IT FOLLOWS   3.7*** (for Horror Genre)

      It Follows ( 2014.. I saw it on Netflix ) is a unique horror-movie experience. Instead of effects-heavy monsters, computer trickery, and massive amounts of gore, it relies on refreshingly old-fashioned cinematic techniques and psychological terror to overwhelm the audience. It's a suburban teen horror film that has more in common with the likes of “The Shining” than with “Halloween”.  It is like a breath of fresh air in the horror genre.

 The movie begins on an exceptionally terrifying note, opening with a teenage girl fleeing from her house. She's running from someone - or something - but what? She ends up on the beach dead,  horribly mangled. We have no earthly idea what happened, but her fear and brutal death (unseen) infects us with an overwhelming and inexplicable terror.  The horror element here is something which is referred to only as "it" and "it" follows only one target person at a time. A person becomes a target through sexual intercourse with a person who is currently a target. Thus one can pass the curse of "it" to a person by having sex with that person.

Director David Mitchell knows what he's doing here. He knows what scares you, and executes it perfectly.  You feel as if we are in a 100 minute long nightmare. The worst nightmares are the ones you know you can't escape from - you can't move fast enough, no matter how hard you try.  In the movie nightmare, an inexplicable terror is following the character. It's not a matter of WHAT it is  - per se - but rather WHEN it arrives. The inevitability of its coming is by far the most terrifying aspect of this movie. You might as well be tied to your seat, forced to watch as an unstoppable, grotesque, demon-like entity walks slowly toward you...closer...closer...and closer. 

This is how horror movies should be made.  It Follows is easily one of the most terrifying horror movies I’ve seen in the last couple of years. A definite “must see” for horror fans and want-to-be’s.

Rated R for disturbing violent and sexual content including graphic nudity, and language.

Clark