It (2017)

In the town of Derry, a group of bullied kids band together when a shapeshifting demon begins hunting them. Taking the appearance of a clown, It begins to feed off the fear of the children, who find themselves united against pure evil!

Director Andy Muschietti had the hard task of remaking a beloved classic and pleasing, not only the hard core fans, but the mainstream audience as well. Through strong character build up and a clever mix of CGI and practical effects, Andy Muschietti delivered on all points! A very well directed film with a cast that seemed to be perfect for the roles they played. Lead child actor Jaeden Lieberher (Bill Denbrough) brought emotion to his character and was supported by every single one of his cast members, from Finn Wolfhard (Richie Tozier) to actress Sophia Lillis (Beverly Marsh), these young actors did a well job across the board. Also tasked with an impossible job was that of actor Bill Skarsgard who had to take up the mantle of the infamous (and also well loved) Pennywise, previously played by the legendary Tim Curry. This was a crucial element of the film, for without the support of a successful Pennywise, it would spell disaster for the film! Thankfully Bill Skarsgard pulled off an incredible performance, bringing his own take to the character and conveying a new level of creepiness.

Its been 27 years since the TV movie version was released and 31 years since Stephen Kings novel was published, proving its never too late. The success of this film proves something else, that no matter how beloved the original source material can be, remakes can sometimes be a good idea! The things I loved on a more personal level about the film was the connection you make with the kids and there “The Losers Club”. The banter between them brought a well balanced counter to the horror elements of the film. While the kids brought heart to this movie, it was Pennywise who was the main attraction! This to me was the power behind this movie and the real horror that lacked in the TV version. The 80’s setting was a bonus and all its 80’s references hit the nostalgic mark every single time! This film was like ‘Stand By Me meets Stranger Things’, and while we’re making comparisons, throw in the Goonies as well! Although there were some small unexplained story plots there wasn’t much I didn’t like about this film. I really enjoyed this movie and I highly recommend it, especially if your unfamiliar with this property and are going in new to it all. Yeah, go see It!

Score:             9/10