It Follows

It Follows is an indie 80's horror throw back film.When I say throw back, I mean throw back. If you liked the films done by John Carpenter. Its safe to say that you will enjoy this film at least the style. The film stars the stunning Maika Monroe (The Guest) and is Directed by David Robert Mitchell (The Myth of the American Sleepover). The film is about Jay (Monroe) going on a date and sleeping with a boy. The passes on a curse that wants to kill her and will never stop following her.

Monroe was a great choice for the lead in the film. She has a lot of talent and you really do get attached to her thought out the film. She is just an everyday girl that had this terrible curse put on her or if you want to read into it sexual disease. The film makes you feel very paranoid no matter who you are and this is one the great strengths of this film. David Robert Mitchell swiftly directs this film. He is able to do one of the hardest things to do for most Hollywood horror directors out. Which is keep tension on the whole film. Which made me very happy. I personally was on the edge of my seat the whole film and couldn't look away. When you left the theater you just had that feeling of "crap its right behind me." The films score and look are another great positive for the film. The score goes with its 80's throw back theme. It is a electronic score and has great moment of pure, intense moments and other parts of just beauty. The films look is awesome a lot of shots of suburban living and long shots and very long pans. I really liked the looked.

Now, I personal had huge exceptions of this film and sadly it didn't knock it out of the park. Not fully anyway. It was still a very good horror film. It just didn't have that extra punch that Spring, Under the Skin or The Babadook had.  Also with the John Carpenter parts it can be a positive and a negative. Some parts are just an homage to him like the setting, the score, and the overall plot of the film. Others are just straight lifted from Halloween. So if you have seen that film you can call where it goes. Also, it takes a lot of the 80's stupid horror things. Now I am not sure if that was on purpose or poor writing because the whole film is a love letter to the 80's, but it is still apparent. Things like running in stupid areas or running past doors. So when it comes down to it. I have a lot of problems with the script. Like they have a lot of metaphors in the film or at least attempts at metaphors. Like something with a pool that went over my head. I pretty good at figure those out, but this one I missed so I will need to see the film again. So the bottom line is if you like 80's horror films and just super intense moments all the way thought your film go see it.

RATING
3 out of 4 Ticket Stubs

Spring

Spring, is an indie horror, romance film that is about a man who had just lost the last bit of his family and needs to get away for a while. So what is his best option? Take a trip to Italy of course. The film stars Lou Taylor Pucci in the title role of Evan and Nadia Hilker in her first film. Now I don't want to spoil the rest of the plot, but the genre blending of horror and romance has been a personal passion of mine. (Been writing one for awhile now)

Horror and romance aren't things that go together very well. So, when people try to put them together we get one of two things can happen. One, an amazing film going experience like Warm Bodies or Let the Right Ones In (Let Me In). Two the worst film you could possibly see, every Twilight film made. Lucky for us this one falls in the first category.  The two leads do a perfect job of making you fall for both of them. Evan is just this completely normal ever man type. That you can't help, but like. He has that quality that you know someone like him in your everyday life. Then Louise is the girl that is a complete mystery that you need to get to know better. Then when you do get to know her, she is one of the most interesting people you can ever meet. Heavy on the interesting. This film works as just a great romance. You get to see these two go on dates and talk. You get to learn what they think about life. The writing shines here. Every time these two talk my eyes were glued to the screen. I wanted to hear what they thought about life, love and what it means to live. It has this Before Sunrise feel to it. Then the way it is directed has this great atmosphere to it. With its blown out brightness and washed out colors and great use of 80's electronic music.

From what I just wrote you are most likely thinking "Kyle didn't you say this was a Horror movie?" Yes, it is a horror movie. The horror is in the complete mystery behind Louise. These scenes are genuinely creepy and super intense. The film gives you this little teases the whole film and you as the audience are trying to figure out what is going on with this girl. This becomes the only part of the film that has a critique. Once you figure out the mystery it loses some suspense, but the directors replace the mystery with another thing that I don't want to spoil. It is done well,  just not as good as the first three fourths of the film.

Now, this review is going to be a bit longer because I am going to on a little rant here. Horror movies now are in a state of reimagining. They truly are. I am not just saying this as a fan of Horror. Look at the films that are coming out and have come out. We had last years The Babadook and Starry Eyes and Honeymoon. We have the team behind The Guest and You're Next. Now we have this year Spring and It Follows. All of these were low budget and are some of the most interesting and well made films of their respected years.  Look to the indie filmmakers right in horror they are doing some of the most unique things you will ever see. I as your humble film nerd go watch all of those film I have just mentioned. You will not be upset. (It follows just looks amazing, I haven't seen it yet, but don't worry I will)

RATING
3.75 out of 4 Ticket Stubs.