Among the many horror films directed in the past decade, It Follows (USA - 2014) certainly stands out for its innovation and the magnetic soundtrack that runs through it. Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell (The Myth of the American Sleepover), the film landed in Italian theaters last July, garnering great acclaim among admirers of the genre and becoming one of the most successful horror films of recent years.
Fulcrum of the story is sex. Indeed, it is sexual intercourse that triggers a kind of curse that manifests itself in disturbing hauntings by "something" that, with human guise, becomes the victim's shadow. As in John Carpenter's "The Thing," the danger is always constant because of the sudden change of "body" that the 'being" makes in order to quickly get to its prey. It is precisely these varied and unthinkable human forms assumed by this disturbing presence, but also the concealment of its true identity, that cause the protagonists to be in a constant state of anguish, fueled by anxieties and paranoia (fear of sex, of being followed, seen and killed) and resulting in sharp suspense.
The plot: after a sexual relationship with Hugh (Jake Weary), young Jay (Maika Monroe) will be tormented by a curse from which she will not be easily freed. In addition to being haunted by strange visions, the girl will have the terrible feeling of being stalked. Together with her friends, Jay will search for a way to stay alive.
The vintage halo that can be traced back to the imagery of the 1980s makes It Follows a title as genuine as the films of the past. Surely giving it a retro edge is the deep synthwave soundtrack (by Disasterpeace), which here takes on fundamental value in conveying the protagonists' unease.
This praiseworthy title by David Robert Mitchell, on the strength of its impressive direction and subject matter, stands out from other recent horror films because of the roundup of twists and turns grafted onto a calm unfolding of the story. Added to this is an exasperated crescendo of tension related to the strange and peculiar manifestation of the curse but also to the existential upheaval of the protagonists. This results in intense emotional involvement on the part of the audience.
The cinematography, by Mike Gioulakis, with its bluish tones, accentuates the aura of mystery on which the story is nailed.
Prominent in the cast is the acting of the main character played by Maika Monroe. The names of the other actors are: Lili Sepe, Keir Gilchrist, Debbie Williams, Olivia Luccardi, Jake Weary, Daniel Zovatto, Ruby Harris, Leisa Pulido, Carollette Phillips, Don Hails, Ele Bardha and Mike Lanier.
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It Follows is one of Midnight Factory's latest home video releases. Indeed, the well-known Italian label offers David Robert Mitchell's film in an inviting limited edition (+ booklet), available on both DVD and Blu-Ray.
Below we mark the card, technical data and photos of the Limited Edition DVD of It Follows:
Genre: Thriller, Horror
Label: Koch Media
Distribution: Koch Media / Midnight Factory
Format: DVD, Blu-Ray
Edition: Limited Edition + Booklet
No. discs: 1
Release: November 24, 2016
Technical Data Limited Edition DVD + Booklet:
REGION 2
PROTECTION: CSS
DVD 9 dual layer
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Film length 96'
Audio: Italian 5.1 Dolby digital, Italian 5.1 DTS, English 5.1 Dolby digital,
Subtitles: Italian
Extras: interview with Richard Vreeland, Italian trailer (about 6')
Extra Contents: Richard Vreeland interview, Italian trailer, Credits.
