"You'll Float, Too."
"IT" is "Stand By Me" with horror elements. That's it, that's the review. Now go watch it.
Ok ok. It may be an oversimplification, but there are unmistakable similarities between the two Stephen King movies. Furthermore, it is the themes that the two have in common that elevates this film to its greatness. Yes IT is about an unknown evil force terrorizing and kidnapping children. Yes this force often manifests itself as a clown. But Stephen King's "IT" is a multi-genre story, and it would be a mistake to walk into the theater expecting a straight horror movie.
At its heart, IT tells the tale of a group of young boys who simply want to have a fun Summer, but are forced to defend themselves against a variety of threats that surround them. Though Pennywise the dancing clown is of course the iconic poster villain, the dangers actually come in many forms; not all of them supernatural.
Jaeden Lieberher plays Bill, a boy who is haunted by the disappearance of his younger brother Georgie (another instantly recognizable character with his yellow raincoat and paper boat, played by an adorable Jackson Robert Scott). Joined by his friends Richie (Finn Wolfhard); Stan (Wyatt Oleff), and Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer), they form what they call "The Loser's Club". Later members of said club include Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Mike (Chosen Jacobs), and Beverly (Sophia Lillis).
As large as the circle of friends become, everyone is written to be very memorable. In fact, it's the heart and soul that went into these characters that makes IT such a special movie. Yes, everyone could be whittled down to their characteristics; Bill stutters, Eddie has an inhaler, Ben is the fat kid, etc. but these are by no means the walking, talking paper cut-outs meant to be antagonist-fodder that you would find in your ordinary "horror" movie. That's because this isn't the antagonist's story; it's the kids' story.
Although it's difficult to decide who the bigger nemesis is here; Pennywise the killer clown (played by a delightfully deranged Bill Skarsgard) or Henry, the sociopathic bully (a role absolutely owned by Nicholoas Hamilton). Both are malevolent forces seeking to terrorize the children. Both appear to take great enjoyment in filling their victims with fear. And both don't seem even the slightest bit concerned with any lines that they may cross in order to achieve this, up-to-and-including murder.
The frightening situations that our protagonists' enemies create for them range from spine-chilling to disturbing, depending on the nature of the threat. For example, there is a scene involving a haunted house in which Pennywise unleashes an assortment of horrifying situations for the boys. They respond, as any kid would, by screaming and panicking. On the other hand, Beverly's dad acts in such a quietly despicable way that it is equally unsettling.
IT is a coming-of-age story, a comedy, a mystery, a romance and a horror all rolled into one epic journey. The fact that the movie takes its time familiarizing us with its characters makes the story all the more rewarding to experience. We see the inner-workings of the loser's club; their bonding, their struggles, their disagreements. Our sympathy for the characters make the threats they face hold more weight. And that's what makes this movie so special.
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