It Follows isn’t your average slasher movie. Where the likes of Halloween (1978), A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), and Scream (1996) each have their own protagonist, It Follows bends these rules somewhat, much in the same way Final Destination (2000) does.
It Follows does actually have a protagonist, though, whereas Final Destination’s is an invisible and untouchable force. In It Follows, however, to anyone else besides the victim, “It” is invisible, but it is as tangible as any living person. It can also change its appearance as will.
After a sexual encounter while on a date, Jay inherits a curse which sees her stalked by a slow-moving figure, which can change its appearance to look like a complete stranger, or someone she knows. But “It” is always walking towards Jay, slowly but surely, no matter where she happens to be.
One of the great things about It Follows is that it’s one of those rare horrors that leaves audiences with plenty to think about. What exactly is “It”? Where does “It” comes from? Does “It” have boundaries? How does one get rid of “It”? Naturally, there has been a lot of speculation as to what “It” is.
While it’s obvious that it’s a demon or a supernatural entity of some kind, fans have speculated as to what it actually represents. Most seem to have settled on the idea that “It” is the personification of Death - in that it is always behind us, moving towards us very slowly, but moving nonetheless.
With a ton of symbolic imagery to boot, it’s clear that It Follows deals with themes of the ending of innocence. Such images and scenes are in abundance, but the concept alone - in which a demon is passed on sexually from one victim to the next - is evidence enough.
As such, it’s reasonable to assume that “It” is, in fact, Death. The end of innocence represents the beginning of a new phase in one’s life - adulthood. A time during which one becomes increasingly aware of their mortal coil. In a sense, we are all being followed by “It” - just not literally.
There are other themes at play in the film too, such as the stark contrast between the characters’ well-to-do suburbia environment and the surrounding urban areas that are derelict and poverty-stricken. A place that’s perhaps as rude an awakening to these otherwise wide-eyed teens as the demon itself.
While “It” shouldn’t be considered to be Death as it is presented in countless other forms of media (i.e. the Grim Reaper), it’s undoubtedly a metaphor at the very least. There are many moments in the film in which the color red also becomes prominent, usually in a scene that precedes the appearance of “It”.
Red is the color of blood, the color of death. But there are perhaps other themes at play here too, such as the undesirable consequences of promiscuous and unprotected sex. Regardless of what “It” represents, though, whether it’s one thing or many, it’s a demon, whose origin is completely ambiguous.
Around the time of the film’s release in 2015, the studio said that it was looking into making a sequel that would explore the demon’s origins. While no such sequel has been announced in the past seven years, here’s to hoping we get a follow-up of some kind sooner rather than later.
Here’s the official synopsis for It Follows:
After a date and seemingly innocent sexual encounter, 19-year-old Jay is left with an inescapable sense that someone, or something is following her. Jay and her friends team up to try and find ways to escape the traumatising horrors that are always right behind them.
A sensation with critics and audiences alike, It Follows is a smart, stylish and suspenseful horror film that brings new life to the genre. Teen sex, suburbia, murder and nightmarish demons all take on a new layer of substance and style in a film that will linger with you long after the credits roll.
It Follows stars Maika Monroe (Jamie “Jay” Height), Keir Gilchrist (Paul Bolduan), Olivia Luccardi (Yara Davis), Lili Sepe (Kelly Height), Daniel Zovatto (Greg Hannigan), Jake Weary (Hugh/Jeff Redmond), Bailey Spry (Annie Marshall), Debbie Williams (Mrs. Height), and Ruby Harris (Mrs. Redmond),
