Ice Cream Planet
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I get glimpses of the horror of normalcy.
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Post by Ice Cream Planet on Apr 9, 2015 9:53:50 GMT -5
Ice Cream Planet now that I've had a few hours to think about it, something that's bothering me is Hugh - are we to believe that he got the curse and then drove really far away (which I guess wasn't far away since he went to a recognizable, nearby high school??), rented a house under an assumed name with no ID, met and befriended and dated Jay and won her trust just so that he could have sex with her? And then went home to his folks? Argh, I hate to nitpick. It was a really good film. : Everytime something like that happens, a wizard did it. In all seriousness, I thought the housing thing was less 'renting' and more just squatting (the house looked dilapidated as shit), so he could have an easy escape from the figure if needed? |
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Post by sarapen on Apr 11, 2015 15:26:11 GMT -5
Ice Cream Planet now that I've had a few hours to think about it, something that's bothering me is Hugh - are we to believe that he got the curse and then drove really far away (which I guess wasn't far away since he went to a recognizable, nearby high school??), rented a house under an assumed name with no ID, met and befriended and dated Jay and won her trust just so that he could have sex with her? And then went home to his folks? Argh, I hate to nitpick. It was a really good film. : Everytime something like that happens, a wizard did it. In all seriousness, I thought the housing thing was less 'renting' and more just squatting (the house looked dilapidated as shit), so he could have an easy escape from the figure if needed? I just saw the movie, Hugh was said to have been renting the house under a fake name. It makes sense that the landlord wouldn't do a credit check for a place that shitty, they were probably just glad someone was interested in it. Anyway, I do agree that class hangs like a spectre over the entire movie. I couldn't help thinking that as a middle class person I've got family and friends all over the world and I could have easily avoided the problem by going overseas. Ghost, I know you're determined but good luck walking from Canada to Switzerland. It's like how the black working class and poor residents of New Orleans wondered where most of the white people had gone just before Katrina hit - they had more personal connections and residential options out of the area, partly due to their class background and partly due to just having more money. I mean, there are hotels, out-of-state in-laws, old college roommates, etcetera. The best the movie's characters could do was some kind of lakeside cottage just a few hours out of the city. In regards to the movie as a horror film, I can't say it's the scariest I've ever seen but it was certainly solid. Perhaps I would place it in my top 40 scariest if I was the type to make lists. |
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eldan
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Post by eldan on Apr 11, 2015 21:46:43 GMT -5
I loved it. It wasn't scary in a leap-out-of-your-seat kind of way (though there were a couple of jumpscares), but I think that kind of scary is kind of cheap. This worked on a different level, it got under my skin and left me feeling uneasy rather than being startled a few times, and I love that. Movies very rarely get me at that level. Other than that, I really don't have much to add that hasn't been said a thousand times already: I loved the atmosphere, loved the soundtrack, loved Maika Monroe (she was excellent but I thought the girls that played her sisters did a great job as well, the youngest sister was a weird sort of character type that existed in a lot of movies and shows in the 80s but you never really see much anymore). I did feel like it was a bit of a leap in logic to get to the pool, but it felt like a great "gang of teens hatch a plan" homage, and I liked that the plan didn't really work at all anyway.
There was a time when I was a really hardcore fan of indie horror movies, and this really reinvigorated that interest in me.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 12, 2015 6:49:05 GMT -5
I loved it. It wasn't scary in a leap-out-of-your-seat kind of way (though there were a couple of jumpscares), but I think that kind of scary is kind of cheap. This worked on a different level, it got under my skin and left me feeling uneasy rather than being startled a few times, and I love that. Movies very rarely get me at that level. Other than that, I really don't have much to add that hasn't been said a thousand times already: I loved the atmosphere, loved the soundtrack, loved Maika Monroe (she was excellent but I thought the girls that played her sisters did a great job as well, the youngest sister was a weird sort of character type that existed in a lot of movies and shows in the 80s but you never really see much anymore). I did feel like it was a bit of a leap in logic to get to the pool, but it felt like a great "gang of teens hatch a plan" homage, and I liked that the plan didn't really work at all anyway. There was a time when I was a really hardcore fan of indie horror movies, and this really reinvigorated that interest in me. yes exactly - that tone of menace and constant dread is really difficult to do properly. I was definitely scared enough to not worry at all about gaps in the logic - and when I wasn't scared, I was too busy noticing how beautiful everything was. |
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Post by sarapen on Apr 13, 2015 9:42:39 GMT -5
I loved it. It wasn't scary in a leap-out-of-your-seat kind of way (though there were a couple of jumpscares), but I think that kind of scary is kind of cheap. This worked on a different level, it got under my skin and left me feeling uneasy rather than being startled a few times, and I love that. Movies very rarely get me at that level. Other than that, I really don't have much to add that hasn't been said a thousand times already: I loved the atmosphere, loved the soundtrack, loved Maika Monroe (she was excellent but I thought the girls that played her sisters did a great job as well, the youngest sister was a weird sort of character type that existed in a lot of movies and shows in the 80s but you never really see much anymore). I did feel like it was a bit of a leap in logic to get to the pool, but it felt like a great "gang of teens hatch a plan" homage, and I liked that the plan didn't really work at all anyway. There was a time when I was a really hardcore fan of indie horror movies, and this really reinvigorated that interest in me. Actually I think the girl with the glasses and e-reader was just a friend. When they were on the way to the pool showdown Glasses Girl said her parents warned her about 8 Mile and the sisters said their parents had said the same thing. |
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eldan
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Post by eldan on Apr 14, 2015 11:03:30 GMT -5
Oh yeah you're right. I was just assuming she was a younger sister because of the scene where she came to the bedroom when everyone is freaking out, it seemed like she had her own room in the house but I guess she was just been there for a sleepover.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2015 13:31:48 GMT -5
I ... uhm ... walked out of the movie. Not because I thought the movie was bad by any means, I was just really high, and the movie was too scary.
[spoilers]
I walked out right after the scene where the guy was raped to death, that was where I drew the line.
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Post by dboonsghost on Apr 19, 2015 14:48:46 GMT -5
What I like about this movie, which I haven't seen anybody else talk about, is the inversion of the "sex kills" horror movie trope. Usually your final girl is a virginal "good girl" and anybody who has sex dies, but in this movie promiscuity is literally the only way she can stay alive. That's pretty awesome and kind of unique, and also good satire.
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Post by Beatrix Kiddo 9000 on Apr 19, 2015 20:14:51 GMT -5
What I like about this movie, which I haven't seen anybody else talk about, is the inversion of the "sex kills" horror movie trope. Usually your final girl is a virginal "good girl" and anybody who has sex dies, but in this movie promiscuity is literally the only way she can stay alive. That's pretty awesome and kind of unique, and also good satire. One of my favorite aspects of It Follows is that Jay isn't subjected to any slut or sex shaming. She had sex because she wanted to, and no one questions her about it. Of course, it doesn't turn out so well, but no one says "Why did you have sex with him?!?!?" instead her friends say "What can we do to help you?" |
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Post by dboonsghost on Apr 19, 2015 22:20:55 GMT -5
What I like about this movie, which I haven't seen anybody else talk about, is the inversion of the "sex kills" horror movie trope. Usually your final girl is a virginal "good girl" and anybody who has sex dies, but in this movie promiscuity is literally the only way she can stay alive. That's pretty awesome and kind of unique, and also good satire. One of my favorite aspects of It Follows is that Jay isn't subjected to any slut or sex shaming. She had sex because she wanted to, and no one questions her about it. Of course, it doesn't turn out so well, but no one says "Why did you have sex with him?!?!?" instead her friends say "What can we do to help you?" , that's mostly true. Can't forget good ol' "nice guy" Paul. |
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Post by flapjackriley on Apr 25, 2015 13:28:18 GMT -5
I've long since stopped caring about Doug Walker/Channel Awesome save for a few producers who have basically all left that site to do their own things. But Walker just posted a review of It Follows on YouTube and I was curious. He didn't like it. Apparently he was under the impression it was going to be an experience like Cabin in the Woods. I want to put my head through a wall.
No, to be fair; I said this on The Dissolve, "I think it's simply a matter of how you want to look at the movie: either as a straight up monster film or a metaphorical coming-of-age story." And it's not really surprising that he looked into it only as the former.
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Post-Lupin
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Post by Post-Lupin on Jun 16, 2015 5:09:54 GMT -5
So, you guys didn't think the ending sucked? Saw it last night: was totally along for the ride, loved the evocative nature of it, the constantly roving camera, the performances, the old school scoring and the suburban nightmare aspect... and then, the final shot just killed it for me. So, do the happy couple just decide to walk a bit faster than It for the rest of their lives (while being monogamous forever) and this solves the problem? I literally can't see how you get from the swimming pool scene to that point within the logic of the film. Compare it to The Babadook, which successfully pulls off a non-zero-sum ending ( which I examined in depth for Spiral Nature here): this... just ends. |
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Post by dboonsghost on Jun 16, 2015 21:10:12 GMT -5
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eldan
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Post by eldan on Jun 17, 2015 0:49:56 GMT -5
I thought the ending was fine. Much better than being told the whole movie that It was completely terrifying and unstoppable, then ending with someone just shooting it in the head and that's it. I didn't think it came across as ambiguously as I think the filmmakers wanted it to, but I thought it worked fine.
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Post-Lupin
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Post by Post-Lupin on Jun 17, 2015 5:31:41 GMT -5
That's not really my point... |
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Post by Douay-Rheims-Challoner on Jun 17, 2015 6:01:11 GMT -5
So, do the happy couple just decide to walk a bit faster than It for the rest of their lives (while being monogamous forever) and this solves the problem? Nothing solves the problem. They are in as much danger as ever. They've just learned to live with it. The story is pretty obviously about the inevitability of death - no matter what we do, death is coming for us - maybe not today, tomorrow, or next year, but eventually we will die. |
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Post by Post-Lupin on Jun 17, 2015 6:12:36 GMT -5
So, do the happy couple just decide to walk a bit faster than It for the rest of their lives (while being monogamous forever) and this solves the problem? Nothing solves the problem. They are in as much danger as ever. They've just learned to live with it. The story is pretty obviously about the inevitability of death - no matter what we do, death is coming for us - maybe not today, tomorrow, or next year, but eventually we will die. I get the metaphor entirely... my problem is, its execution doesn't fit the rest of the film for me. Jarring. As I said, worth comparing how well The Babdook deals with a similar metaphor without shifting from what's established in-film. |
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Post by Douay-Rheims-Challoner on Jun 17, 2015 6:19:31 GMT -5
Post-Lupin I'd say the biggest break in the film tonally is the climax, where it suggests that there might be a way to stop it. The film's monster is at its best when it is at its simplest - an inexorable force slowly coming towards you. If Badabook's vaguely defined monster operated with a kind of dream illogic, the monster of It Follows felt very strongly like something right out of dream logic - the director said it's based on a recurring nightmare he had as a child.
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Dellarigg
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Post by Dellarigg on Jun 17, 2015 6:26:22 GMT -5
The blu-ray's out at the end of the month, anyway.
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Post-Lupin
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Post by Post-Lupin on Jun 17, 2015 6:27:56 GMT -5
Post-Lupin I'd say the biggest break in the film tonally is the climax, where it suggests that there might be a way to stop it. The film's monster is at its best when it is at its simplest - an inexorable force slowly coming towards you. If Badabook's vaguely defined monster operated with a kind of dream illogic, the monster of It Follows felt very strongly like something right out of dream logic - the director said it's based on a recurring nightmare he had as a child. Again, I can see that: but I still think Babadook as a horror film displays more of a through-line. Whether this is a bug or feature in It Follows seems to be where opinion differs. (And I love the dreamy atmosphere of the film for the most part.) And honestly: I'm still fucked off they didn't electrify the swimming pool after It was shot in the head. Most of the kit was still plugged in, It was at least disabled... |
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Ice Cream Planet
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Post by Ice Cream Planet on Jun 17, 2015 10:36:47 GMT -5
So, you guys didn't think the ending sucked? Saw it last night: was totally along for the ride, loved the evocative nature of it, the constantly roving camera, the performances, the old school scoring and the suburban nightmare aspect... and then, the final shot just killed it for me. So, do the happy couple just decide to walk a bit faster than It for the rest of their lives (while being monogamous forever) and this solves the problem? I literally can't see how you get from the swimming pool scene to that point within the logic of the film. Compare it to The Babadook, which successfully pulls off a non-zero-sum ending ( which I examined in depth for Spiral Nature here): this... just ends. I loved the ending. It was one of my favorites I've seen in a long time. I know you and Douay-Rheims-Challoner talked about it quite a bit, but I liked how it served as a reminder that even if a person 'overcomes' a particular trauma, it doesn't mean it ever really leaves. Both characters' lives are scarred by it and they seemed far from happy; more like they are two people who are sticking it simply because what else can they do. For me, the ending hit the right tragic note: two young people whose lives are forever saddled with that quiet horror. Given the general saturnine atmosphere of the film, it felt very fitting to end on that ambiguous, lugubrious note. |
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Post-Lupin
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Post by Post-Lupin on Jun 17, 2015 11:49:38 GMT -5
So, you guys didn't think the ending sucked? Saw it last night: was totally along for the ride, loved the evocative nature of it, the constantly roving camera, the performances, the old school scoring and the suburban nightmare aspect... and then, the final shot just killed it for me. So, do the happy couple just decide to walk a bit faster than It for the rest of their lives (while being monogamous forever) and this solves the problem? I literally can't see how you get from the swimming pool scene to that point within the logic of the film. Compare it to The Babadook, which successfully pulls off a non-zero-sum ending ( which I examined in depth for Spiral Nature here): this... just ends. I loved the ending. It was one of my favorites I've seen in a long time. I know you and Douay-Rheims-Challoner talked about it quite a bit, but I liked how it served as a reminder that even if a person 'overcomes' a particular trauma, it doesn't mean it ever really leaves. Both characters' lives are scarred by it and they seemed far from happy; more like they are two people who are sticking it simply because what else can they do. For me, the ending hit the right tragic note: two young people whose lives are forever saddled with that quiet horror. Given the general saturnine atmosphere of the film, it felt very fitting to end on that ambiguous, lugubrious note. Again: it works symbolically, but (for me) not dramatically. That's why the Babadook comparison: that ending worked on both levels for me, big time. And y'know I love you guys... agreeing to disagree, all that. I'll certainly watch more films from that director. |
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Ice Cream Planet
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Post by Ice Cream Planet on Jun 17, 2015 13:31:26 GMT -5
I loved the ending. It was one of my favorites I've seen in a long time. I know you and Douay-Rheims-Challoner talked about it quite a bit, but I liked how it served as a reminder that even if a person 'overcomes' a particular trauma, it doesn't mean it ever really leaves. Both characters' lives are scarred by it and they seemed far from happy; more like they are two people who are sticking it simply because what else can they do. For me, the ending hit the right tragic note: two young people whose lives are forever saddled with that quiet horror. Given the general saturnine atmosphere of the film, it felt very fitting to end on that ambiguous, lugubrious note. Again: it works symbolically, but (for me) not dramatically. That's why the Babadook comparison: that ending worked on both levels for me, big time. And y'know I love you guys... agreeing to disagree, all that. I'll certainly watch more films from that director. Fair enough. Beyond the symbolism, I thought it hit a nicely done, low-key dramatic point, but to each his own. |
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eldan
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Post by eldan on Jun 17, 2015 23:20:51 GMT -5
I think as a whole, It Follows is more concerned with working on a symbolic level than a dramatic level, whereas I feel the opposite about The Babadook. I feel like being frustrated with the plot of It Follows is beside the point, in much the same way I felt like it didn't really matter what exactly happened at the very end of Drive, for example. It's all about the mood that it's setting and maintaining. I think The Babadook is attempting to tell a really good story that also has a symbolic element to it.
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Post by Tea Rex on Jun 18, 2015 10:13:24 GMT -5
I rather liked the ending. You have this dramatic setpiece in the pool, where we learn that even being shot inna face won't stop the monster for long.* You have the kids trying desperately to fight It. And then, the despair of the realization that there is no fighting It. A scene in the hospital, a quick, rather joyless bit of sex to pass things on, and then two grim young adults walking hand-in-hand as something follows them (and we don't know if it's It or just some rando).
Frankly, the only thing that didn't work for me in the movie was the reading of the Idiot. Partly because it was way too on the nose with the theme, partly because she had that book for weeks ish given the timeline and hadn't passed the chapter every single one of those quotes came from, partly because that chapter was the one where Ippolit reads his lengthy, ridiculously over-dramatic treatise on the inevitability of his own death from consumption before faking an attempt at suicide - and all of this is played, in the book, as rather over-the-top. That letter is fucking long!
*Aside: I'm pretty sure they didn't try to electrocute It after It was in the pool because it was shown that the electrocution plan simply would not work when It threw a few plugged-in items into the pool and nothing happened. Which makes complete sense, and I really appreciated the film maker for including! Modern houses/buildings are wired in such a way that if the outflow of electricity begins to increase dramatically, either a breaker or a switch will be thrown, SPECIFICALLY to prevent electrocution. Any place where water is prevalent (bathrooms, kitchens, pools) will def have these switches. The ol' toaster-in-the-tub suicide/murder trope really can't happen nowadays without some serious work. It makes sense that the kids would try this, because it is an old trope, but it absolutely wouldn't work, which they also showed!
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Post-Lupin
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Post by Post-Lupin on Jun 19, 2015 6:31:22 GMT -5
*Aside: I'm pretty sure they didn't try to electrocute It after It was in the pool because it was shown that the electrocution plan simply would not work when It threw a few plugged-in items into the pool and nothing happened. Which makes complete sense, and I really appreciated the film maker for including! Modern houses/buildings are wired in such a way that if the outflow of electricity begins to increase dramatically, either a breaker or a switch will be thrown, SPECIFICALLY to prevent electrocution. Any place where water is prevalent (bathrooms, kitchens, pools) will def have these switches. The ol' toaster-in-the-tub suicide/murder trope really can't happen nowadays without some serious work. It makes sense that the kids would try this, because it is an old trope, but it absolutely wouldn't work, which they also showed! All the items It threw into the pool were clearly unplugged. |
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Post by Tea Rex on Jun 19, 2015 8:34:21 GMT -5
The first item wasn't - it was one of the reasons the kids wanted her out of the pool. One of the kids clearly says "it's okay, didn't work!"
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Post by 🔪 silly buns on Jul 16, 2015 19:54:50 GMT -5
I always wanted someone to make a movie about the concept from the first ten minutes from The Ring 2, where someone tries to pass the curse on to someone else. I loved the feel of this movie, but yeah I was a little disappointed in the ending. Though I still think it's an interesting ending.
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Post by dboonsghost on Jul 23, 2015 21:17:01 GMT -5
It's been four months since I saw this and I still wake up in the middle of the night from nightmares about it.
That's a pretty effective horror movie right thur.
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Post by Baramos on Jul 23, 2015 23:35:16 GMT -5
It follows her at walking pace? How many years could she buy by just going to the other side of the country? Or as the guy says, just hurry up and have sex with somebody?
Also I'm glad this is technically a 2014 film or I'd have to take issue with the whole "best movie of 2015" statement.
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