It (2017)

• Directed by Andy Muschietti
• September 5, 2017 (TCL Chinese Theatre) / September 8, 2017 (US)

A group of kids in a small Maine town join together to fight a murderous shapeshifting entity.

It is my understanding that the book (which I admit I have not read) switches between the past and the present in the narrative. In order to make a sequel possible this film takes place entirely in the past leaving the present bits for the next movie. The adult versions of the featured characters are never seen.

This film is frightening at points. There are moments when you will shout or just be genuinely creeped out. In that respect it is a very good horror movie.

While I am a big Tim curry fan and thought he did an excellent job in the television version of It, Stellan Skarsgård brings his own sinister and terrifying spin to the most dangerous clown since Ronald McDonald. Pennywise can shift from apparently friendly as seen with in the opening moments with Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott) to genuinely disturbing as seen everywhere else in the film. That is not an easy thing to do for an actor.

The core of the story is a group of children that come to refer to themselves as The Losers Club. They are all bullied outcasts in the town of Derry who come to realize there is something very wrong in their town.

Jaeden Lieberher is Bill Denbrough who is a stutterer and brother of Georgie. Sophia Lillis is Beverly Marsh. Beverly’s father (Stephen Bogaert) is an abusive man with a clear attraction for his daughter. The Losers Club gives her a positive group of people to be around. The school rumor is that she is a slut and girls bully her because of that rumor. Jeremy Ray Taylor is Ben Hanscom. Ben is a shy and overweight bullied child with the heart of a poet. He harbors a crush for Beverly and even writes her a short poem. Finn Wolfhard plays group comedian Richie Tozier. Richie is Bill’s best friend and is not afraid to try and crack a joke. Often the joke appears to be a defense mechanism to cover his own fear and insecurities. Wyatt Oleff is cast as rabbi’s son Stanley Uris. Stanley is the last to come around to the reality of the situation. It upsets his nicely crafted world. Jack Dylan Grazer plays “sickly” Eddie Kaspbrak. Eddie’s multitude of ailments have more to do with what his mother puts in his head than what is actually going on in his body. He feels at his best and most normal when he is with his friends. Chosen Jacobs is Mike Hanlon who lives on the outskirts of town with his grandfather following the deaths of his parents. He and his family sense that the issues in Derry are greater than small town racism.

Pennywise the Dancing Clown is not the only threat that the Losers Club faces. Henry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton) is a local bully and sociopath that torments them as individuals and as a group. Bowers himself is emotionally abused by his police officer father (Stuart Hughes). Whether or not he and his gang are an extension of Pennywise from the start is unclear but by the end of the film Henry is clearly under the monster’s influence.

The story of It deals with fear and coming of age. The Losers Club have been tormented most-if not all-of their lives and are no longer willing to give in. They move from childhood into adulthood by confronting their fear and confronting the evil Pennywise. The film deals with love and friendship and guilt and how we must come to terms with such things. Weighty items for horror.

The effects were great here. While I am a big fan of practical effects, I can thoroughly enjoy CGI when it is done right and does not feel excessive. They have just enough here to tell the story and make the otherworldly feel just that-otherworldly. It is not used for cool visuals but rather to move the narrative along.

This is us truly a quality adaption of the book. This movie is anywhere from disturbing to frightening from beginning to end. The real frightening part comes from how Pennywise can corrupt others. The bully in particular is particularly disturbing to me.

It is a fantastic horror film. It has well done characters and truly disturbing situations. This is a must see.