The 2014 horror film It Follows, which became widely available in U.S. theaters in 2015, is now streaming on Netflix. Directed by David Robert Mitchell, this movie stands out as one of the most unsettling cinematic experiences of the past decade.
Blending elements reminiscent of Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street, it forges a unique identity. Despite modest box office earnings of $22 million globally, the film has since gained a devoted fanbase, bolstered by its availability on streaming platforms and Maika Monroe’s rising prominence in the horror genre.
While its premise may seem familiar at first glance, It Follows delves into deeper themes, setting it apart from conventional teen-focused horror stories. Whether revisiting this chilling tale or discovering it for the first time, the film’s finale remains a topic of intrigue and analysis.
Unseen forces chase Jay in a race against time and terror (Photo: It Follows/Northern Lights Films Animal Kingdom Two Flints)Plot Summary: A Suburban Nightmare
Set in the Detroit suburbs, It Follows paints a haunting picture of an ordinary lower-middle-class neighborhood. The opening sequence introduces Annie (Bailey Spry), a terrified young woman who flees her home in high heels as though escaping an unseen pursuer. Although no visible threat is present, her fear is palpable.
She drives to a deserted beach, tearfully saying goodbye to her father over the phone. By morning, her lifeless body is discovered, grotesquely contorted with a snapped leg—a grim testament to the malevolent force pursuing her.
The story changes focus to Jay (Maika Monroe), a college student living with her younger sister Kelly (Lili Sepe) and an alcoholic mother. Jay’s ordinary life takes a dark turn after a seemingly romantic date with Hugh (Jake Weary).
Following an intimate encounter, Jay is horrified to awaken bound in a wheelchair, as Hugh reveals a dreadful secret. He explains that an entity is now stalking her, transferred through sexual contact.
The only escape lies in passing it to someone else. To reinforce his warning, Hugh points out a naked woman slowly approaching them. He swiftly abandons Jay, leaving her to face the terror alone.
A Chilling Descent Into Fear
As the narrative progresses, Jay becomes the relentless target of the supernatural entity, which manifests in various unsettling forms. At her school, it appears as an elderly woman in a nightgown.
At home, it takes the guise of a towering man, and on the beach, it mimics her friend Yara (Olivia Luccardi). Each time, Jay narrowly escapes, but her attempts to transfer the curse fail tragically, as seen when Greg (Daniel Zovatto) falls victim to the entity.
One ambiguous moment suggests Jay may have tried to pass it on to strangers aboard a boat, but the film leaves the outcome uncertain. Meanwhile, Paul (Keir Gilchrist), a devoted friend with unspoken feelings for Jay, offers to take on her burden, though she resists.
The Finale: A Desperate Plan
Toward the end, Jay and her friends confront Hugh, but he provides little guidance. Unlike many horror films, It Follows avoids offering convenient explanations or solutions. The group devises a desperate plan involving an indoor pool and electrical devices, hoping to electrocute the entity.
The entity, however, proves cunning, avoiding the trap and taking on the form of Jay’s deceased father. A chaotic battle ensues, with Jay and her friends managing to wound the entity with gunfire. Although it disappears into a bloody pool, its ultimate fate remains ambiguous.
The closing scenes feature Jay and Paul finally giving in to their mutual feelings. While their bond deepens, the film leaves viewers unsettled, showing a figure slowly trailing behind them on a neighborhood street. The lingering question of whether it is just a passerby or the entity remains unanswered.
Themes of Mortality and Innocence
Rather than neatly tying up its narrative, It Follows leaves audiences grappling with profound questions. The film examines themes such as the loss of innocence, emerging sexuality, and the inevitability of mortality.
Although some interpret the story as an allegory for sexually transmitted diseases, it transcends simplistic warnings about sex, focusing instead on the pervasive fear of the unknown. Death serves as the film’s central metaphor—unrelenting and inescapable, always lurking in the shadows.
In one pivotal scene, Yara reads a passage from Dostoevsky’s The Idiot: “And the most terrible agony may not be in the wound themselves but in knowing for certain that … your soul will leave your body, and you will no longer be a person, and that this is certain.”
This poignant reflection encapsulates the existential dread at the heart of It Follows—a haunting reminder that death, though inevitable, is the ultimate mystery.
