9/10/17 – IT (2017) – 6+/10

My expectations were low and I had little desire going in, but IT was a crowd pleasing and solidly worked horror romp. Never overtly scary, but the jump scares were earned and smartly based on story, character, and emotion. Perhaps that is more an indictment on modern horror film-making rather than a distinct positive of this film, but it functions within the realm of its peers and felt more earned than most. IT was an enjoyable interpretation of Stephen King’s monstrous smorgasbord of a novel, instinctively capturing the story as I know it (haven’t read the book) without losing its way (space turtles, child orgies, that sort of thing) to provide a fulfilling and decently crafted nostalgiac creepfest.

It capitalized on a proper sense of time. The 80s ambiance was nicely teased but not overly embellished. The New Kids snippets within the film felt a little out of place, but also completely worked to give a space in which this world was functioning and instill the right ironic level of levity. Didn’t have time enough to inhabit the totality of the 80s (like a Stranger Things does), but it felt right and was certainly a wise marketing choice. 80s and its nostalgia are hot and provided a smooth transition from the 50s source material.

IT had the sense of a supernatural growing-up Goonies. Raunchier, more adrenaline driven biking around, and a sense of adventure & comedy, with a foreboding melancholy & deadliness. The kids and characters were much stronger than its “Chunk-y” counterpart, able to nail tortured, lovable, and relatable better. Sophia Lillis’ Beverly felt like the standout, bringing a presence and informed passion that always hooked your eyes when she was on screen. Finn Wolhard’s (“that one from Stranger Things”) Richie was a crowd pleaser, belting out his “more adult” Mouth routine. That said, the other kids all did a really good job.

Skarsgard did a fine job with Pennywise. He wasn’t aping the classic Tim Curry version, but blazed his own path of discomfort and terror. His physicality, look, and delivery cadence were unique and inhuman. I liked him.

One thing that struck me from the opening until the final scene, IT wasn’t pulling many punches like the TV movie did. The horror action was intense and unflinching, the dialogue and themes were remorseless, and the drama of learning to function in an adult world when not quite adults and the horrifyingly deadly realities that come with that were never shied away from. It earned its R and embraced it, almost entirely to its benefit.

As much of IT that worked, prefect it was not.

-           I didn’t care for the Bev “damsel in distress” routine. Though I can try and justify it in my mind (her being the one with the most balls and Pennywise might think that the others were easier marks to take out if she were off the board), if feels like being an apologist. It was tropey and unearned.

-          The score was strong and leeringly creeptastic, but overly loud sound editing grated. Triggering the audience with loud horn/crashes when something scary is on screen cheapens those moments and makes IT feel like every other cookie-cutter cheap Hollywood spookfest. Unnecessary choice.

-          The hollowness of some characters (Mike comes and goes) and the foul mouth of Richie, which was funny but too much at times, bugged me.

-          The transformation of the psychopathy of the bully didn’t have time enough to breathe and feel legitimate. It did raise the stakes of the entire thing but came upon quick and felt out of place.

-          Horror tropes of separating the protagonists with dumb decisions and the “encounter the monster/get scared/it allows you to leave/rinse/repeat” began to get tedious.

IT did work much better than I expected. I was certainly not as in love with it as much as some others, but there is an engagement and fun throughout the totality. The scares may get you or they may not, but you will have a good time none-the-less.