Viewed – 11 July 2015  Blu-ray

‘I see naked people’

Another recent horror that had gained praise from critics and seemed like something different amongst the slew of remakes and paranormal activity sequels.  This tells the story of Jay, a nineteen year old student who goes on a date with a local guy she’s been seeing.  Only thing is after they have sex he reveals he has passed a curse onto her of some relentless ‘being’ that has been following him.  It’s now going to be following her, and she should not let it touch her and try and pass the curse on herself as soon as she can.

This is a cool idea for a horror movie.  It involves the viewer like I haven’t seen in a long time as I found myself watching every part of the screen for someone lurking and following our main character.  Also the frights are mostly well done with only a few being a bit predictable, and there isn’t an over-reliance on jump-scares.  Maika Monroe who was very good in The Guest once again proves herself an actress to watch.  Helps she’s pretty hot too (don’t judge me!).  Supporting cast, which apart from one guy don’t get a lot to do, still felt like real people.  It’s also obvious the whole idea is a not-so subtle metaphor of the dangers of teenage promiscuity (the ‘It’ being perhaps similar to an STD).  The movie also pays welcome homage to late seventies / early eighties horror movies like Halloween and A Nightmare On Elm Street with both it’s camera work and it’s intentionally old-school score.

That’s not to say it’s without fault.  Sometimes the actions of the main character are bizarre to say the least (sleeping on a car bonnet?) and at times the story gets awfully vague, leaving some puzzling moments to your imagination (the guys on the boat). That being said, this still delivered a genuinely unsettling atmosphere and some effective scares … making for a quality evening’s viewing.

Verdict:  3.5 /5