IT (aka It: Chapter One) (2017) (From The Theatre)

It Movie Review

A group of teenagers must face their deepest fears in the form of Pennywise, a demented dancing clown who can project himself into the image of what most frightens the children. The kids must find a way to battle the clown, who, by the way, enjoys eating children and/or bringing them into his underground lair. This 2017 movie is based on the classic 1986 Stephen King novel, and is the second visual take on the book, the first being the 1990 television mini-series of the same name. I won't spend a ton of time comparing this film to either the novel (which I haven't read in forever) or the mini-series other than to say two things: the 2017 film can get away with a lot more than the television version could (it's rated R) and, whereas the mini-series jumped back and forth over the 27 year period that the novel spans, the 2017 film focuses exclusively on the Losers' Club as children, with a second film to come to cover 27 years later (due out in 2019).

Oh yeah, and Pennywise looks like this now

So you know how sometimes you see the news that Hollywood is remaking a horror favorite and you sigh, then you see the trailer and think "Okay, that doesn't look TOO bad", then the film shocks the world by getting rave reviews and smashing box office records and you think "Okay, maybe I will give this one a chance" and you walk into the theatre thinking "No way this is as good as everybody says" but then you watch it and as you walk out you say to yourself "Oh my God, it really IS as good as everybody says"? Yeah, that happened here. First and foremost, if you have not seen this movie, and it is still playing in the theatre as you are reading this, hurry to your local megaplex and see check it out...wait, finish reading this first, then go--this is a wonderful film to see on the big screen. Anyway, on to the movie--the scares are absolutely terrifying, the comedy is actually funny, the tension is strong, and, most surprising, the kids all do a fantastic job.

Losers' Club

To a person, every child actor in this movie nails their part, making the foul-mouthed characters likable and bringing believability to their friendship. Jaeden Lieberher is wonderful as Bill, the lead character, Sophia Lillis does a great job as Bev, and Jack Dylan Grazer (Brian's nephew) steals the show as Eddie, the hypochondriac who looks like me as a child and acts like my girlfriend as an adult. The movie makers are spot-on with the 1980s look and feel in this film, and the music matches it nicely as well--keep your eye on the walls in the kids' rooms for posters that scream 1980s. The cinematography is excellent, and though there is a bit too much CGI and a few too many jump scares for my taste, they are certainly not enough to ruin the film. I would not have imagined it when I first read this movie was being made, but It truly is one of the better horror movies to come out in quite some time.

On A Scale Of One To Ten: 9

It Movie Trailer