IT: Chapter One - Review

"Hiya, Georgie” – A review of IT: Chapter One. 

There are two things you should know about me. One, I love horror. Whether it’s a film, a book, a TV series or a game, horror is one of my favourite genres. Two, I am truly freaked out by clowns. As you can imagine, IT: Chapter One is both a film I love and a film I never want to see again.

The film is based on the legendary novel by master of horror, Stephen King. Set in Derry, Maine, the film follows a group of children known as the Loser’s Club, as they battle against the psychological terror provided by Pennywise the Dancing Clown, a monstrous villain lurking just below the surface of this small, American town. As children disappear, the Loser’s Club must work together to confront the horrifying monster and drive it away from their homes and loved ones.

This is not the first adaption of the novel. In 1990, a miniseries aired, with the iconic Tim Curry playing Pennywise incredibly well. I must admit I was nervous to see someone else take up the mantle; would the new Pennywise capture the same unsettling, disturbing horror that Tim Curry had? Thankfully, Bill Skarsgard’s Pennywise is absolutely incredible. Darkly whimsical, thoroughly nightmarish and nailing that chilling smile that Pennywise was known for, not only is his performance as Pennywise incredibly scary, it’s also absolutely captivating.

The other characters of note are also incredibly well acted. The film sees a return of Bill, Eddie, Ben, Richie, Stan, Beverly and Mike, and they all have their own nuances, strengths and weaknesses. For example, Richie is a key member of the group and acts as a bit of a leader, and his sense of humour and wit brings much needed comedic relief to what is otherwise a very dark plot, but doesn’t undermine the dangerous situation the children are in. Beverly is quietly resilient and intensely likeable, although without going into too much detail here, I do think her trauma could have been handled less heavy-handedly.

There is a lot of attention to detail in the direction of this film. Set in the 1980s, the film recreates the era with a healthy dose of both terror and nostalgia. The camera work is clever, with the camera lingering just long enough for the tension and dread to be palpable to the audience.

This is of course a horror film, and IT blends practical and digital effects to this end. Whilst the CGI does help to create some gruesome transformations for Pennywise, I think where this film shines best is in the quieter scenes, where silence is deafening and a solitary red balloon floats just ahead, daring the children to go and take it.

Something else I really like about this film is that it doesn’t overly rely on jump scares. What this film does remarkably well is explore genuine, real-life horror; abuse, trauma and loss coupled with the difficulties of growing up brings a much-needed element of realism to the story. Yes, Pennywise is absolutely horrifying, but the Loser’s Club have their own horrors to live through aside from him, adding depth and anxiety to what is already a terrifying premise.

The children of the Loser’s Club certainly go through a lot, but they go through it together. I really enjoy the themes surrounding comradery, resilience and friendship, with the greatest weapon they have being their dedication to each other. In solidarity there is hope, even when the adults around them refuse to acknowledge what’s happening around them.

IT: Chapter One isn’t perfect. I do think the use of CGI borders on excessive sometimes, and as mentioned before I think that there are some scenes where incredibly difficult themes are lacking in nuance. With that being said, I still really love this film, despite the nightmares it gave me. It has an incredibly dark atmosphere, an unsettling feel throughout and an incredibly compelling story. If you enjoy this film, perhaps you could consider a trip to Derry yourself.

That way, you’ll float, too.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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