IT

MOVIE BETTER THAN BOOK

Film review by Fiore

OVERALL:

It is rare for a film to surpass the novel it is based on, but that rarity occurs with Stephen Kings IT.  The movie tells the story the novel should have, providing the scares the book could not do with a giant alien spider.  King even makes an appearance before the movie begins to announce his pleasure with this new interpretation.  Good move.

This version of IT features amazing imagery, a revamped tale dealing with demons, and special effects worthy of a top-notch horror film.  A collection of new young actors brings the losers club to life thanks largely to the efforts of Director Andy Mushietti. 

To improve on Kings book, the writers have incorporated elements of JEEPERS CREEPERS and STRANGER THINGS.   While most of King’s novels feature kids, this version of IT plays more like an extended episode of STRANGER THINGS.  The members of the Losers Club have their reign of the town, and apparently no or little parent supervision.  This will be a common trend in horror films due to the success of that show, but be assured IT is strictly adult affair.  Just because in centers around a few kids, the movie is an adult horror film.  Leave the kiddies at home, or be an example of bad parenting.  

Anyone who has read the novel, acknowledges King, while writing a truly terrifying tale, boxed himself in a corner and had no way to end it.  Thus, readers were treated to an absolutely ridiculous giant spider, from outer space no less, who somehow projected Pennywise on its victims.  Lame sauce.  Luckily, screenwriter Cary Fukunaga loses the alien and envisions Pennywise as the embodiment of evil who, like the winged demon in JEEPERS CREEPERS, must feed on souls every 27 years.  I haven’t had this much fun with a horror movie since ANNABELLE.

PLOT:

 

Derry is an odd town.  People disappear from Derry on a regular basis, and while it causes concern for the residents, it’s something they have become familiar with and consider a way of life.

Like most small town in 1980s, Derry has a high school containing students who form and act in cliques.  The losers club, comprised of nerds and bookworms, features Bill (Jaaeden Lieberher); Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor); Beverly (Sophia Lillis);Richie (Finn Wolfhard); Mike (Chosen Jacobs) and Eddie ( Jack Dylan Grazer).  Their antagonists are the hoods, featuring Victor (Logan Thompson) and Patrick (Owen Teague).  While the bullies just want to rule the town, the nerds want to solve Derry's problems and help find the missing children.  Their efforts are spurred by the disappearance of Ben’s little brother, George (Jason Robert Scott).  Their search will force them to learn about the town’s cursed past and force them to encounter Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard), the dancing clown who is the embodiment of the curse.

For decades, actor Tim Curry has been known for iconic roles in ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, and the TV mini-series of IT, as Pennyworth.  Sorry, Tim, but Bill is a better terror clown, if for no other reason than he has much better SFX for his part.

PARTICULARS:

Dan Lin and Robert Lee are the men responsible for convincing King to sanction this new version of his novel.  These are the same two men who convinced Toho Productions to relinquish the rights of Godzilla to Gareth Edwards for the American version of the King of Monsters.

Kudos also go to Cory Fukunaga for scripting the adaptation.  He is the man responsible for making a star out of Idris Elba in BEASTS OF NO NATION.  Before that, Elba was a bit player.  Fukunaga wrote and shot the film.  Now he utilizes his considerable talents to revitalize IT.  Chung-Hoon Chung, as Director of Photography, provides eerie imagery with cant and off angle framing, enhancing the film horror mien. 

REPORT CARD:

ACTING = B

CINEMATOGRAPHY = A

SOUND/MUSIC = B

EDITING = C

LIGHTING = B

SCRIPT = B

SFX =  B

ACTION = B

SUMMARY: 

All told, I liked this version of IT.  It offers a few chuckles, and a plethora of horror set ups, backed by nifty SFX.  While Pennywise is the dominant demon, there are others to provide a buffet of terror.  My only complaint is the length.  Clocking in at two hours and twenty five minutes, the film drags in a few spots and Jason Ballantine could have left about thirty minutes on the editing room floor.

IT is being released in IMAX.  The press screening was in regular 2D, and it looked fine.  This is definitely one to see in the theatre, preferably late at night, during a thunderstorm.  Oh, and the producers made sure to leave a door open for a sequel.  Sweet bacon!

REWATCHABLE INDEX: HIGH