Less is definitely more in Writer/Director David Robert Mitchell’s mesmerizing, It Follows. After a night of intimacy with her boyfriend, nineteen-year old Jay (Maika Monroe) is inflicted with an entirely new type of sexually-transmitted disease which has her followed by ominous figures that only she can see. Jay and her friends band together to figure out a way to stop this unrelenting curse. This film is a master class in minimalist filmmaking. The best way I can describe it: it’s Halloween and The Ring, by way of Gus Van Sant (Elephant/Last Days phase of his career).

It Follows’ screenplay is stripped to its bare essentials. What we got here is a simple hook that preys on a universal fear. The subtext is an equally compelling layer, a clever twist on the “sex equals death” rule in horror. Mitchell’s (The Myth of the American Sleepover) first foray into genre filmmaking is nothing short of brilliant. He creates a believable environment, grounding the supernatural element. Mitchell doesn’t make the mistake in being caught up in exposition, wisely avoiding giving the viewer a definitive resolution. Horror is at its best when the conflict is left undefined, lurking in the shadows to strike another day. We only know what the characters know, which isn’t all that much. We are amused and on the edge watching them experimenting, trying to figure out a way to stop the relentless menace. Also, Mitchell has a firm grasp of pacing and building suspense. It Follows takes its time throughout without ever inducing boredom. The film definitely succeeds in being creepy yet there is a sense of fun to it all. There’s never a moment where you’re allowed to let your guard down. Every scare (and there’s a load of them) is well-executed.

Mitchell is supported by a top notch ensemble, led by the captivating Maika Monroe (who’s equally great in Adam Wingard’s compulsively entertaining The Guest). Much like Elephant, the performances are of the naturalistic variety, making the world in which they inhabit feel all the more relatable. The teenagers are likable and are portrayed with an honesty rarely seen in the genre. If I have one issue with It Follows is that Mitchell seems to struggle to find a conclusion. The movie wanders aimlessly a bit during its third act. Despite that, David Robert Mitchell has emerged as an undeniable talent to keep an eye on.

The cinematography by Mike Gioulakis is absolutely gorgeous. He utilizes the spaciousness of the 2.35:1 aspect ratio effectively. The perfectly composed images make strong use of It Follows’ exceptional use of mise–en–scène (something Carpenter and Craven are particularly great at utilizing). It also helps that Editor Julio Perez IV refreshingly allows shots to linger and breathe when they need to. The viewer is allowed to take in each shot fully, constantly searching for whom may be the next threat to our protagonist. Suburbia hasn’t felt this sinister in a while. The influence of Dean Cundey’s iconic work with Carpenter is definitely apparent here.

An equally huge factor in the success of It Follows is the brilliant soundtrack by Disasterpeace aka Rich Vreeland (his debut film score). It’s definitely in the vein of Carpenter yet has a personality that’s both unique and contemporary in its own right. Like any great horror score, it heightens the tension and foreboding doom. Disasterpeace manages to make even the vastest of shots feel claustrophobic. If you feel unease while watching It Follows, Vreeland is a big reason why. This soundtrack is destined to be a classic. They don’t get much better than this.

Thus far, It Follows is the finest, most fun I’ve had watching a horror film this year. The simplicity and understatement in its premise and execution is a thing of beauty. It definitely captures a similar stripped down quality that the original Halloween possessed. I can’t think of the last horror movie that came close to nailing this particular feel. While the film struggles to find its ending, the journey, as meandering as it can get is still a very worthwhile venture to endure. It Follows had me spellbound from start to finish. I have to admit after seeing the movie, while walking home in my quiet neighborhood at two in the morning; I did look over my shoulder on more than one occasion. If a horror film has you replicating the protagonist’s plight, you know the filmmakers hit the mark in spades.