The final scene ofIt Followsmay draw David Robert Mitchell’s horror to an end, but it leaves the story wide open, and that’s why it’s one of the scariest ending scenes of all time. The movie recreates the suspenseful tension of 90s horror movies, without relying on gratuitous violence. Instead,It Followscreates an increased anxiety with its psychological story. A disturbing figure hunts the victims of its sexually transmitted curse, and the uncertainty lies in when and how the next threat will emerge. The ambiguous ending makes it unclear whether the monster has been truly defeated.
The eerie and ominous tension ofIt Followsis impressive, considering how few deaths occur across its 1 hour, 40-minute length. After its release in 2014,It Followswas praised as one of the best horror moviesof the past decade because of its well-paced story and strong performances. Further updates regarding theIt Followssequel,They Follow, announced that the upcoming project is set to start filming in early 2025. Its predecessor is heavily inspired by the work of John Carpenter, making its upcoming follow-up installment more interesting.
It Follows Final Scene Is One Of The Horror Genre’s Greatest Endings
The Ambiguous Ending Of It Follows Is A Clever Storytelling Technique
The final scene ofIt Followswas met with various responses from audiences and critics, as it remains open to interpretation. Jay (Maika Monroe) and her friends lure the creature into an enclosed location, but the final showdown leaves the threat of the monster unclear, as well as the fate of its central characters. It is apparent thatMitchell’s divisive ending largely reflects the movie’s central theme — the fear of the unknown, which makes the final moments ofIt Followsmore effective. The movie leaves a prolonged sense of dread for audiences far beyond the movie’s conclusion.
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It Followssubverts many of the classic tropes of the genre, and while some open-ended conclusions can be a delicate balance, Mitchell provides a final act that solidifies its place among horror’s most iconic endings. Unlike some films released at the time,It Followsoffers a more unsettling and realistic conclusion that suggests there is no escape from death. The tactful inclusion of a quote from Dostoevsky’sThe Idiotreinforces the unfinished conflict, reading “the most terrible agony may not be in the wound themselves but in knowing for certain that … your soul will leave your body […].”
It Follows Deserves More Attention As A Modern Horror Classic
It Follows Is An Enthralling Entry Into The Horror Genre
It Followsintroduces a terrifying premise that’s equally unique and thought-provoking. The movie blends sexuality with themes that go beyond classic horror elements.It Followsuses a more subtle approach to generate fearand refrains from easy tactics like jump scares. This grounded, more realistic approach creates a more unsettling viewing experience. The psychological horror instead takes a more atmospheric approach, which builds tension through itsresidual shots that are reminiscent of John Carpenter’sThe Thing. It’s difficult to deny that these techniques allowIt Followsto stand out among the collection of horrors over the last decade.
It Follows: Every Form The Entity Takes
It Follows' entity takes many different forms while stalking its prey in the 2014 horror movie; here’s every shape that the being takes throughout.
It’s a shame thatIt Followshas not achieved the same level of mainstream recognition as other classic horrors, as it’s difficult to deny that these techniques enhance its unique concept and masterful execution. The strong performances of the lead cast deserve far more attention, too. Particularly Jay, who is named accordingly as a tribute to thehorror scream queen, Jamie Lee Curtis.Monroe skillfully combines paranoia with determination, which results in a captivating performance that is on par with that of other modern horror classics, such asCabin in the WoodsandGet Out.
What It Follows Final Scene Actually Means
The Entity Is Far From Being Gone
It’s obvious that theweird curse inIt Followsis one of the more creative metaphors for STDs. As shown at an earlier stage of the film, a significant amount of time passes between the monster killing Greg (Daniel Zovatto) and returning to Jay. This means thatthe being’s disappearance at the end ofIt Followsdoes not necessarily mean Jay is safe. Jay and Paul (Keir Gilchrist) are pictured having sex for passion, rather than for the desire to survive. Ultimately, the pair are repeatedly passing the curse between each other, and benefiting from the time intervals between the hunt.
…theIt Followsfinal scene shows the couple walking through their neighborhood holding hands, with a figure following closely behind them.
The entity is not shown again after the final battle, which makes it seem possible that Jay has defeated the curse. However, theIt Followsfinal scene shows the couple walking through their neighborhood holding hands, with a figure following closely behind them.The themes of death and morality come full circle at the end ofIt Follows, where the concluding scene represents the notion that we cannot truly fight death. The parting image of the entity foreshadows Jay and Paul’s imminent death and symbolizes the uncertainty of mortality.
