Movie adaptation of Stephen King’s It is like a crossover between Goonies and a light horror movie
Movie title: It
Movie description: The story in It is set in the Town of Derry (which hides some terrible secrets) where local kids start disappearing one by one (leaving bloody remains behind) and follows a group of bullied kids (also called "The Losers' Club") in their quest to find out what's happening. They soon discover it's a deed of a shapeshifting monster, called Pennywise, who takes the appearance of a clown.
Summary
It is a like a crossover between 80’s kids movie like The Goonies or Stand by Me and a light horror movie in which both parts are functioning.
Director: Andy Muschietti
Starring: Jaeden Lieberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, Bill Skarsgård
Genre: Horror
Year: 2017
Twenty-seven years after TV (mini) series we got a movie adaptation of one of the Stephen King’s most popular books. But, unlike TV series (and book), the movie focuses only on main characters while they are still kids and not showing us these characters as adults (this is left for a sequel). The other difference, the story is set some 30 years later (in the 80’s) then the TV series.
If you didn’t know already, the story in It is set in the Town of Derry (which hides some terrible secrets) where local kids start disappearing one by one (leaving bloody remains behind) and follows a group of bullied kids (also called “The Losers’ Club”) in their quest to find out what’s happening. They soon discover it’s a deed of a shapeshifting monster, called Pennywise, who takes the appearance of a clown.
Most people growing up in the 80’s and 90’s still remember TV version of terrifying clown Pennywise, played by Tim Curry, who gave them nightmares. I watched 1990 version a long time ago so besides Tim Curry’s Pennywise, I barely remember anything. That’s why I’m not going to compare these two versions but judge movie adaptation on its own. A version that is surprisingly good and stands as one of the better horror movies in the last couple of years. You see, I didn’t expect much from It because horror movies, in my humble opinion, are hated with a reason. They are mostly really bad and cliched movies that don’t care about characters, script, story and other stuff that makes movies good. Of course, there are exceptions, but probably 90% of horror movies are just terrible.
It is a little different story as authors approached this material from a different angle. You see, It is a like a crossover between 80’s kids movie like The Goonies or Stand by Me and a light horror movie in which both parts are functioning. And even if the movie didn’t feature this terrifying clown the rest of it would still be a good and interesting movie. Authors take their time and slowly introduces us to the town of Derry and these likable and bullied kids, giving us time to get to know them and understand their motivations. Almost all of the characters are well-written and all of the actors did a pretty good job, especially kids and Bill Skaarsgard as clown Pennywise. I’m not going to talk much about kids and their traumas because I don’t want to spoil anything for you. Let’s just say, that these kids have more problems in their lives than just Pennywise and they are somehow forced to grow up quick and deal with their problems (bullies, abusive fathers, and pedophiles).
Regarding the horror part of the movie, It is not particularly scary or terrifying and maybe relies too much on jump scares and CGI. I’m not going to say that filmmakers did a bad job, and there are a couple of mildly scary scenes, but I found this part of the movie to be less interesting. Also with a 135-minutes running time, It is a little overlong and could use some trimming.
Nevertheless, It is a good movie worth checking out and I’m looking forward to its sequel which should come out in 2019 and directed by the same guy (Andy Muschietti).