It Review

It
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast Headliners: Bil Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis,  several others
Original Release Date: September 8th, 2017


The novel and 1990 mini-series It can be said to be one of author Stephen King's most iconic stories. The terror trip of a tale of an evil clown, a band of friends, and a mysterious town is both thrilling and influential on other things. It's understandable that this remake / reboot should be viewed with some manner of hesistance... after all, there's many bad horror and overall remakes of films out there. The horror genre has changed in the past 27 (what an intentional number) years as well, so how does this turn out. It's pleasing to say that this is a well deserved remake worthy of the concept.

The movie, smartly, does not cover the massive volume of the book (which was a multi-episode TV mini-series more than a movie) so thus is actually the first film in a planned two film adaptation. This may confuse casuals who were not aware and has a bit of an obvious “Chapter One” text at the end, but it is also in a way self contained. The film as expected takes place in the fictional town of Derry, Maine in 1988. A boy goes (quite horrifyingly) missing after he's attacked and dragged away by a sewer dwelling circus clown, Pennywise / “It” (Bill Skarsgard). This dark sequence is just within moments of the film, and it is far from the end of the terror train that follows.

Some short time later, the lives of a group of children in the town of Derry are followed. There's the likes of the missing boy Georgie's stuttering older brother Bill (Jaeden Lieberher), and his various friends including fast talking jokester Richie (Finn Wolfhard), fearful Jewish Stan (Wyatt Oleff), and nervous Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer) who are eventually intertwined in their lives with new friends in black farmboy Mike (Chosen Jacobs), chubby new kid Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), and the only girl in outcast Bev ( Sophia Lillis). There's also periphery characters in the gang of bullies led by Henry (Nicholas Hamilton) amongst some parents and townsfolk.

The film has an ensemble cast of mostly children, and they prove to be greatly casted. As with other incarnations of this story, the overall friendship...whether in juvenile (and often truly funny..at times stupid) jokes or the ups and downs of bonding , between the kids is a strong suit. Every kid has their moment to shine, whether through heroism or horrifying fright. Lieberher's Bill is a sort of protagonist who has some alright moments. Paticuliarly, the main peers in Wolfhard's (purposefully.,... a much different kind of role to his past work in Stranger Things!) annoying comic relief Richie and Lillis's stressed yet tough Bev stand as highlights. Slightly unfortunate is the fact that some kids end up just delivering a line or two and end up as a stereotype as “token black”, “token Jew”, “token sweet fat kid” etc but when they are featured they are alright... hopefully their characters get more to do in part 2.

The movie does a great job in both its whimsical joy and darkest of horror. The camera work and direction by director Andy Muschietti is commendable, with lush outdoor scenery or grimy skin-crawling houses and sewers the quest goes on. The effects on the various monsters and visions are also really, frighteningly real seeming and quality. This I contrasted by choice set design, costuming, and the occasional background music that takes one back to the 1980s. Not to mention that the film's orchaestral score is often solid too. The influence of It was felt in the television show Stranger Things, so its ironic but understandable that the same overall tone is matched here with its look, whimsy, and setting...it's only fitting and full circle that even includes one of the same stars. But on its own, it holds well.

This movie is thrillingly, often jarringly and pulse poundingly scary. At times the repitition of some tactics get old or some choices are silly (come on... that “Dancing” scene? The heavy metal rock fight?). However the film often finds ways to shock... both with (a moderate or so amount of) jump scares and creepy , more nuanced imagery as it should be. All the good things have been said of the film, and not even mentioning the titular Pennywise. Skarsgard is... great in the role for sure. His appearance both neutral and in the many forms he takes is unsettling and demonic. It's hard to compare to Tim Curry in the original, because that was so iconic. Smartly, it's a semi-different role... a darker look (in a darker toned film than its equivalent peers) in costume and more brutal of a character. He speaks much less, but when it does he gives a creepy voice and luckily rare terrifying laugh. His scheming , wretched cunning is a memorable highlight of the film that may haunt the viewer long after. This is alongside some close to taboo other themes that add to the dark tapestry.

The movie has a big name to live up to , but it comes really close to what it should be. The pulse pounding onslaught may at times be overwhelming and repitative, but the scares count when they count...and the heart in the daytime. As its own, it is a quality horror film... and leaves one wanting the next part. 8.2 out of 10