It (2017) Movie Review

Pennywise is looking at you, right now!

Once the school time comes to a halt and the summer vacations are finally at reach, what should one do in order to maximize the fun? Forming and integrating a group whose common denominator is being afraid sounds like an awesome choice, am I right? No? What about banding together with a group of friends to fight a demonic entity in the form of a shapeshifting clown? Still a no? Well, that is precisely what happens in one of the finest Stephen King’s adaptations to the silver screen in the recent years.

Oh, hi there, spooky clown in the sewers! Can I have my boat back?

It is usually said a horror picture is as good as its antagonist. So, naturally, it all comes down to whether or not Pennywise the Dancing Clown works. Long story short, Bill Skarsgård portrays the character in a strong and convincing manner. The murderous clown is, for the most part, a menacing figure, but he sometimes comes off as funny in a creepy and weird way. The film is laser-focused on the plot, never skipping a beat.

Still of the Losers' Club examining a presentation

Even when we are witnessing the kids bonding and interacting with each other, it is all due to that fear-hungry creature that has been terrorizing their lives. Speaking of the kids, they all had a well-defined personality and were fleshed out much thanks to their respective actors. The children had fears and troubles that they had to cope with on a daily basis; a brother that disappeared, an abusive relationship with a parent, bullies, germophobia, etc.…

You'll float too!

IT is incredibly well shot, taking advantage of some bold camera angles. The cinematography is genuinely gorgeous and the opening scene really speaks for itself here: a rainy setup where a young boy is running after a paper boat (nothing can go wrong, right?). There is some computer generated imagery applied here and there, with the sole intent of augmenting the quality of what is already being showcased on screen, and not turning the whole movie into a visual effects circus-show type extravaganza (pun intended).

Pennywise's evil lair

The soundtrack is irreverent and artistic, adapting its score to the type of emotional response needed for a certain scene. With some top-notch direction, great performances from the cast and a terrific soundtrack, IT is a solid film. But is it a scary one? Well, the jump scares are definitely there and most of them pay off, but what truly keeps the audience engaged and on the edge of their seats is the suspense, the tease leading up to Pennywise’s popping up on screen.

Wide shot of the children ready to face the clown

Without entering spoiler territory (God forbid someone crossing that border!), I am curious to see how they are going to approach the sequel, IT Chapter 2, releasing in 2019. At its core, IT is a coming-of-age story that loses no time in getting to the energetic parts. The whole film feels like a haunted-house like experience and it ultimately is a worthy ride, from start to finish. With that being said, I rate this movie with a B+.

Still of the Losers' Club standing in a circle

In case you want to check out our The Dark Tower review (another Stephen King adaptation) click right here. My advice, for future reference, would be to stay away from open sewers; you never know if a certain spine-chilling mime is there. What do you think of IT? Are we on the same page or do you have a different opinion? Either way, make sure you jump into the comments’ section down below and share your thoughts.