Review: It (2017)

(imdb.com)

Stephen King is the pinnacle of the horror genre. With more than 50 books in his repertoire and numerous film and television adaptions, his mark will be left on the industry forever. The latest adaption of his work, a feature-length adaption of it, continues this legacy. It has already broken multiple records - and for good reason. Fantastic in nearly every way, it’s the type of big-budget horror film that every member of the audience can find enjoyable. As good, if not better than the infamous 1990 miniseries of the same name, It cannot be ignored.

Direct by Andy Muschietti (Mama), 2017's It is a masterful accomplishment. Following the self-proclaimed Losers friend group as they seek to uncover the disturbing disappearance of local peers, It features a healthy mix of horror, comedy and drama. It's a coming-of-age story with terrifying scenes interwoven and, as the friends delve deeper into the intentions of the scary clown demon, Pennywise, the movie gets all the more unsettling. It stars Bill Skarsgård (Atomic Blonde) as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. The Losers are composed of Jaeden Lieberher (St. Vincent) as leader, Bill Denbrough, Jeremy Ray Taylor  (Ant-Man) as the new kid in school, Ben Hanscom, Sophia Lillis (A Midsummer's Night's Dream) as the sole female and most courageous member, Beverly Marsh, Finn Wolfhard (Stranger Things) as jokester Richie Tozier, Chosen Jacobs (Hawaii Five-0) as homeschooler, Mike Hanlon, Jack Dylan Grazer (Tales of Halloween) as the sheltered Eddie Kaspbrak, and Wyatt Oleff (Guardians of the Galaxy) as the group's most reserved member, Stanley Uris. 

One of the most noteworthy aspects of It is its terrific cast of young actors. Each conveying justified emotion with strength and determination, the young up-and-comers all carry their weight. Skarsgård and Lillis are especially strong; Skarsgård giving an unsettling, yet whimsical turn as the horrific clown and Lillis as the outsider whose perseverance is unparalleled. Even the tiniest of roles, like Georgie, played by Jackson Robert Scott's (Criminal Minds), are so meticulously casted that it’s hard not to fall in love with these characters. Muschetti's strength as a director is especially visible as well, as he utilizes each of the young cast's talents and inflects enough style into the setting to truly draw viewers into the world of Derry, Maine.

It, as predicted, is scary. But, it's also so much more. It is a horror movie with heart. Scary scenes are chopped into with laugh-out-loud comedy and intense dramatic scenes that explicitly address the horrifying real-life horrors of our protagonists. Even when these separations get a little distracting though, the quality of each moment lifts the film past any sense of clunky storytelling. This movie is seamless. Its vivid visuals, stellar acting and scares that pull no punches make for a product that is deviously fantastic.

It may not be the scariest film ever, but it’s certainly one of the highest quality horror films in recent years. There are plenty of genre-bending, moments of terror and even great laughs to make every moment feel justified. Overall, It is everything audiences will expect to see. By offering some great retro style, perfect cinematography and great scares, It will appeal to even those viewers not used to horror. 8 out 10.

 

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