Rating: 4.5/5 stars
This Andy Muschietti (“Mama”) horror film is the second adaptation of the Stephen King novel, the first being a 1990 TV miniseries starring Tim Curry (“The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”)
The film follows a group of seven children in the fictional town of Derry, Maine, who are terrorized by a mysterious monster that manifests itself as a killer clown named Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård, “Atomic Blonde”).
This premise may sound ridiculous at first, and the 1990 miniseries did not help with this concept at all, but truly the foundation of this film lies within the performance of the eponymous creature. Skarsgård takes on the iconic role and is both unnerving and downright creepy.
This excellent performance is further amplified with the aid of some excellent CGI work and how Pennywise interacts with the adolescents. Those who doubted Skarsgård’s casting will no doubt be satisfied and proven wrong by his intimidating screen presence.
The performances of the child actors are also very natural and fitting. Notably, Jaeden Lieberher (“The Book of Henry”) as Bill, the determined leader, Finn Wolfhard (“Stranger Things”) as Richie, the bespectacled one of the group, and Beverly (Sophia Lillis, “37”) the sole female member of the group who harbors a rough home life.
The rest of the young cast is peppered with unknown actors who mold well with the ensemble and hold their own in their respective scenes.
“IT” is also well shot and atmospheric. From the dense forests surrounding the town to the dark sewers, to the basement of an old library, every location is used as a means to tap into the fears of the pre-teens, which give the film a sense of uneasiness, as the monster could be anywhere or anything.
The musical score by Benjamin Wallfisch (“Annabelle: Creation”) accompanies the atmosphere nicely by combining brooding themes to musical cues of urgency.
As a bid of warning, “IT” completely earns its R-rating. Without giving away any of the good scares, the film is not afraid of putting children in grave danger, with blood and gore very prevalent throughout. Those with squeamish stomachs should probably sit this one out. The film also rarely takes a break from the scares to let the audience breathe.
Regardless, if you are a fan of the horror genre, “IT” should satisfy your need for a good adrenaline rush. Stephen King fans should also feel satisfied with the film, after years of bad King adaptations.
Simply put, the film ranks with “The Shawshank Redemption” and “The Green Mile” as one of the best films based on King’s work.
“IT” made over $100 million at the box office during its first weekend, with a sequel aready announced to conclude the story.
All in all, “IT” is one of the best horror films to come out this year. Is the film flawed? Sure. Some scenes are unintentionally silly and the film does rely on jump scares a little too much for comfort, but the pros greatly outweigh the cons on this one. You’ll certainly float too with “IT.”
Photo: Warner Bros. Pictures via YouTube.com
