It: What Scares You Most?

Contains spoilers!

Directed by Andy Muschietti, It (onscreen title was It: Chapter One) was released in 2017 and based on the Stephen King 1986 novel. I will be fully honest with you, dear readers: I am solely reviewing this as a film, as I've not fully read the book. I started it but gave up. That being said: I thoroughly enjoy this movie. It follows seven kids (Jaeden Lieberher as Bill, Jeremy Ray Taylor as Ben, Sophia Lillis as Beverly Marsh, Finn Wolfhard as Richie, Jack Dylan Grazer as Eddie, Wyatt Oleff as Stan, and Chosen Jacobs as Mike) as they are terrorized by Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), an evil, shape-shifting clown in Derry, Maine.

The cast, particularly the kids, is the highlight of the film. It's difficult for any movie to have a child in a film without them coming off as over the top or unlikeable. In this film, each child actor nails their role. As the film progresses, we learn more about what each of them is struggling with, and we cheer for them as they go up against Pennywise. Their friendship is believable, and I'd love to be part of their club (minus the awful adults and facing an evil clown, though). Another highlight amongst the child actors, one that's not part of the main seven, is Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott), Bill's younger brother who is killed by Pennywise. Scott is a prime example of being adorable without being over the top, and it's great to see when Scott's allowed to scream "You'll float too!" as Pennywise (using Georgie as a manipulation tactic) encounters Bill; I'm sure Scott enjoyed the chance to cut loose.

Pennywise is, probably unsurprisingly, the overall highlight of the film for me. Pennywise is a being that loves his job, and Skarsgård brings that to his performance. His design, though, is a double-edged sword for me. As an adult, I find it fantastic. The problem is that this Pennywise isn’t a clown that kids, which he preys on, would want to approach. Most kids would take one look at him and automatically think, "It's a no for me, dawg." I must give Tim Curry's version the edge in that vein.

All in all, this is a solid film that was a great jumpstart to telling Stephen King's story; Chapter2 is another monster, one we'll tackle down the road. For now, though, be careful of any stray red balloons!

Cast

Jaeden Lieberher as Bill Dendrough

Jeremy Ray Taylor as Ben Hanscom

Sophia Lillis as Beverly Marsh

Finn Wolfhard as Richie Tozier

Jack Dylan Grazer as Eddie Kaspbrak

Wyatt Oleff as Stan Uris

Chosen Jacobs as Mike Hanlon

Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise