Maika Monroe: “There is something beautiful about it in a terrifying way”

It Follows is being hailed as an instant horror classic but I hated it because I really don’t like being scared.

Good, I like to hear that.

What is the ‘it’ of the title?

I don’t even know what it is. The writer/director David Robert Mitchell told me the idea comes from his nightmare. As a kid he had this constant dream of this thing following him. Sometimes it would be someone he recognised – a friend or family member – or people he didn’t know at all. They would follow him and you could run away but it would always be there.

Since I saw the film sometimes I think people are following me.

Yip, that tends to happen after you watch it. But I guess I’m only imagining it. You don’t know…

Is it more frightening that we never know who or what this relentless, ever-changing thing is and why it wants to catch and kill you?

It moves slowly so you have time to think about what’s happening. That’s the worst. The film has this dreamlike, hazy feel and it’s very elegant and simple. Where most horror movies are so loud and in your face with blood and guts, there is something quite beautiful about it in a terrifying way.

Can you still find a film terrifying if you star in it?

No, not really. It’s hard for me to watch and be able to enjoy it, which is kind of a bummer. I’m just painfully watching myself, thinking this was the most intense five weeks of my life.

Was it so bad?

The character goes to hell and back. Jay is a typical teenager, then she’s thrown into this insane situation and you watch her deal with it and come out a hero. Filming it, I’d always have my headset on with my music playing. I’d be in my own world to stay in that dark zone, since that’s where most of the movie takes place.

What’s on your dark zone playlist?

I was trying to think. I think I blacked out the process of making the movie. I’ve no idea, just some really dark, depressing music.

Radiohead?

There you go.

You used to be a professional kiteboarder. Is that something more of us should take up?

It’s an up-and-coming sport. If you want adrenaline in a somewhat easy way, all ages can do it. There are people in their 70s and kids who are 12 kiting, my dad’s kiteboarding and he’s almost 60. You can learn tricks where you’re jumping 30 feet in the air or you can just be riding on a surfboard.

I have trouble just flying a kite so…

That’s a bad start.

It Follows is out now in cinemas