Director:
Andy Muschietti (Mama)
Starring:
Bill Skarsgard (Atomic Blonde, Divergent: Allegiant, Hemlock Grove)
Jaeden Liberher (Midnight Special, Aloha, The Book of Henry)
Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things, Supernatural, The 100)
Genre:
Supernatural / Horror
Plot:
After recent cases of disappearing local kids in the town of Derry, Maine, IT follows a group of kids dubbed "The Losers' Club" in the summer of 1989 and their discovery and scary encounters of a shape-shifting other-worldly entity, known to return every 27 years and prey on a child's personal fears.
Opinion:
I only watched the original TV miniseries of Stephen King's IT recently in preparation for this release, and whilst there were a few creepy visuals here and there, the film seemed to rely on amazing performances by Tim Curry playing the titular dancing clown and the main group of kids whom he terrorises. Perhaps TV budgeting or censorship got in the way of fully realising the gruesome extents of Stephen King's novel, but when I saw the 2017 film's record-breaking trailer and a more manic and sinister Pennywise, I was immediately curious.
Like many in the audience, when I sat in my seat to watch the film, I was eagerly awaiting how the director Muschietti and the film's writers handled the initial disappearance of the main character's brother to kick off the emotional heart of the film.
Would it be duplicated? Would it be tamer? Would it be more intense?
I could tell straight away that we were dealing with a more mature and sinister version of the story.
The film carries the intensity throughout, but in a relatable and therefore more terrifying way. The now-mundane things that would unnerve you as a kid (an odd-looking painting, a dark and dingy basement, the inherent changes of puberty) become realised and threatening in ways you haven't felt since childhood, and the film manages to tap into that shared dread of isolation and the unknown that we all feared once, especially when we still didn't understand the world.
Despite the film delivering scares seemingly without stop at some points, where the film really soars is developing the friendship between the members of "The Losers Club". The Club members are all united in being outcasts from society and the film effectively touches upon issues such as race relations, school bullying and domestic abuse, showing how uniting through adversity and fear can conquer any adversary.
And speaking about The Losers Club, true commendation has to go to the casting department. The only actor I knew of was Finn Wolfhard from Netflix's Stranger Things, and so was familiar with his acting potential, but I'd say that this has helped elevate true talent that will be in several films down the line. Special mentions to Jack Dylan Grazer as the hypochondriac Eddie Kaspbrak and Sophia Lilis who steals the film as the only female member of the Losers Club, Beverly Marsh. Both manage to give nuanced and ranged performances at such a young age that I'm sure they'll be around for a while.
And what would be a review of this film without talking about Bill Skarsgard as the titular dancing clown?
This was probably the most worrying part of the film before watching it. Having to follow and potentially improve on Tim Curry's performance from the original is definitely a hard task, especially since IT is revered as an iconic 'Movie Monster' and part of many people's childhood nightmares.
However Skarsgard does a very effective job in creating unease and portraying a creature revelling in it's torturous methods. His gangling 6'2" stance, sinister stare and ability to move one eye independently from the other just gives him an unearthly appearance, but then you add a voice that shifts in pitch mid-sentence, maniacal laughter and teeth more suitable on a Great White shark, and you've got immediate nightmare fuel.
Whilst he might not reach the iconic status as Tim Curry, this intepretation harks back to other movie monsters such as John Carpenter's The Thing, Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone, and even the director's previous horror Mama. Regardless of what you find scary, this film will creep you out.
Rating - 8/10
After recent cases of disappearing local kids in the town of Derry, Maine, IT follows a group of kids dubbed "The Losers' Club" in the summer of 1989 and their discovery and scary encounters of a shape-shifting other-worldly entity, known to return every 27 years and prey on a child's personal fears.
Opinion:
I only watched the original TV miniseries of Stephen King's IT recently in preparation for this release, and whilst there were a few creepy visuals here and there, the film seemed to rely on amazing performances by Tim Curry playing the titular dancing clown and the main group of kids whom he terrorises. Perhaps TV budgeting or censorship got in the way of fully realising the gruesome extents of Stephen King's novel, but when I saw the 2017 film's record-breaking trailer and a more manic and sinister Pennywise, I was immediately curious.
Like many in the audience, when I sat in my seat to watch the film, I was eagerly awaiting how the director Muschietti and the film's writers handled the initial disappearance of the main character's brother to kick off the emotional heart of the film.
Would it be duplicated? Would it be tamer? Would it be more intense?
I could tell straight away that we were dealing with a more mature and sinister version of the story.
The film carries the intensity throughout, but in a relatable and therefore more terrifying way. The now-mundane things that would unnerve you as a kid (an odd-looking painting, a dark and dingy basement, the inherent changes of puberty) become realised and threatening in ways you haven't felt since childhood, and the film manages to tap into that shared dread of isolation and the unknown that we all feared once, especially when we still didn't understand the world.
Despite the film delivering scares seemingly without stop at some points, where the film really soars is developing the friendship between the members of "The Losers Club". The Club members are all united in being outcasts from society and the film effectively touches upon issues such as race relations, school bullying and domestic abuse, showing how uniting through adversity and fear can conquer any adversary.
And speaking about The Losers Club, true commendation has to go to the casting department. The only actor I knew of was Finn Wolfhard from Netflix's Stranger Things, and so was familiar with his acting potential, but I'd say that this has helped elevate true talent that will be in several films down the line. Special mentions to Jack Dylan Grazer as the hypochondriac Eddie Kaspbrak and Sophia Lilis who steals the film as the only female member of the Losers Club, Beverly Marsh. Both manage to give nuanced and ranged performances at such a young age that I'm sure they'll be around for a while.
And what would be a review of this film without talking about Bill Skarsgard as the titular dancing clown?
This was probably the most worrying part of the film before watching it. Having to follow and potentially improve on Tim Curry's performance from the original is definitely a hard task, especially since IT is revered as an iconic 'Movie Monster' and part of many people's childhood nightmares.
However Skarsgard does a very effective job in creating unease and portraying a creature revelling in it's torturous methods. His gangling 6'2" stance, sinister stare and ability to move one eye independently from the other just gives him an unearthly appearance, but then you add a voice that shifts in pitch mid-sentence, maniacal laughter and teeth more suitable on a Great White shark, and you've got immediate nightmare fuel.
Whilst he might not reach the iconic status as Tim Curry, this intepretation harks back to other movie monsters such as John Carpenter's The Thing, Guillermo del Toro's The Devil's Backbone, and even the director's previous horror Mama. Regardless of what you find scary, this film will creep you out.
Rating - 8/10
Sweet Dreams :)
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