David Robert Mitchell's 2014 film It Follows presents a seemingly simple horror premise: a sexually transmitted curse that manifests as a relentless, shape-shifting entity. However, beneath its stylish, retro aesthetic lies a potent, albeit implicit, allegory for modern American rape culture. The film doesn't directly depict sexual assault, nor does it offer easy answers or catharsis. Instead, it masterfully employs its supernatural conceit to explore the pervasive anxieties, societal complicities, and psychological burdens associated with sexual violence and its lingering aftermath. Through its depiction of the "It" entity, the characters' reactions, and the suffocating atmosphere it cultivates, It Follows serves as a chilling commentary on how sexual trauma and the threat of violation are often normalized, ignored, or mishandled in contemporary society.
The central metaphor of the curse, passed through sexual contact, directly mirrors the way sexual violence and its consequences can feel inescapable and contagious. The "It" is not a specific predator but an amorphous, ever-present threat that can take any form, making it difficult to identify and even harder to escape. This mirrors the experience of many victims who are targeted by individuals who may appear normal or even friendly, and whose trauma can feel like an invisible, constant companion. The entity's slow, deliberate pursuit, always just out of sight but inevitably closing in, evokes the feeling of dread and anticipation that can accompany the fear of sexual assault. The victim's only recourse, as established by the film's lore, is to pass the curse on through sex, a mechanism that implicates the community and highlights the destructive cycle of trauma and avoidance. This act, while a survival tactic within the film's logic, also subtly critiques societal tendencies to shift blame or responsibility away from the perpetrator and onto the victim, who is then forced into desperate measures.
Furthermore, the film's characters, particularly the protagonist Jay, embody the helplessness and isolation often experienced by those who have been victimized or who live in constant fear of it. Jay's initial disbelief and her friends' hesitant, then outright, dismissal of her terrifying experience reflect the very real societal phenomenon of victim-blaming and the reluctance to acknowledge or believe survivors. Her friends, while eventually offering support, are often overwhelmed by the implausibility of her situation, mirroring how society sometimes struggles to grasp the reality of sexual violence when it doesn't fit a predictable narrative. The constant surveillance Jay endures, the fear of who might be watching or what guise the threat might take, speaks to the way sexual anxiety can permeate everyday life, turning mundane interactions into potential dangers. The entity's ability to disguise itself as familiar figures, like loved ones or even Jay herself, underscores the insidious nature of threats that can come from unexpected places, including within one's own social circles.
The film's visual style and sound design further amplify its thematic concerns. The dreamlike, almost nostalgic setting, coupled with a haunting synth score, creates an atmosphere of disquiet that feels both timeless and urgently modern. This aesthetic choice suggests that the issues It Follows addresses are not new, but have been a simmering undercurrent in American culture for generations. The widespread feeling of unease and the characters' general lack of adult supervision or reliable authority figures contribute to the sense of societal breakdown and the absence of adequate support systems for those facing sexual threats. The prevalence of technology, like shared photos and texts, ironically serves to isolate rather than connect, as characters struggle to communicate the severity of their predicament in a world that often prioritizes superficial interactions. The film doesn't offer a neat resolution; the "It" is never truly defeated, only temporarily evaded or passed along, leaving the audience with a lingering sense of vulnerability that accurately captures the ongoing nature of the fight against rape culture.
In conclusion, It Follows transcends its genre trappings to offer a profound and unsettling examination of modern American rape culture. By using a supernatural narrative, David Robert Mitchell crafts a powerful allegory that highlights the insidious nature of sexual threat, the societal responses that exacerbate victim trauma, and the pervasive anxieties that result. The film's enduring impact stems from its refusal to provide simple answers, instead forcing viewers to confront the uncomfortable, often unseen, forces that shape experiences of fear, consent, and violation in contemporary society.