Despite being nowhere near as well-known as the likes of Halloween (1978) or A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), It Follows is a love letter to both of these films. Inspired also by director David Gordon Green’s nightmares and sleep paralysis, the film follows Jay, who inherits a curse after losing her virginity.
The idea that sex is a cardinal sin is a trope that has been used in the slasher genre since the very beginning, but It Follows literalizes this concept, as the curse that has since become known as the “Sexually Transmitted Demon” is passed through intercourse, and can only be averted if it’s passed on.
Failing to survive the slow-walking entity, however, which can take on multiple forms in its pursuit, will mean that the curse will make its way back down the line to all those who previously managed to rid themselves of it. It’s a concept that practically begs for a sequel, so will there be a part 2 to It Follows?
Following the film’s release in 2015, in an interview with Vulture, director David Gordon Green was asked about the possibility of a sequel. Here’s his full response:
“It seems like the response has been very strong at this point, but any specifics [about sequels] — that, I couldn’t say. I have a lot of different kinds of projects in many different genres, so I don’t know that a sequel would be the next thing that I would do, but I’m certainly open to it. I just kinda want to see how things play out. But I do want to say that when I wrote this, I had some bigger set-pieces, a few things that I sort of simplified, and some stuff that we chose to cut out because of the budget and time, so there’s all kinds of fun things that could be done with this concept and story.”
Tom Quinn, co-president of the film’s distributor, RADiUS-TWC, also announced around the time that the studio was looking into making a sequel, while suggesting that It Follows 2 could explore the origins of “It.”
Unfortunately, since then, there has been no news on a follow-up to It Follows in the seven years since its theatrical release, despite the film receiving critical acclaim and grossing $23.3 million worldwide against a $1.3 million budget. But this doesn’t mean that the franchise is already over.
It’s entirely possible that we’ll get a sequel one day, especially seeing as the film ends on something of a cliffhanger. After defeating “It”, Jay and Paul are walking through their neighborhood when someone is seemingly following far behind (although the person does turn their head, suggesting it’s not “It”).
This is where the film ends, and though the ending can be seen as a form of closure, in that Jay is now free of the demon, that isn’t necessarily the case for Paul. Though they believe to have killed it in a swimming pool, Jay sleeps with Paul afterwards, almost as a guarantee of ridding herself of the demon.
Afterwards, Paul says he feels no different, but it’s possible “It” is taking its time in getting to him, or that it’s regenerating after being killed. But then a sequel wouldn’t need to revisit these characters. As RADiUS-TWC co-president Tom Quinn suggested, another It Follows could explore the origins of the demon.
In the meantime, we’ll just have to be as patient as the demon itself…
Here’s the official synopsis for It Follows:
After a date and seemingly innocent sexual encounter, 19-year-old Jay is left with an inescapable sense that someone, or something is following her. Jay and her friends team up to try and find ways to escape the traumatising horrors that are always right behind them.
A sensation with critics and audiences alike, It Follows is a smart, stylish and suspenseful horror film that brings new life to the genre. Teen sex, suburbia, murder and nightmarish demons all take on a new layer of substance and style in a film that will linger with you long after the credits roll.
It Follows stars Maika Monroe (Jamie “Jay” Height), Keir Gilchrist (Paul Bolduan), Olivia Luccardi (Yara Davis), Lili Sepe (Kelly Height), Daniel Zovatto (Greg Hannigan), Jake Weary (Hugh/Jeff Redmond), Bailey Spry (Annie Marshall), Debbie Williams (Mrs. Height), and Ruby Harris (Mrs. Redmond),
