own character, the tension never ends, the acting is good, the concept is simple yet genius, it's not spoon feded like you said (hate that too), and there s so many symbolism and beautiful scenes. I'd give it an A+
Come on Chris... you praised the slow-paced and predictable as HECK Stranger Things but you somehow find It Follows trope-filled?
Jimmy Ramos it also reminded me a lot of ST. For the watchers of this video, the movie is much better than Chris suggests
So just like Babadook there's no ghost and it's all a metaphor for some STD?
"It" is quite real and if it's a metaphor for anything, it would be death, not STDs.
Less STD and more the 'sex-death' trope; where the virgin survives and the people who have sex don't. *see every slasher from the 70's onwards - this trope was also parodied in Scream. So kinda.
Hallucinogen X i'd say adulthood
No there is definitely a being that follows them, but it's never fully explained and that's a good thing. Some kind of sex curse with an entity that comes and kills you rather than an actual disease.
I found this movie silly.....
What I loved about the ending is that we don't know if the person following them was IT, or just some guy walking. This movie had no jumps cares. Just gets in under your skin. The music freaked me the fuck out. It was definitely the better horror movie we've seen in theaters for awhile.
I enjoy movies with story that I have to analyze and follow, but same time I just really couldn't wrap my head around this. Although I enjoyed the set up and that this was something that hasn't been done before, it really interested me, but I felt that they had a good idea and failed to create a full origin of it. Like all I got was "Don't have sex, because STD kills". I saw a lot of potential in this movie and I was disappointed that it really didn't take off how I was expecting for it to. Like I wanted to see how it all began, like what started this thing. I wanted them to go further in depth with it and explain what exactly IT is and how it even started. I think that was the only thing I was disappointed in was the fact that it was never explained and to me that felt like a movie being rushed into production without much creativity with a new and fresh idea. I could have seen so much more potential if there was more of an origin for IT instead of just seeing people sitting around doing nothing and then out comes the thing ready to grab it's next victim ordeal. I don't mind leaving movies open to guessing, but for me personally, it would have been better if it was more explained than just going "I had sex and then the thing was there". It was an idea falling flat to me. But that's just me.