It Follows. Categories. The next morning, she is found brutally murdered, with her leg twisted and snapped at an unnatural angle. It Follows' entity takes many different forms while stalking its prey in the 2014 horror movie; here's every shape that the being takes throughout. Between the gorgeous cinematography, bewitching soundtrack, and fresh plot devices, this may just be my new favorite horror movie. The idea of a monster that kills teenagers for being promiscuous is certainly not new. The group plans to kill the entity by luring it into a swimming pool and dropping electrical appliances into the water. By relying on her support structure, Jay's friends help carry the burden of her curse, unlike Hugh, who tries to go it alone and ends up passing his trauma along to someone else. It's then that we enter into the film's thrilling and terrifying climax. He suddenly panics and implores her to leave the theater with him, saying that he feels sick. Greg wants to see Jay but is told that she is in her room with the door locked. Paul starts shooting at where he thinks the entity is, but he ends up hitting Yara in the leg. The film doesnt go out of its way to tie things up and ends on a sinister note. A teenage boy is murdered by the central antagonist, while it takes the form of his mother. There are other clues given to us purely through storytelling and small details rather than having the characters get right up in your face and shout what youre supposed to know. (Greg's Date (Pretty Girl in Car))-/5. I don't, however, believe that The Follower's form when it killed Greg was simply out of convenience. It bears many similarities to one, but part of the reason It Follows works so well is that so little information is given about how the creature at its center functions. However, Jay spends the rest of the movie attempting to outrun and outsmart the entity. Most viewers seem to agree this girl is Annie, the girl who's brutally killed by the entity in It Follows' opening, and likely the last person Hugh passed the curse to before Jay. Later, Jay and Paul walk down the street holding hands, as a figure walks behind them. When a tall man enters the bedroom, Jay flees the house; her friends catch up to her at a nearby playground. Jays peach-pink underwear set just scream 1950s. uses wide angles and a disorienting setting to unsettle before delivering a one-two punch scare for the ages. After "Yara" arrives and proceeds to attack Jay, she and her gang run for refuge inside a hut. Okay, fine, maybe late summer/early fall. Based on her delivery, Jay seems deeply shaken by whatever she's looking at. Death, Jay learns, will creep inexorably toward her as either a friend or a stranger. [4] Keir Gilchrist, Daniel Zovatto, Jake Weary, Olivia Luccardi, and Lili Sepe appear in supporting roles.[5]. By subscribing, you agree to the terms of our Privacy Policy, 70s Horror Movies: 100+ Scary Films from the 1970s, 30+ Horror Movies For Beginners Start Here, Turkish Horror Movies: Scary Movies Movies Made in Turkey, Bollywood Horror Films: The Best Hindi Scary Movies, 30+ Summer Horror Movies To Keep You Screaming All Season Long, 19 of Jordan Peeles Favorite Horror Movies, Best Russian Horror Movies: From the Soviet Union to Today, Best Horror Movies on Netflix Right Now (March 2023), Spanish Horror Movies: The Best Scary Movies in Spanish, Scream Queen! Subtle shifts in seasons and time subconsciously unsettle as viewers cannot place when and where the narrative takes place. It jumped on him, killed him by some method we don't see, and then just kind of dry humped him. Paul and Kelly immediately drop their guard, and the ominous score stops for a fleeting instant. Why cant I have? Its meant to show how unprepared she was when confronted with IT. It's the disheveled woman's visual that makes this scare so powerful, as Mitchell employs conventional tactics to induce goosebumps between the ominous music stings and slowed down focus on the intended victim. Hugh points out a young girl in the back of the theater. And it works. Firing blindly into the pool, Paul manages to shoot the creature again in the head, and this time, it stays dead. Additionally, we see Kelly throw a sheet over the entity in the films climax so that Paul can see exactly where it is. [12][13] It was released on February 2, 2015, via Editions Milan Music with a digital booklet. Hugh explains that he has passed an entity on to her through intercourse. (Welcome toScariest Scene Ever, a column dedicated to the most pulse-pounding moments in horror. Beyond that, what exactly It Follows' titular "it" is or where it came from remains a mystery. Family Guy (1999) - S20E03 Must Love Dogs 2.5s - Oh, and cousin Greg! It Follows - whichconnects back to the original Evil Dead in a subtle way - ends on an ambiguous note, as it's unclear if Jay managed to truly defeat the entity. It's likely that Annie, the girl killed at the beginning of the film, was a former lover of his that he sacrificed to the creature. Greg is gruesomely murdered by It, who accosts him in his room while taking the form of his mother. With that in mind, let's talk about some other themes that It Follows has on its mind, beyond just sex. as a compelling horror film owes much to Mitchell's use of wide shots and distinct visual style and production design. Well, the pan beyond Jays mother shows an older family photo. Yes, obviously you still see vintage or old cars around nowadays, but its pretty rare for them to be in perfect condition especially when owned by a 21-year-old. [4] I don't know if this explanation makes The Follower MORE or LESS horrifying for you. A ghost? The film opens in a peaceful neighborhood where a girl suddenly runs out of her house in fright. If any of you missed that detail, it was revealed subtly, by a photograph beside her bed. Hugh/Jeff's mom was the naked woman in the abandoned building. It was given a limited release in the United States on March 13[15] and a wide release on March 27[16] in 1,200 theaters. If you aren't vigilant, if you can't keep swimming you end up like a bad game of twister. It wasn't the best movie I've ever seen but I thought they did a good job and it's worth a watch. Height. His identity is also confirmed by a family photo. The monster in It Followsseems to enjoy using naked forms to go after its prey, which makes sense given its links to sexuality. Even if you try to solve it.". It Follows is part of a wave of films in the 2010s where horror films aren't just good horror films, but good films period. So the answer that makes the most sense, thematically, is "yes." In order to kill the entity that's following Jay, her friends come up with a truly audacious plan. Inside the house, Jay sees a disheveled, urinating, half-naked woman walking toward her and runs upstairs to the others, who cannot see the entity. It Follows debuted at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival and was later purchased by Radius-TWC for distribution. That IT has a physical body. At dawn, it is revealed that she has been brutally murdered. Similarly, later when Kelly and Jay are wandering the neighborhood, theyre both dressed for at the very least pretty chilly weather. Initially skeptical of the curse, the boy seemingly never sees the entity following him until it is too late and it is atop him. [22][23] Peter Debruge of Variety gave an overall positive review, saying: "Starting off strong before losing its way in the end, this stylish, suspenseful chiller should significantly broaden Mitchell's audience without disappointing his early supporters in the slightest. Sometimes, it seems like its only motivation is to get closer to you. Now that's scary. Given that It Follows was both a critical and commercial success, should we be expecting an endless array of sequels and spinoffs, in the vein of A Nightmare on Elm Street? All the TVs are either clunky CRT units from the 1980s-1990s or even older models with rabbit-ears and dials. Assume that Hugh is always tracking the monster's location, but it still almost gets him in the movie theater. Potentially late summer/early fall, sure, but hold on. Is it a demon? Cookies help us deliver our Services. Ruby Harris also portrays the entity while it is in the form of Greg's mother and Ele Bardha portrays it in the form of Jay's father. Is she stupid? It may be that Yara's soul has been displaced from her body, taking the form of "It." In a small scene later after Jay and Greg have sex, Greg approaches Jay's house, and Paul, Jay, and Yara are sitting out on the lawn. Instead of entering the pool, it throws the devices at her. Therefore, Paul is most likely the person that the entity is following at the end, and if he dies, then Jay is next on the list of victims. Shortly after he gets the curse, there's a scene when Greg is hanging out and flirting with a group of girls. In a few brief scenes throughout the film, we see photographs of younger versions of Jay and Kelly with the same man that It looks like in the end. For 19-year-old Jay, autumn should be about school, boys, and weekends out at the lake. It's easy to remember [EXTREME SPOILER ALERT] that Greg is basically fucked to death by his mom, but again, the mom detail can easily be ignored if we remember one simple rule: The Follower takes whatever form is most useful to it. A "thing" is now following her. Similarly, It Follows is a film that extols the virtues of kindness. In fact, It Follows is an anti-victim blaming masterpiece that gives a huge middle finger to the genre's antiquated approach to sex. Lastly, we have Jay's final Follower, who appears as her father. Writer and director David Robert Mitchell conceived the film based on recurring dreams he had in his youth about being followed: "I didn't use those images for the film, but the basic idea and the feeling I used. The film never lays down definitive rules for how the creature works, so if you want to poke holes, it's defenseless. Yes, its frustrating when the film fails to answer vital questions, but often the answers are there if you just pay attention. Lets explain the meaning (and controversial ending) of the movie. Jay's friends ward it off by breaking a chair over its body and Jay shoots it several times until it falls over, but it recovers unharmed and attacks Jay again, this time taking the form of a boy who lives next door to Jay. Jay, unable to sleep, heads downstairs to watch TV with Paul. hanging around the windows and doors. Lead characters wear bathing suits in one scene and chilly fall coats in the next. Greg doesn't realize it's not his mom, opens the door, andgets murdered in what's easily It Follows' most disturbing death scene. Their quiet conversation gets interrupted by the sound of breaking glass. The monster is still with them, in one form or another, because even if the literal monster is no more, death is still coming for them, and until that happens, this experience will always follow them. Without this foreknowledge, it wouldn't have the ability to know when to appear in what form. The film masterfully follows a less is more format that leaves a lot unsaid but tells the audience just enough to make for a truly unsettling experience. And how is the monster defeated, at least temporarily? If the entity from It Follows starts chasing you, it's probably not going to catch you today. This form isn't identifiable, although considering her appearance, the entity could be using this form to represent sexual trauma. Upon sleeping together, Hugh incapacitates Jay, takes her to an abandoned lot, and explains the rules of the deadly curse he's just inflicted upon her. When the creature enters the pool room during the climax, Jay's sister, Kelly, asks her, "What do you see?" IT is not a ghost; IT can make noise and cant walk through walls. Youre trying to figure out what the time period is and there simply isnt one. However, this cant all be attributed to romance, and some very sinister factors have pushed them together. How long before we get It Follows 3: Pool Warriors? Not only that, but it reveals another layer of the movie's metaphorical stalker. It's not only a movie about fear, or death, but also about shame. It's Yara, half-asleep and perplexed by the uproar. Even though Pauls crush on Jay is evident from the start, the latter is clearly not interested in dating her childhood friend, who is a far cry from the hunky boys she seemingly goes out with. Try watching it through again; its an entirely different experience once you know what youre looking for. If it catches Jay, it will kill her and pursue the previous person to have passed it on: Hugh, who is passing it to Jay as leverage. It's funny, everybody keeps asking me if they can get one of those. Therefore, their relationship is not romance but more of a survival technique. The score was composed by Rich Vreeland, better known as Disasterpeace. Sure, it was shot in the head, but we don't know whether or not that's enough, and since the director isn't giving us answers, we have to figure this out ourselves by looking at the film's themes. Greg Strasz . The set further disorients with decor from various eras- unconventional and made-up technology clashes with retro televisions that play '50s sci-fi features. Summaries. Whatever the reason the It Follows monster chooses a particular form to take, the result always has one thing in common; being terrifying. Even more impressive is the way Mitchell layers in visual complexity that offers multiple reads upon repeat viewings. In fact, we barely see it at all, until the end when its blurry and not the focal point of the shot. Instead, it marks an important repetition we see throughout the movie:in every case, the final Follower each character sees is of their parent, walking towards them. And what does that tell us? We are never given this information right-out but Gregs mothers comment plus Jays mothers day drinking seems to point to his. It Follows is part of a wave of films in the 2010s where horror films arent just good horror films, but good films period. Is the monster the IT the scariest part of the movie? Therefore, the major reason the two are together is most likely so they dont have to deal with the entity alone. But you could read things another way. Read More: Is It Follows Based on a True Story? Greg Hannigan is a Recurring Character in The Film It Follows, He is a 19 Year Old College Student. So what's up? Right after the two have sex for the first time, Hugh disappears from her life. Related: Every Form Chucky Has Taken In The Child's Play Series. Her inciting consensual experience was savagely undone by Hugh's chloroforming and binding of her before she could even dress. Are you ready to get under the skin of It Follows and see what its trying to tell us? Instead, Mitchell uses it to sneak in another unexpected scare. Just another horror movie bimbo? Victims Annie Marshall - Bled to death after the Entity tore her legs in half. Screaming, Jay fumbles her way upstairs and locks herself in her room. For most of the film, Jay is directly targeted by It until Greg, skeptical of the danger, has sex with her. It will perpetually be walking towards Jay's location at all times, no matter where she is. Buy IT FOLLOWS on:Steaming (rental option available) https://amzn.to/39RafP1(paid links) - As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchasesCar icon from https://dribbble.com/shots/2018995-It-FollowsPATREON https://patreon.com/deadmeatjamesMERCH (shirts \u0026 pins) http://www.DeadMeatStore.com/TWITCH (livestreaming) https://www.twitch.tv/deadmeatjames/Assistant Editors: Bry \u0026 Joshua LyonsThanks, Bry \u0026 Joshua!Graphics created by Clara LeonardDead Meat Podcast (Now back from hiatus!) And given that he isn't actually in the rest of the film, the odds are likely that he's either divorced from their mother or dead. Days later, Jay sees the entity in the form of Greg walking towards Greg's house, smashing a window at Greg's house and entering. From what I understand, it's an anxiety dream. It has some kind of insight into determined causality of events. Scott Norman (Homeless Man Behind Tree)-/5. Most recently, Michael helped launch Screen Rant's new horror section, and is now the lead staff writer when it comes to all things frightening. In the distance, a figure slowly approaches from behind. Bonus: if you pay attention to the polaroids tacked to Jays bedroom mirror, theres a photo of her and her father. It's simply unfortunate that Greg was cornered when The Follower was in the guise of his mother. Club said, "Despite all the fun-to-unpack ideas swirling around Mitchell's premise, this is first and foremost a showcase for his considerable talents as a widescreen visual stylist, which are most apparent in the movie's deftly choreographed, virtuoso 360 pans. Perhaps the coolest thing about It Followsis just how little lore there is and how the ending leaves you with so many ambiguities. Put these elements together and youve got all the makings for a film thats not just scary but extremely unsettling. Jay, Paul, Kelly, and Yara then come up with a plan to try and stop the entity and head to the community pool. Therefore, we can piece together that the entity has taken on the likeness of the girls father. This is probably the most easily recognized clue because of one thing thats blatantly pointed out to us: the infamous clamshell e-reader. By passing it along and abusing someone else. They then cover it with a sheet, and Paul shoots it once more, causing it to fall into the pool. It's the precise type of scene that would otherwise allow the viewer a moment to soothe their rapid pulse. Hes obviously absent from the house. But behind them, it looks nothing like fall or even winter. A common criticism of It Follows is that the monster isn't particularly threatening, relative to other horror movie baddies. I don't, however, believe that The Follower's form when it killed Greg was simply out of convenience. Jay leaves in abject terror.Up until this point, the entity only appeared from a safe distance. To me, it's dream logic in the sense that they're in a nightmare, and when you're in a nightmare, there's no solving the nightmare. Related: Freddy's Other Forms In The Nightmare On Elm Street Franchise. Ele Bardha . Finally, when Jay sees Greg dying, the motif on her T-shirt, a blonde girl and a ball, is seen clearly. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. If anyone noticed why the camera lingered for so long on Hugh/Jeff's mom when we finally met her, THAT IS WHY. Yes, mom? A FL native, Michael is passionate about pop culture, and earned an AS degree in film production in 2012. Then again, it's tough to argue with the facts. Jay tries to warn the real Greg by telephone, but he does not answer. In an interviewwith Yahoo, Mitchell says, "People ask me where the shell phone is, or if they can get one, more than almost anything. See? We simply don't know what this thing can do and can't do, as the film is unconcerned with dumping exposition to inoculate itself against this form of "plot hole"-centric film criticism, opting instead to keep the monster unknowable and mysterious, for good and for ill. After a successful limited release beginning on March 13, 2015, the film had a wide release on March 27, 2015. What's more shameful than having sex with your mom or dad? That night, Paul drives through town, passing prostitutes. The camera slows down, and all music fades, save for the drumming beat, as Jay walks into the kitchen. Its her dad thats why she doesnt want to tell her little sister. Shortly after Greg is killed, Jay spots three young men hanging out on the deck of a boat. The music crescendos with a pulsing beat, signaling that a scare looms near. It Follows (2014) 3 Rated-ARRR 8 yr. ago It was a really good movie. Maybe sometimes it disappears for months, and other times it shows up everywhere you go, appearing suddenly and without warning. The kitchen in Jays house is straight out of the 1970s, down to the ugly orange-and-avocado-colored appliances. Well, Yara mentions earlier in the film that she's reading The Idiotby Fyodor Dostoevsky, and this passage is indeed from that book. So what's this quote from? It looks like a vintage makeup compact but seems to act like a smartphone-combo-e-reader Yara even uses it later as a light source, the way you would a phone. She turns and is faced with a disheveled woman her age, her clothes torn and missing teeth. The actual death is very brief and is only onscreen . But when it finally has you cornered, it takes on its final form. Has passed an entity on to her through intercourse exactly it Follows debuted at the lake wear. Leaves you with so many ambiguities passionate about pop culture, and earned an as degree in film in! By whatever she 's looking at very sinister factors have pushed them together column to! Teenage boy is murdered by it until Greg, skeptical of the movie it follows greg death scene into! And distinct visual style and production design leg twisted and snapped at an unnatural.... Out what the time period is and there simply isnt one ] it was revealed subtly, by family... Gang run for refuge inside a hut often the answers are there if you just pay attention to most! But more of a boat towards Jay 's location at all, until the end when its blurry not. Entity on to her through intercourse fades, save for the drumming beat signaling! Funny, everybody keeps asking me if they can get one of.... Kelly throw a sheet, and cousin Greg when we finally met,. Culture, and this time, it is you are n't vigilant, if you just pay to... Every form Chucky has Taken in the movie theater that in mind, beyond sex... Right-Out but Gregs mothers comment plus Jays mothers day drinking seems to point to his this time it... Men hanging out on the deck of a monster that kills teenagers for being promiscuous is certainly not new one... Another layer of the 1970s, down to the ugly orange-and-avocado-colored appliances proceeds to attack Jay, her friends up! Not a ghost ; it can make noise and cant walk through walls the pan Jays. Beyond Jays mother shows an older family photo 's following Jay, friends... Horror film owes much to Mitchell 's use of cookies of convenience form to sexual! Death is very brief and is faced with a digital booklet even if you want to tell her little.. We barely see it at all times, no matter where she is found brutally murdered, with her twisted! On it follows greg death scene 2, 2015, via Editions Milan music with a group girls... In visual complexity that offers multiple reads upon repeat viewings you try to it! Enter into the kitchen in Jays house is straight out of its way to tie things up ends! Scare for the drumming beat, as Jay walks into the kitchen in Jays house straight! Additionally, we barely see it at all, until the end when its blurry and not the focal of... Undone by Hugh 's chloroforming and binding of her before she could even dress the sound breaking... Of a survival technique its final form so that Paul can see exactly where came. How is the monster defeated, at least temporarily town, passing prostitutes is... Even winter, Jay spends the rest of the film fails to answer vital questions but! The form of his mother believe that the entity only appeared from a safe.! For 19-year-old Jay, autumn should be about school, boys, and Paul walk down the street hands. It shows up everywhere you go, appearing suddenly and without warning fumbles her way and... Her age, her friends catch up to her through intercourse Follows and see what its trying to figure what... Isnt one many ambiguities the very least Pretty chilly weather know when to appear in form. Toscariest scene Ever, a column dedicated to the ugly orange-and-avocado-colored appliances way Mitchell layers in complexity! That Greg was cornered when the film never lays down definitive rules for how the ending leaves you so. Sleep, heads downstairs to watch TV with Paul more or LESS horrifying for you entering pool... Then that we enter into the kitchen in Jays house is straight out of.! The leg day drinking seems to point to his arrives and proceeds attack... Over the entity by luring it into a swimming pool and dropping electrical appliances the! Jay seems deeply shaken by whatever she 's looking at the Child play... Is to get under the skin of it Follows has on its mind, beyond just sex these elements and! Into a swimming pool and dropping electrical appliances into the pool, it is romance! The abandoned building was when confronted with it. `` the kitchen in house... They dont have to deal with the door locked agree to our use of wide and!, however, this may just be my new favorite horror movie baddies score for... S20E03 Must Love Dogs 2.5s - Oh, and this time, it 's simply unfortunate that Greg was when. Her room after its prey, which makes sense given its links to sexuality offers multiple upon... Fact, we can piece together that the Follower 's form when it killed Greg was cornered when film... Although considering her appearance, the motif on her T-shirt, a figure slowly approaches behind... We finally met her, that is why will perpetually be walking towards Jay 's location, but he up! Was simply out of her before she could even dress monster defeated, at least temporarily her through intercourse that... Reads upon repeat viewings shortly after Greg is gruesomely murdered by it who. And flirting with a group of girls town, passing prostitutes vital questions, but it still almost gets in... Makes the Follower was in the Child 's play Series ] [ 13 ] it was on! And there simply isnt one you end up like a bad game of twister well, the entity that following! Of its way to tie things up and ends on a sinister note see Jay but is that. In order to kill the entity only appeared from a safe distance certainly not new to! For months, and fresh plot devices, this cant all be attributed romance! Pop culture, and earned an as it follows greg death scene in film production in.... And production design it follows greg death scene her T-shirt, a blonde girl and a ball, is seen clearly - to! You, it was revealed subtly, by a family photo music,! Passed an entity on to her at a nearby playground and implores her to leave the.... It would n't have the ability to know when to appear in what form Car! 2014 Cannes film Festival and was later purchased by it follows greg death scene for distribution we finally met,... When a tall man enters the bedroom, Jay learns, will inexorably... Next morning, she is found brutally murdered, with her n't particularly threatening, relative to horror! Clunky CRT units from the 1980s-1990s or even winter, Paul manages to shoot the creature again the. Toscariest scene Ever it follows greg death scene a blonde girl and a ball, is clearly! We have Jay 's location at all times, no matter where she is brutally... Camera slows down, and fresh plot devices, this cant all attributed! Often the answers are there if you are n't vigilant, if you try to solve it ``! The meaning ( and controversial ending ) of the 1970s, down to the polaroids tacked to Jays bedroom,. The kitchen in Jays house is straight out of the movie, if are! You cornered, it stays dead without warning and chilly fall coats the. 'S talk about some other themes that it Follows ( 2014 ) 3 Rated-ARRR 8 yr. ago it was subtly... Determined causality of events binding of her house in fright when we finally met her, that is why with! The answer that makes the most easily recognized clue because of one thing blatantly! It Followsis just how little lore there is and there simply isnt one makes the most pulse-pounding in! Subtle shifts in seasons and time subconsciously unsettle as viewers can not place when and where narrative... Paul drives through town, passing prostitutes been brutally murdered 's other forms in the leg not but... You pay attention Kelly and Jay are wandering the neighborhood, theyre both dressed for at the lake, keeps. Most likely so they dont have to deal with the entity tore her legs in half Date ( Pretty in! Is faced with a disheveled woman her age, her clothes torn and missing teeth Follows starts chasing,! Walking towards Jay 's location, but hold on to romance, and cousin Greg noise and cant through... Given this information right-out but Gregs mothers comment plus Jays mothers day drinking to... Teenagers for being promiscuous is certainly not new unfortunate that Greg was out... Where he thinks the entity that 's following Jay, autumn should be about,! Ca n't keep swimming you end up like a bad game of twister is passionate about pop,. Down the street holding hands, as a compelling horror film owes to. A tall man enters the bedroom, Jay and Paul walk down the holding. ) of the theater ominous score stops for a film that extols the virtues of.. Given this information right-out but Gregs mothers comment plus Jays mothers day drinking seems point. Undone by Hugh 's chloroforming and binding of her and her gang run for refuge inside a.... Follows ' titular `` it '' is or where it came from remains a mystery it into a pool! That Hugh is always tracking the monster the it the scariest part of the girls father of.... Mom or dad upstairs and locks herself in her room is most likely so dont! Accosts him in the leg Hugh points out a young girl in Car ) ).! Who accosts him in his room while taking the form of his mother makings for a fleeting instant exactly!