It follows review annotation/analysis
- 1. Tender, remarkably ingenious and scalp-pricklingly scary, It Follows begins, in classic Halloween fashion, with a teen girl in the suburbs fleeing in utter panic from her front door. She's being chased, very slowly, by something we can't see. In fact, no one can see it, except for her and others like her – the victims of a sexually transmitted hex that’s sent a shape-shifting succubus implacably into their lives. The premise, written thus, sounds pretty hokey. It's not at all. The movie's a brilliantly fresh spin on a classic model – the pass-on-the- curse conceit which horror fans will know from MR James's shivery short story Casting the Runes, and its numerous cinematic offspring, from Jacques Tourneur's Night of the Demon (1957) to the Japanese cult hit Ringu (2000) and its American remake, The Ring (2002). It Follows – which deserves even more marks for that marvellously suggestive title – does this entire lineage proud, not just by switching tacks from runic subterfuge or videotape circulation to the rather Cronenbergy gambit of inflicting a demon on your unfortunate sex partner. It's altogether smart, subtextually fascinating, and more or less a contemporary horror fan's dream come true. The genre trappings make it a nifty, commercially tantalising venture for its writer-director, David Robert Mitchell, after his terrific first feature in 2010, a too-little-seen reverie of awkward teen yearning called The Myth of the American Sleepover. He matches that film’s subtle sadness and complete sincerity here, while furthering its already substantial ambition, essentially by dropping a terrifyingly unhurried and many-faced stalker right into the middle of it. Rule of three being a powerful introduction to the review describing its tone, writing and fear factor which are all crucial to a film of this genre. The reviewer starts the review by describing the beginning of the film this suggest the review will comment on the films events in chronological order rather than a review that simply comments on the greatest strengths and weaknesses of the film. The description of the introduction as ‘classic Halloween fashion’ referencing a fan favourite and well known franchise will excite and intrigue readers. Informing the readers the main character is a teenage girl is a stereotypical vulnerable character of the genre and is often portrayed as the victim. The ‘chase’ element of the film is mentioned as this is a feature that contributes to the films pacing being the antagonists attributes the fact that it’s a curse that’s sexually transmitted tells the reader about underlying themes within the film. The second paragraph starts by decomposing any assumption that the premise is ‘hokey’ and addresses the fact it seems so. The assumption that the premise could be bad is stamped out excluding this thought from people’s minds stopping them from worrying about it. It also comments on the fact that the general idea has been done before being a ‘pass-on-the-curse’ horror but says it has a fresh spin on it which suggest an original version of this model. Then the reviewer compares he film to existing well known films that horror fans will know, specifically the ring. The third paragraph starts with the title of the film reminding the reading and explaining how it relates to the story ‘it’ being the curse and antagonist and describing the nature of it. The reviewer explaining the titles relevance may give the reader more appreciation for the film. The review goes on to talk about the films style and uses ‘Cronenbergy gambit’ which is informal language which gives the review a more personal feel talking more casually means appealing to wider audience. The nature of the antagonist is described and then explained that you pass on the curse though sex, so the use of ‘unfortunate sex partner’ is clever and ironic because this could potentially be taken the wrong way. Stating that because of the defining conventions of the horror genre, this is a good interesting product for the writer and director because he has a lot to work with. Referencing the directors first feature and going onto say they what elements of that filmare shown through ‘It Follows’ specifically mentioning its ‘subtle sadness’ and ‘complete sincerity’. The use of alliteration draws attention to the particular line of text and makes the reader address the description. Subtle sadness implies a undertone that’s constant but not forced which is appealing characteristic of a horror in my opinion so this is selling the filmwell. Also complete sincerity suggest the film doesn’t try and be something it’s not, for example all elements of the film contributing to the same tone. Film Review: Film Review Anlysis:
- 2. Giving this revenant, or whatever the hell it is, the Michael-Myers-in- Halloween constriction of only walking at all times constitutes both a neat Carpenter homage and a clammy-palmed atmospheric masterstroke. It’s just one of the rules Mitchell sets himself and sticks to. He never cheats, never stretches the premise for cheap shocks. They’re utterly earned, and had the Cannes critics’ week audience jumping – in my case swearing, on at least one occasion - with helpless fright. Going in, you don’t want to know too much about this, in plot and character terms: it’s possible the trap set for these experimenting youngsters might grip less if you were already in on it. Still, it’s worth counting all the many ways sex functions in the film – as weapon, succour, self-defence, straightforward release – and how they map on metaphorically to the ways it’s always used. Mitchell wields his deadly external threat, not just as an even bigger incentive to cop off than standard teenage hormones, but as the strange opposite, too – as an invitation to pause, to stop in your tracks, and think about morality and consequence. It can’t always be a terrific experience, being used for sex as a compliant virgin, say. But Mitchell supplies the creepiest ulterior motives since Scarlett Johansson hit the Glasgow club scene in Under the Skin. We get a predator that’s visible and not, recognisable and foreign-bodied, as single-minded as the Terminator and as fetidly human as that rotting old lady in The Shining. This, the ‘It’ of It Follows, springs from the same It teenagers are generally craving and constantly thinking about. It’s something nasty in the woodshed. It’s a blind date to make your blood run cold. Film Review: Film Review Anlysis: Another reference to Halloween and John carpenter using the word ‘homage’ saying that aspects of ‘It Follows’ has a lot of similar element such as soundtrack, cinematography, and setting. ‘Clammy-palmed atmospheric masterstroke’ illustrates the films feel of suspense like you as an audience member are on edge and feel invested in the characters situation. Adding that this film does not use cheap jump scares is a major benefit since Hollywood horror films are usually filled with cheap cliché tactics to scare the audience without building any real fear, the fact the filmsticks to the premise and ‘never cheats’ suggest the director set out to make a good quality film with a clear purpose and not just to make people jump or be scared with a poor story. Also having this scare factor is more difficult without using cheap tactics, having Cannes critic jumping does the filmjustice as usually critics are highly critical of horror films more so than your average drama. At this point in the review a brief idea of the story has already been told to us, the reviewer has commented on various strong points of the film, but says you don’t want to know much about the film beforehand. This is a good thing to include because it is likely to be a better viewing experience if you don’t know what’s going to happen next, its alight talking about the films themes but major plot details may ruin it for you. Telling the reader of different themes is acceptable because they are more subtly shown to us though all aspects of filmmaking rather than solely through dialogue. Finally, the last paragraph talks about how the director uses aspects of the story to convey different things specifically mentioning stopping in your tracks and thinking about your actions in terms of consequence and morals. The themes of the filmare serious and the unsettling idea is compared to ‘under the skin’ which I would consider as an abstract film that also has very dominant themes of sex. In closing the antagonist is further described in its nature and characteristics, being compared to legendary horror classics such as the shining. Finishing with a statement defining the filmas a blind date to make your blood run cold which is a clever metaphor. Suggesting going into this filmyou don’t know what to expect and are left with a disturbed feeling. Ending the review with a short sentence is effective because it wraps up the thoughts on the film and after everything said throughout both criticisms and praise the reviewer has chosen to end on a positive, which may make up the readers mind about whether or not to watch the film especially if what being scared is what they are looking for. Also not just talking about the scare factor and being a interesting story and premise makes it a lot more appealing than your average to poor ‘jumpy’ horror flick.
- 3. Thisis a social networktabthat letsyou share the revieworevenaddto or commentonit. Thisisa goodaspectto have as it isan online reviewpeople can share theirviewonthe filmandthisfeature encouragespeople tointeractattracting more attentiontothe original telegraph review. The writerof the reviewhavingapicture addsa more personal elementtothe review asareader a face isbeingputto the words,hisname nextto italso addsto thisand the date and time is importantas itshowsthat it’srelevantandrecenttothe film’s releasedate. Short sentence detailingthe subjectmatterof the filmand praisesthe filmby referringtoitas a ‘contemporaryhorrorfans dream’. Alsocommentingonthe cleverandfittingtitle aswell as addressingthe underlyingthemesof the filmbeingsexual. Thencallingitan ‘indie chiller’couldsuggestthe filmisoriginal as itsindependentand‘chiller’ratherfittingwordplayasthe genre ishorror or thrillerand‘chill’becausethe girl isthe image lookscold. A large title atthe topof the webpage withthe filmtitleandaquote fromthe openingsentence of the reviewwhich showcasesthe filmsinnocence,attentiontodetail and executionof horrorinitsownoriginal way.Underneaththe subtitle afive starratingencouragingthe negative review.A screenshotof a tense scene inthe film showingthe main character witha concernedlookonherface withthe comfortof herfriend. Representationsofimage: Film- The image representsthe filmasbeingunnervingasthe girl isbeingcomfortedbyanothergirl whohasa somewhatfearful andconcernedexpression,the waythe girl isholdingherandthe character positioningthe girl being behindherleaves aunsettlingtone aseventhoughitisclearthe character is comfortinghertobe grabbedlike thatis detonatedasfrighteningorshockingastheyare touchingyoubefore yousee orhearthem. Actors- The main actor has a lotof skinshowing,she has blonde hairandherbodylanguage isthat she isdisturbedas hershouldersare slightly‘hunched’.She isconveyedasvulnerable becauseof herlackof clothingandthe othergirls needtocomfort her.The blonde girlsface iscentral inframe the backgroundand othergirlsface ispartiallyoutof focus, thiscouldresemble that‘it’beingthe antagonistis‘after’herandshe isthe focusbothin the storyand literally. Representationsofimage: Setting- The image showslittle of the settingbutfrom the characters lack of clothesandwethair we can assume she hasbeenswimmingpossiblyinapool or the sea withbothconnote as positive activitiesyether expressionshowscontrasttothisas it isnegative.The character havingwethairmakessuggesta coldand ‘chilling’moodif youputyourselfinthe settingof the character and coldnesssignifiesnolife.The pale skinof the girl and the colour scheme ingeneral isverydull and there isno blatantlightsource thisfitsinwiththe chillingtone of darkness.
- 4. Thisinformationbox providesthe readerwitha star rating of the film,the source of the review beingthe telegraph.The variousactorsinvolved inthe film, the directorof the filmand the filmgenre.All thisinformationwill be importantto the readerall for differentreasonsthe actorsbeingthe drivingforce of the filmandthere performancesdecidinghow well their characters are portrayed. The directoris importantbecause often directorshave specificstylesof filming and directingingeneral,forexample oftendirectorshave preferredcolour schemessuchas WesAndersonor certaintraitsof the filmsuchas being quite graphicor gory scenessuchas QuentinTarantino’sfilms. Inthisfilm the most iconicaspectof Mitchells filmingstyle isthe cameramovement and cinematography. The synopsisof the filmisbeneficial as isgivesa brief outline of the film withoutspoilingtomuch or spoilingany crucial plotpoints. The bottom sectionof the box consists of more informationaboutwhenthe filmisreleasedhow longthe filmis, whatcountry itis beingreleasedinand the rating of the filmsothe target audience of the filmisclearer. 1st paragraph:givinga brief introductionpraisingthe filmandsmall descriptions aboutwhatthe filmisabout. classicHalloweenfashion isapositive descriptionasitisaddressinganexistinghorrorfranchise thatislargely popularbythe targetaudience tomake a comparisontosuch filmisgoodpraise and a effectiveaytogain the readersinterestandcommunicate the filmstonesbycomparingittosomethingthe audiencealreadyknows.
- 5. Layout: screengrabfrom filmshown atthe top above the screengrab a small quote fromreview givingageneral descriptionof whatthe filmislike andastar rating. Belowthe image there isa picture andname of the writerof the review andthe date and time published. Box on righthas informationsuchasthe genre,director,actors,releasedate, andabrief synopsisof the film. The lefthavinga social mediabarencouragingpeople toshare orconnectwiththe review givingtheirownopinionand sharingthisreviewmakingitmore popular. The reviewitselfissevenparagraphstotal mostparagraphsbeingshortthe final beingthe longest. The feature of addinga videoat the bottomof the webpage showcasingthe filmstrailerisa gooddecisionasnot onlyisit convenientforthe readerthere is onlyso mucha personcangather withoutseeingclipsfromthe film. Some audience memberswill neverwatcha recentreleased filmwithoutwatchingatrailer,on the otherhand some movie goers may value the theatrical experience.Thiscouldmeanthey wantas little informationas possible justsimplyaplot summaryand the genre of the film.The webpage designtselfis verybasichavinglittle ton colour the onlycolourbeingonthe advertfor a recentreleasedfilm on the righthand side.Personally I thinkthisreviewsdesignistwo basicand colourswouldenhance the webpage arguably the content of writingiswhat’simportantbut I thinkthat makingthe webpage pleasingwouldonlyhelpthe reviewspopularity.