10 Years Later: Fans Still Question the Ending of ‘It Follows’

Regarded as a pivotal film that catapulted Maika Monroe into the realm of contemporary Scream Queens, *It Follows* stands as the definitive indie horror film of the 21st century.

Since its debut in 2014, plans for a sequel to David Robert Mitchell’s acclaimed film are underway, with Monroe confirmed to reprise her role. As enthusiasts eagerly await this much-anticipated follow-up, it’s worth revisiting the perplexing conclusion of the original film, particularly the last scene before the credits roll. The finale of *It Follows* is designed to leave viewers with lingering questions, prompting deep contemplation, so let’s delve into its intricacies.

What happens at the end of It Follows?

*It Follows* presents a uniquely unsettling premise centered on Jay Height (Monroe), a high school girl who becomes cursed with an elusive entity following her after a sexual encounter with her boyfriend (Jake Weary). Once this transfer occurs, Jay is relentlessly pursued by the entity, which can assume various forms throughout the narrative. The film quickly makes it clear that the only way to rid herself of this sinister force is to pass it on by engaging in sexual relations with another person.

In an attempt to escape her predicament, Jay has sex with her neighbor Greg (Daniel Zovatto), but instead of liberating her, the entity ruthlessly tracks him down and kills him. It’s later hinted that she may have engaged with multiple men while on a boat, as she is depicted disrobing and stepping toward the water. Amidst her turmoil, her close friend Paul (Keir Gilchrist) presses her repeatedly to consider having sex with him in order to transfer the entity, but she consistently rejects his offer.

As tensions rise towards the climax, the group devises a plan to trap the entity in a swimming pool and electrocute it. They strategically place electrical devices and wires in the water, positioning Jay at one end of the pool as bait. Nonetheless, their scheme fails to draw the entity, which instead morphs into a vision of Jay’s deceased father, continuing its malevolent pursuit. Eventually, they manage to cover the entity with a sheet, rendering it visible so they can shoot at it.

After landing a headshot that forces the entity underwater, it attempts to drag Jay down with it, but a subsequent bullet finally frees her as she is rescued. Jay casts one last glance at the pool, hoping for liberation, and to her relief, she sees merely a large splash of blood seeping into the water.

In the film’s concluding moments, Jay acknowledges Paul’s feelings and they engage in sex. Paul later finds himself on a street where sex workers are present, suggesting he may aim to pass the entity along to them if it indeed survived their confrontation in the pool.

In the ultimate scene, Jay and Paul stroll hand-in-hand through their neighborhood, initially portraying what seems like a classic happy ending. However, as the camera pans out, it hints that something is following them, presenting three intriguing possibilities: the entity may still be pursuing Jay, it might be after Paul, or it could simply be an innocent stranger out for a walk. Fans are left hoping the sequel will clarify this ambiguity.

The film delves into a range of themes, such as jealousy, selfishness, and the genuine but complicated nature of teen friendships. Moreover, it utilizes sexuality as a crucial mechanism for social critique, subtly addressing the risks associated with STDs and careless sexual behavior, particularly among teenagers. While its ending remains somewhat ambiguous, *It Follows* powerfully communicates the fear of mortality and humanity’s instinctual drive for survival at any cost.

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