Overview and Core Premise
It Follows is a 2014 horror film written and directed by David Robert Mitchell that reframes the slasher tradition through a slow-building, atmospheric lens. At its core, the film presents a supernatural curse: after a sexual encounter, a young person is pursued by a shifting entity that takes the form of different people, moving slowly but inexorably. The curse can be passed forward by having sex with someone else, creating a chain that traps its victims in a cycle of dread. Blending suburban ennuis with genre horror, It Follows foregrounds themes of trust, agency, and the inescapable consequences of intimacy, offering a sustained mood more than a series of shocks.
Plot Summary and Narrative Structure
High school senior Jay Height (Maika Monroe) begins a seemingly normal relationship with Hugh (Jake Weary), who reveals a family curse after an intimate encounter: an entity will now pursue her, taking the form of anyone in its vicinity. Initially dismissive, Jay becomes terrified as friends and strangers alike appear as the figure, moving with a deliberate, unsettling gait. The narrative eschews traditional jump scares in favor of sustained tension, using long takes, negative space, and off-screen presence to create unease. Mitchell structures the film as a generational inheritance, linking Jay to prior victims and implying the curse persists unless interrupted. Key sequences—such as the foggy porch encounter and the downtown chase—anchor the plot in concrete stakes while preserving ambiguity about the entity’s origin and rules.
Style, Cinematography, and Sound Design
Visual Language and Composition
Mitchell and cinematographer Mike Gioulakis favor wide, static frames that emphasize isolation and negative space, often placing characters at the edges of the frame. The use of natural light, fog, and suburban landscapes creates a sense of familiarity turned uncanny. The entity itself is lit with soft focus and shallow depth of field, allowing it to blend into environments until it chooses to occupy the frame fully. The film’s aspect ratio shifts between 1.85:1 and 2.39:1, subtly altering the viewer’s sense of scope—from intimate conversations to vast, vulnerable streets.
Sound and Score
The minimalist electronic score by Disasterpeace underscores tension without dictating emotion, allowing ambient noise—footsteps, distant traffic, whispered conversations—to carry weight. Strategic silence and sudden bursts of dissonance align with on-screen movement, while the recurring motif of a wheezing air horn punctuates key threats. Together, these choices craft a sensory experience where anticipation becomes as frightening as the entity itself.
Critical Reception and Recognition
Upon release, It Follows was widely praised for its originality, atmosphere, and thematic depth. Critics highlighted its methodical pacing and willingness to prioritize dread over exploitation, marking a departure from contemporary horror tropes. Over time, the film has accrued numerous accolades and distinctions, including multiple critics’ top-ten lists and long-enduring recommendations from publications. Its success at festivals and subsequent theatrical run helped cement its reputation as a modern horror touchstone and an exemplar of director-driven genre filmmaking.
Notable Accolades (Representative)
| Category | Outcome | Festival / Organization |
|---|---|---|
| Best Film | Listed in Top 10 | National Board of Review (2014) |
| Best Horror Film | Nominated | Saturn Awards |
| Best Director | Nominated | Independent Spirit Awards |
| Best Original Score | Nominated | Chicago Film Critics Association |
| Discovery of the Year | Won | Palm Springs International Film Festival |
Thematic Exploration and Cultural Commentary
Beyond its horror mechanics, It Follows interrogates contemporary anxieties around sexuality, consent, and responsibility. The curse operates as a metaphor for sexually transmitted infections, emotional baggage, and the inescapable consequences of choices. Mitchell avoids moralistic messaging; instead, the film presents a world where desire and danger are intertwined, and survival depends on community, vigilance, and resourcefulness. Its ambiguous ending—neither fully triumphant nor defeatist—invites ongoing interpretation about agency within systemic threats.
Legacy and Lasting Influence
More than a decade after its premiere, It Follows remains influential within horror and beyond. Its measured pace and emphasis on dread have inspired a wave of tonally similar arthouse horror, while its visual motifs—from wide suburban vistas to the recurring figure in the background—are frequently referenced and homaged. Filmmakers cite its balance of accessibility and abstraction as a benchmark for genre storytelling that respects audience intelligence. The film’s sustained relevance is evident in continued scholarly discussion, retrospective screenings, and its recurring presence in conversations about modern horror canon.
Practical Context and Viewing Considerations
For new viewers, approaching It Follows as a mood piece rather than a puzzle to solve yields the most coherent experience. Paying attention to blocking, geography, and the behavior of the entity enhances appreciation of its craft. The film’s deliberate runtime and sparse dialogue reward patience, while its avoidance of exploitative content broadens its appeal. Understanding the generational logic of the curse helps contextualize its narrative choices, making the viewing experience more immersive and thematically resonant.