By Matthew Dillion
Andres Muschietti’s IT is an adaptation of the classic Stephen King novel and one of the most genuinely scary films to come out in recent memory. Whereas most remakes tend to be awkward cash grabs, IT is one of those rare instances where the film is on par with, if not better than, the original adaptation and source material.
IT follows a group of seven children who live in the ill-fated town of Derry, the hunting ground for a cannibalistic clown called Pennywise. IT features violence that is mortifying even by the standards of post-Saw horror movies, and a lot of similarly disturbing themes are in tow. The film is genuinely uncomfortable in numerous ways and may even at times be tasteless.
IT opens with an even more graphic reimagining of the iconic storm drain scene, which introduces Pennywise, played by Bill Skarsgard. Tim Curry’s unforgettable original rendition of the character is a tough act to follow but IT manages to offer a unique interpretation of the character. Once again, Pennywise is the strongest aspect of IT and this time his more inhuman elements, such as his ability to shapeshift, is emphasized. Much like the original Alien, the audience has to be prepared for the clown to show up as anyone or anything. Where Tim Curry’s performance was campy more often than not, this film’s Pennywise is fear incarnate.
IT is at times very difficult to watch, especially since most of its gut wrenching violence is directed at children.
Thankfully, the film manages to avoid devolving into a farce, mainly by having a cast of genuine characters with real personalities. IT is very well casted and proves that not all child actors are terrible. The film mixes small genuine moments amongst the carnage and manages to be hilarious at times. IT does a great job capturing what it’s likes to be a kid. Even then, anyone with a weak stomach should definitely avoid this film, as none of the kids featured come out unscathed.
Besides actually taking place in the 1980s, IT’s camerawork and soundtrack are a definite call back to the horror films of that era. The content is very much in line with modern sensibilities, or lack thereof, but the presentation is reminiscent of The Shining and other classic King adaptations. IT emphasizes building tension and largely eschews jump scares and other modern copouts.
The soundtrack follows suit, as it is a much more subdued and functional affair than other exaggerated, repetitive modern soundtracks. The film is very well paced, an often overlooked but crucial element of a successful horror movie, and none of the scenes drag on or feel out of place. Certain scenes, particularly the climax, give the strong impression that IT was heavily edited and that many sequences were left out or altered, but considering the film’s shocking content, that is far from surprising.
IT is not an easy film to watch and should be off-putting for all but the most avid horror junkies. But that does not change that it is an exceptionally well-made film and a very effective horror flick.
