After a summer of relatively weak films and a Labor Day weekend that was spearheaded by a Ryan Reynolds movie — The Hitman’s Bodyguard — IT, the second film to be based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel of the same name, had a lot riding on well, “it.”
The new adaptation had infamously been in production hell for quite a few years and at one point Cary Fukunaga (True Detective, Beasts of No Nation) was attached to direct and co-write the script. However, likely due to Fukunaga’s vision being a lot darker and probably much more brutal than what audiences would eventually get, Fukunaga left the directors position but stayed on as a writer.
In the summer of 2015, it was announced that Argentinian director Andrés Muschietti would take over and that the script would be rewritten, dividing the book into two parts.
If you are, like me, not familiar with the book, here are a couple of facts: It clocks in at 1,100 pages, and it tells two stories, one when the characters are children and the other when they are adults.
This film is adapting the children’s story, while a potential sequel (depending on this film’s success) would focus on the same group of kids as adults.
As any Stephen King fan can tell you, adapting his work is quite tricky. The horror and themes that he presents in his novels, as well as the world building he does, are difficult to translate onto the screen.
Earlier this summer, The Dark Tower, another King adaptation, was released starring Idris Elba and Matthew McConaughey. The book boasts a rich universe and the film had enormous potential, yet it completely bombed at the box office and has a 16 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
Perhaps King’s most famous adapted novel is The Shining, directed by the legendary Stanley Kubrick and starring Jack Nicholson, but King has voiced his displeasure at this adaptation.
So, it was safe to assume New Line Cinema studios was taking a gamble in choosing a director who’s biggest (and only) film was the horror film Mama. Luckily for them, the gamble paid off.
I am pleased to say that IT is a fascinating and captivating film that features wonderful performances and is a joy to watch.
The camera work is superb and uses low angle shots that are off center to make us feel the terror and augments the supernatural effects that Pennywise exhibits. The first scene featuring Pennywise the Clown and the child Georgie sets the tone for the rest of the movie, an innocence plagued by fear and uncertainty.
The story is very straightforward: A supernatural clown-looking monster comes to terrorize children every 27 years, and the best part is that it doesn’t waste time on unnecessary subplots.
We see the life that each of these kids lives, and that allows us to understand the manifestations that Pennywise uses to attack them.
The child actors do a fantastic job with what they are given in the script. Jaeden Lieberher plays Bill Denbrough, the leader of the Loser’s Club and older brother to Georgie. Jeremy Ray Taylor plays Ben Hanscom, who is the new kid in town and is bullied because of this.
Finn Wolfhard, star of Stranger Things, plays Richie Tozier who provides the most ‘80s comebacks one could think of and is a great foil to both Wyatt Oleff’s Stan Uris and Jack Grazer’s Eddie Kaspbrak, a germaphobe and hypochondriac, respectively.
Chosen Jacobs plays Mike Hanlon, who happens to be a walking history book and befriends the Losers when they come across him as he is beaten by local sociopath Henry Bowers, played by Nicholas Hamilton.
The standout actress is Sophia Lillis, who plays Beverly Marsh, the only female member of the group and the most emotionally developed character. Beverly has the most interesting arc in the story and is really the center point of the film’s climax. Lillis uses facial expressions and body language to showcase the range of emotions that Beverly feels throughout the film.
Pennywise, played by Bill Skarsgård, is one of the most frightening horror monsters brought to life in terms of design. As a supernatural embodiment of fear that takes the form of a clown, Pennywise is truly frightening, and his methods of acting upon the fears of the children are equally as terrifying.
He’s the physical embodiment of fear and Skarsgård balances the exaggerated traits needed for the character (he does take the form of a clown after all) with his most terrifying characteristics.
Not only his speech, but the way the villain walks and looks are fantastic. The costume and makeup teams deserve all the credit they can get for the look of Pennywise.
There’s a scene early on in the film that is terrifying and shows you that this clown isn’t there to make kids laugh, and if that isn’t enough to make you want to stay in your seat then you weren’t paying attention.
IT does have its faults though. The film has some moments when the dialogue is a bit cheesy or at the very least predictable, which makes sense given the fact that the story takes place in the 1980s and surrounds 13 year old kids.
The film also feels like it stretches on for a bit too long, but just like any coming of age film, the heroes needed to have their spirits broken before they could fight back.
For any non-Stephen King follower, the tonal shifts might be a bit off-putting because the film goes from downright terrifying to extremely humorous very quickly (a staple of King’s universe).
Even with those flaws, IT is definitely worth the watch. It’s a wonderful addition to the horror genre and blends the coming of age elements well.
After a much troubled pre-production, the box office and critical success of the film is pleasant to see, and I for one can’t wait to see what part two has in store.
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