It (2017) - Movie Review

It is a film based on the book by Stephen King. The book was first made into a theatrical release in 1990 in the form of a television miniseries. It was interesting watching the trailers before this film because the majority of them are new takes on old stories. The trailers I saw included Death Wish, Murder on the Orient Express, Flatliners and Bladerunner. The difference here is in timing. It isn't a random release on an old story. It has been 27 years since the original story aired. Which, in Derry, Maine, matters.

I won't release any direct spoilers in this film, but will discuss the format of the film a bit. So I will put a warning up for anyone reading so you can skip past that part if you want to remain "in the dark" about this film. But I'm not quite there yet.

It takes place in Derry, Maine, which Stephen King fans are pretty familiar with. Stephen King's Derry is a scary place to live. It is filled with crazy cars, cats and clowns. Although It does not examine the full world of King's warped imagination. The film focuses on a group of kids that call themselves The Loser's Club. They are the consummate underdogs. As they head into their summer break, they are drawn into an investigation into the disappearance of several Derry children. As their friendships are challenged, they learn to face their fears. Kids that are used to being sheep become victors because they realize they are stronger together. That's the sterile synopsis. The real story is much darker.

It is a scary film. Stephen King has a knack for taking common things and making us scared to death of them. As a horror film, It succeeds. The film strikes a balance between the normal problems kids deal with and the supernatural. The characters are rendered well, although we don't get much depth from the "real world" antagonists. The film deals with some sensitive topics, without excessively dwelling on any individual story line. Still, with seven kids converging into a broader story, the film lagged at times. The film runs 2 hours and 15 minutes. That is a bit long and it felt long. The pacing trudged a few times. That extra fifteen minutes could likely have been pared down for an evenly paced film.

It takes place in 1989, something I will discuss a bit more later. The story was enhanced with an 80s look that felt detail driven. From the clothing and accessories to the references. I was thinking that Beverly (Sophia Lillis) had a resemblance to Molly Ringwold. When my thoughts were turned into an insult on the screen, I had to chuckle. It was obviously set up that way, but it was done seamlessly. The dialogue also contained a heavy dose of juvenile humor, which I also found to be delivered well. That may have a lot to do with the casting. I believed these kids. The casting was spot on.

The cast was driven by the youngsters. With teen angst a common denominator, the chemistry of the kids was essential. Led by Jaeden Lieberher (Bill Denbrough), who I first recall as the central character in St. Vincent where he also delivered a great performance. Lieberher was joined by Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer and Wyatt Oleff. I found myself transported back to the 1980s, just a bit older than those kids at the time. They were kids we all knew growing up. That is a testament to both the writing and the performances of this tweener cast. The primary protagonist in this film is Pennywise, played by Bill Skarsgard. The CGI-enhanced effect completely transforms Skarsgard, I would have had no idea who the actor was without IMDb. I am not that familiar with Bill, but he is the third son of Stellan Skarsgard to follow their father into the profession of acting. They are a talented family, and Bill holds up the family tradition in this film. Granted, much of his delivery was CGI...but Skarsgard was rock solid.

Minor Spoiler Alert Skip below the next picture to resume if you don't want minor spoilers.

In the story It, the supernatural force that abducts children appears every 27 years. The book is set in two chapters. So this story is Chapter One. I am surprised that IMDb and other outlets have kept this a secret. This film is the first part of what will likely be a two film series. The second will probably take place in 2015/16, following the 27-year cycle from the story. What an excellent way to release a remake. I find the timing of the release to be particularly satisfying, remaining true to the story itself. That opportunity does not present itself often. With the rash of remakes hitting the screen, this one stands out as unique for that reason. If you like this film, at least you know you get another. If you check down to the writers of the film on the IMDb page, you will see that Gary Dauberman is credited with It: Chapter Two scheduled for release sometime next year. This film is not titled "Chapter One" until the end of the film. So it appears they are trying to keep that secret. But you can find the evidence of the second chapter with just a little bit of digging.

It currently enjoys an 8.3 rating on IMDb, which is likely driven by King fans happy to see this film hit the big screen. It is a great film. But I think that rating is a tad bit high. Rotten Tomatoes has it even higher, with an 88% rating, which I normally translate as an 8.8 using a ten point scale. I really want to give this film an 8/10. I enjoyed it, but the pacing really had me struggling at times. There are some excellent elements to this film. But the sum of its parts don't equal an 8 to me. They equal a 7.5/10. I love Stephen King, and this is no judgment on the original book. This film could have been better, which is disappointing to me. That said, it is worth seeing at the theater. 7.5 is not that bad of a grade.