Twenty-seven years ago, based on the 1986 novel, Stephen King’s IT terrified towns across America on their television sets. That’s right—it was a TV miniseries. Now, right on time, IT is back with a re-imagined film version from director Andy Muschietti (Mama), and the horror is hiked up in a huge way. The cracked-out clown, Pennywise (a superbly psychotic Bill Skarsgård), has a big appetite and lucky for all of us, it’s feeding time!
The 80’s are coming to an end, and there’s a lot of weird shit going on in Derry, Maine, and has been since its existence. It would be safe to say most of it has to do with IT. He has a sweet tooth for kids and they’ve been disappearing all over the city. Right from the get-go, we witness how he works with the snatching of Bill’s (Jaeden Lieberher) younger brother Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott) during a rainstorm involving a paper sailboat. If there’s ever a scene that is engraved in my mind from the original—this is it.
Lierberher is incredible as the leader of The Losers’ Club. Besides Bill, there’s Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard as Ritchie, the guy with all the jokes. Jack Dylan Grazer plays Eddie, a germaphobe, while Wyatt Oleff represents the religious side (Jewish) as Stanley. As Mike, Chosen Jacobs brings some diversity to the group and Jeremy Ray Taylor plays Ben, the chunky one in the bunch. And last but not least, Sophia Lillis plays Beverly, the lady of the Club and the apple of Bill and Ben’s eye. From family negligence, violence and sexual abuse to being bullied and tormented on a daily basis, these misfits have a lot in common. Without question, the most horrific thing they all share is Pennywise feasting on their fears, ripping their lives apart and turning them in to hellish nightmares without ever closing their eyes.
In this terrifically terrifying adaptation, Muschietti captures the place, childhood, and scares with such certainty and brilliance. IT is a horror movie, but leans heavy on the exploration of coming-of-age: discovery of growing up, falling in love, creating long-lasting friendships. The kids’ story is just as important, if not more so, than Pennywise showboating on just how evil he can get. We knew that from the moment we’re introduced to him in the sewer. If you thought Tim Curry creeped you out back in 1990, wait until you see what Skarsgård has in store for you in 2017.
IT offers everyday jump scares, but what stays with you is this undeniable dread that flows from frame-to-frame. Pennywise is never overused and the story’s focus is on whom it should be—The Losers’ Club. Their unbreakable bond grows to be heartwarming in the most unlikeliest of places, and becomes the fight behind their fright.
IT floats to being one of the best horror movies in recent memory. Chapter 2 better have the balloons to follow this bloodcurdling beaut.
“Nature Boy” Brandon Vick is the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and star of Brandon’s Box Office In Your Mouth. Follow him on Twitter@SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
Buy our shirt. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter @SoBrosNetwork. Listen on SoundCloud. Watch on YouTube. Shop our store on Redbubble.
