It (2017) Review

        The 2010s is when the horror genre started a rebound of relevancy. Across the spectrum of showing a scary story is when multiple directors churned out classics that have helped defined the decade. Specifically James Wan who directed The Conjuring and Jordan Peele who directed Get Out. It was with the relevancy that it became respected with Guillermo Del Toro’s film The Shape of Water winning Best Picture at the Oscars. During the time, there was a nostalgia of the 80s and it helped that the Netflix series Stranger Things was gaining popularity among the masses. With the combination of genre relevancy and nostalgia is a perfect storm with adapting one of Stephen King’s best work. 

1. Summer of 89

        When it was first announced, I was ambivalent since I wasn’t a big horror fan as I am now. Mind you, I didn’t even read the book since just briefly glancing it’s extremely thick that probably gives Dune it’s own run for its money. When I first saw the picture of Bill Skarsgaards’ look of Pennywise, I thought it was different than the previous Pennywise from the 90s. Little do people know that this film is the first feature length adaptation of the Stephen King story. I’m sure that my generations first exposure is when the VHS copy of It had Tim Curry’s murderous clown. When watching that one, it was originally a miniseries that got condensed to feature length when it was available on home video. 

        So yeah, when it came out it was popular since it was something completely different as a horror film and a Stephen King adaptation. Just a perfect time since it’s been riding on the coattails of Stranger Things with it’s youth centric narrative of combating an unknown threat. While the sub-genre isn’t entirely new, the decade had one film that predates all of it called Super 8 by J.J. Abrams which I think was part of the beginning of the nostalgia craze. What makes the story engrossing is just seeing the kids confront something that is beyond them. The level of empathy is spiked since we don’t want to see them get hurt or die. 

        Let’s talk about this film. Story for one thing is super simple since we follow a group of friends that all have experiences with It. An unknown creature that takes many forms that morphs into the kid’s worst fears. For example, our main character Bill has guilt that he was responsible for his little brothers death. And Eddie who is a hypochondriac that fears for his own health. I love how the group comes together as we see in the beginning that they have encounters of the clown. 

        What makes the movie work is the kids. All the actors have that camaraderie and chemistry that is so hard to nail when working with adults. When they’re together, they sell the idea that they’re close and have been friends for a long time. Like, all of them have a quirk where they joke and jab with each other as kids do. I’m glad that they cuss since it grounds them that they’re pre-teens and that they’re trying to act like teenagers. Richie is just hilarious and steals the show when we’re focusing on the kids. 

        The overall plotting of the Losers Club is great since we see them progressively figuring out what It is. I like that Ben as an outsider finds out that the whole town has a weird quirk practically kicks off with the formation of the group and finding It. The moments when they are first attacked as a group and then mounting a rescue just has us rooting for them. And I love how all of them have their fears and that they aren’t defined by them, but they grow up to confront It. What makes it better is that it all takes place in the summer. A perfect time when we see them at their element and growing their chemistry. 

        You may notice that I haven’t talked about any adults in this mostly kid-centric 1st chapter. A thing I’ve noticed is that the adults mostly keep to themselves whenever the kids are experiencing a threat or one of It’s manifestations. A recurring thing is when one of the parents watches a PBS-esque show with a teacher and her students. And the show pops up more since I believe that it’s supposed to be a brainwashing thing that Pennywise is using for the adults. I can’t confirm it, but I think that’s the idea as to why the adults don’t initially believe the kids. 

2. Pennywise

        Probably the most memorable moment in the story either in print or in visual media is when Georgie dies. As well as the first introduction to Pennywise the Clown. Bill Skarsgard nails the role as the clown and the fact that we only ever see him in his physical form just shows us just how much of an otherworldly threat he is. What makes him threatening is the fact that he can change his appearance. When Georgie sees him in the storm drain, he changes his eyes to make them blue and inviting. Keeping his clown appearance but playing to Georgie’s naivety as a young kid.

        Throughout the film, it feels like Pennywise is everywhere and not just showing up in his clown appearance. Like, he appears in the background when the group tends to Ben’s wounds from the town bully. What makes him a big threat is that he feeds on the victim’s fears. Nearly all the group has fears and Pennywise exploits them when he encounters them individually. Such as Beverly as Pennywise attacks her by spewing blood from the sink in her restroom. Compounding it is that her own dad doesn’t see the blood covered in the room. 

        Much like Jaws, what makes the film work to keep Pennywise scary is that we don’t see him. As I said, his presence is felt everywhere since It seems to have a thumb on the town of Derry. With the adults unintentionally fueling it when they are oblivious or ignoring what’s going on with the disappearance of various kids. Another thing I find interesting is that when Ben is attacked by the bullies, he sees a car pass by. Only to have a balloon pop up in the backseat. I can only imagine it through a child’s lens that it must be miserable to have no adults help or understand what’s going on. 

        One other thing that I’ve noticed about Pennywise is his eyes. When one of his eyes is looking elsewhere wasn’t something that was created during the special effects part of the film. Bill Skarsgard has Binocular Vision Dysfunction, and I think it adds that this thing is otherworldly when it starts to go feral instead of maintaining the Pennywise personality. I think I made a connection when I took a history class on Christianity, when we talked about the paintings of Jesus where one of his eyes aren’t look straight. It’s a stretch I know, but I tend to think that the film is communicating that Pennywise is divine since he’s literally not from this world. I lost a lot of people but it’s the one time paying attention in class helped me make a connection. 

        Since he’s so powerful that I’m glad they ground it that he has a weakness. Of course, it’s established that he’s powerless when there’s no fear. When Pennywise opens its mouth to hypnotize Beverly is when we see the Deadlights. While not established in this film, the gist of the Deadlights is that it’s the thing that is powering Pennywise to be a threat in Derry. I love that it’s not explored by just having Pennywise be just this threat that comes and goes. His mystique is interesting since, for any general audience who hasn’t read the story see it that it has multiple story opportunities to be explored. That of course leads to the second part of the story. 

3. Legacy

        No one could’ve imagined that this film would be one of the highest grossing R-Rated films for a time and one of the highest grossing Stephen King adaptations. With the success of the film, there were more adaptations that tried to capture lightning twice. While there were King adaptations that came out in the early part of the decade, just this film is where there was a renewed interest in seeing King’s works adapted. With every Pet Semetary you have a Doctor Sleep where it didn’t break the bank but was critically successful. 

        For those who didn’t read the book, it only made sense to adapt the second half of the book. It’s a common complaint in the story and the 90s miniseries that the adult section isn’t as good as the kids. What makes the first part interesting is the kids and that they’re fighting for their lives to stop Pennywise. Just the fact that they’re younger gives us so much empathy and sympathy for them. The adults is when most of the scare factors doesn’t work when they go back to end Pennywise for good. 

        It: Chapter Two was hyped since one the marketing showed the kids and their adult counterparts. I feel that in one way the film was desperate to bring them back when it’s supposed to have them all grown up. Warner Bros. was expecting an even bigger hit with the sequel, but it didn’t make it past the original’s box office gross. One day I’ll watch it but it’s such a tough task to try to top the first part since there was so much into the story. Inevitably, just this year is when Pennywise made his come back when the HBO show Welcome to Derry explores more of the town and Pennywise’s background prior to Georgie’s end. 

4. Overall

        It is one of the best Stephen King films and one of the best horror films of the 2010s.