It’s a rare thing that general audiences and fans of the horror genre are given a film as classic as “Alien,” “Jaws” or “The Thing.” While there have been plenty of entertaining fright fests such as the “Conjuring” movies, scary laughs in the forms of “Cabin in the Woods” and “Krampus,” and even new kinds of horror in the form of “Get Out,” it’s been years since a horror film has packed as much wallop as “It.”
How director Andy Muschetti has made a film that is so terrifying, heartfelt, funny and oh-so-lovable in one package is so fantastic, it’s almost puzzling.
Based on Stephen King’s classic horror novel of the same name, “It” follows a group of kids known as the Losers Club and their lives in the creepy little town of Derry, Maine. As other kids begin to go missing, they discover they are being hunted by a horrifying creature named Pennywise, a demonic dancing clown that devours scared children.
Bill Skarsgard is terrifying and terrific as Pennywise. He may be just a bit better than Tim Curry’s portrayal in the 1990 miniseries — if only for his twitchy mannerisms and unsettling voice as he dominates every bit of screen time he gets. Skarsgard in real life has a lazy eye, and during the scenes with Pennywise, you may notice that while one eye is on his impending victim, the other just may be looking right at you.
Unlike Curry, Skarsgard does have the unfair edge of modern big-budget Hollywood effects, and the various forms of fear the new Pennywise takes don’t really give the original miniseries a fair chance. Though the practical effects aren’t as plentiful as they could be, the CGI here may be some of the only authentically frightening effects in the horror genre right now. Every lurking horror and awful monster in the film packs its own unique punch.
Enough about the horror, though: For every scare, the movie give us two to three laughs. The movie is downright hilarious at times, thanks to its top-notch script and its great child actors. The self-dubbed Losers Club is perfectly cast. Bill, Eddie, Stan, Mike, Ben, Bev and Richie have better chemistry than the Guardians of the Galaxy — and they deliver so much endearing heart with their performances, it’s a shame the already greenlit sequel most likely won’t feature this cast of great young actors. (If you’re unfamiliar with the source material, the second half of King’s “It” story features the characters as adults.)
A special nod has to be given to Finn Wolfhard (“Stranger Things”) as Richie, who steals every scene he’s in with rapid-fire jokes and wit. If he ever stops acting, he has potential for stand-up comedy.
The cast and the movie overall benefit from Warner Bros.’ willingness to deliver a horror film with a real budget, great script and a significant runtime — clocking in at two hours and 15 minutes. Although three out of four horror films churned out these days run at 90 minutes, give or take, “It” never feels overlong or boring, and it never slows down. When the Losers Club isn’t coming of age or dealing with the horrors of regular life in the strange and creepy town of Derry, something is coming after them around every corner. Each character is developed as a real child with hopes, dreams, and of course fears, which Pennywise slowly and carefully takes advantage of in every unthinkable way every time he shows up. Why is it such a rare thing that a horror movie makes you care about its characters? Shouldn’t that be essential? “It” gets it.
If not for “Logan” back in March, “It” would be the blockbuster movie of the year so far. There is no doubt in its status as a must-see experience that should be witnessed in a theater. You’ll never have so much fun being scared.
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“It” is currently playing at the Riverside Cinemas, 1017 S. Boone St. in Aberdeen.
George Haerle holds a bachelor’s degree in creative writing for media and lives in Cosmopolis.
Brooke Palmer | Warner Bros. Bill Skarsgard is terrifying as Pennywise the Dancing Clown in “It.”
