It Follows

It Follows centers on Jay Height, a young woman who experiences a relentless, supernatural stalking after a casual sexual encounter. The phenomenon behaves like an inheritable curse, appearing as an ordinary person who trails her at a walking pace, visible only to those it pursues. Jay turns to friends for help, and they set rules to try to slow or transfer the thing, while they study its behavior and try to survive. The film keeps tension tight and methodical, favoring long, quiet sequences where danger feels inevitable. The story focuses on paranoia, trust among peers, and how a mundane suburban landscape can feel hostile when threat feels constant, Maika Monroe leads small ensemble cast that grounds the premise in fear.

Directed by David Robert Mitchell, It Follows premiered in festivals before its 2015 theatrical release, written and conceived by Mitchell as an original screenplay, produced on a modest independent budget and scored with a synth-heavy soundtrack that amplifies tension throughout.

As an independent horror, It Follows exceeded expectations, finding a sizable audience on limited release and home video, generating a strong return relative to its budget, and establishing Mitchell and lead Maika Monroe as notable voices in modern genre cinema.

The film's spare, lingering shots and a looming, anonymized antagonist left a visible mark on indie horror aesthetics, while its Giorgio Moroder-influenced score became widely discussed, inspiring filmmakers and critics to debate how sexuality, mortality, and suburban ennui combine to create a slow, creeping dread that resonated beyond horror circles.

Critics and audiences responded with mixed to positive reactions, reflected in modest aggregate scores and a devoted fanbase. Reviewers praised its mood, pacing, and performances while noting slow payoff. Central themes include vulnerability after intimacy, the mechanics of fear as social, and how ordinary life can harbor ongoing menace often.