Wow. What can I say? I just got back from watching it on the
big screen, and it was fantastic. Where to begin with a review for such a film?
And not just the most anticipated horror film of the year, but the film based
on my favourite novel, and the adaptation I’ve been waiting years for. Let’s go
back to where it all started.
1986 – IT, the novel by Stephen King is released, and takes
the world by storm. It flies off shelves and scares readers out of their wits.
The fear of clowns explodes ten fold and a classic story was born.
1990 – IT, the TV miniseries is made. British actor Tim
Curry is cast as Pennywise, and steals the show. Shown in two parts, totalling
a run time of three hours, and jumping from present to past timelines, the film
went on to develop a cult following. Not because it was a great film by any
means, but for the perfect portrayal of Pennywise by Curry. If the book scared
people off of clowns forever, the movie didn’t do that fear any more favours.
2004 – After having watched the TV miniseries of IT several
times, I finally decide I will read the book. Not realising before I do that
it’s over 1000 pages long, and back then I wasn’t a huge reader. Watched plenty
of movies sure, but didn’t have the attention span for novels, let alone ones
with that many pages. But at the time I was living and working in the UK,
in a pub, and had some spare time on my hands. In the space of four weeks, I
read IT for the first time. It took a while to get going, but once I got to the
last 200 pages, I couldn’t put it down. In fact, I recall being up from 8pm to 5am one night reading the last 200
pages, and I was captivated. There was so much more story in the book that had
been left out of the TV movie, that I couldn’t watch that film with the same
eyes again. I began seeing it for its flaws, but still respected the
performance by Tim Curry.
2007 – read the book for a second time.
2011 – read the book for a third time.
2016 – IT the film adaptation gets announced and casting
rumours hit the net. Cary Fukunaga, who helmed hit TV show “True Detective” is
announced as director and screenwriter. Before production even begins, that
screenplay hits the web. Those who find these things read the script and said
it was great. Then, the director walked away, and was soon replaced by Argentinean
director Andy Muschietti, who had previously only directed one film, the scary
flick “Mama”. I had seen this and enjoyed it. The visual style and scares were
effective and he directed the child actors well. I became curious to see what vision
he would bring to Stephen King’s classic book, loved the world over by so many
over many generations and four decades of readership.
In mid 2016, the young cast were announced, one by one. All
relative newcomers except for a couple, and an Australian actor was cast in the
pivotal role of Henry Bowers. Then the most crucial casting choices was
announced; the actor who would play Pennywise. 26 year old Swedish actor and
son of Stellan Skarsgard, Bill, was cast. Much secrecy shrouded the
pre-production phase and the early days of shooting. I came across the official
Facebook page for the film, where the moderator routinely posted photos from
the set, either taken by the crew or leaked online. So far it looked good,
showing the young child actors clowning around behind the scenes and turning in
some good character interpretations. Then, the below photo hit the internet;
our first look at the new Pennywise. Not like the face of the clown played by
Tim Curry, and opinions on this new look were mixed. Quietly, the production of
IT went on, and the release date was announced for September 2017.
We would get our first trailer in April of 2017, and the
internet went crazy. Most people who don’t follow the development,
pre-production and filming of a movie like I do, got their first glimpse of the
new version of IT when the trailer was the hottest thing trending on the net.
In fact, the teaser trailer went on to get more views in 24 hours than any
other film trailer on the net. Not a bad feat for a little horror film with a
$30 million dollar budget and no big name actors attached. Things were looking good for the little
horror film that could.
As 2017 slowly went by, another trailer was released, more
photos from the movie, and anticipation built. About four weeks before the
release of the film, we were treated to a series of TV spots, all better than
the last. The film looked scary, solid and sophisticated, and even those who
wouldn’t normally watch scary movies got intrigued. The buzz and hype for the
film was at boiling point in the few weeks before its release, and now that
it’s hit cinemas, does IT live up to expectations?
I’m very happy to say, yes it does. This film gets basically
everything right. Let’s take a look at those strengths, of which there are
many, right now.
For starters, that
opening scene. If you’ve seen the original film or read the book, you know it
starts with young Georgie, running down the street, wearing a yellow raincoat
and playing with his paper boat as it drifts down the rain-filled gutter. He’s
having the time of this life, until the boat goes down a storm drain. Peering
in, he is about to give up when a voice from below says “Hiya Georgie!”, and
the white face of a clown pops up from the shadow of the sewer. Not looking
friendly, but more sinister, Georgie is captivated none the less, as the
character in the drain introduces himself as Pennywise the Dancing Clown, and
he’s rescued Georgie's boat. Trying every trick he can to tempt Georgie to take
it back, eventually the young tyke reaches in to grab his boat, then…
Most of you know what happens next. And if you thought the
interpretation of this iconic scene was scary in the original film, this new
version will traumatise you. Make no mistake, it is brutal, bloody and
terrifying, and this impacting opening moment sets the tone for the rest of the
film. But surprisingly, you won’t be scared and covering your eyes for the
whole film. You will also be laughing your butt off.
The real heart of the novel IT is its characters, and they
are known as The Losers Club. Seven kids; six boys and one girl, all outcasts in
their school, and all united by the fact they are targets for local bully Henry
Bowers and his gang of cronies. But they are also united by their encounters
with a clown, who can shape shift and appear as their worst fear. Each of the
characters encounters a different being, ghost or ghoul that chases them, taunts
them and scares them silly. And just
thinking they’re imagining it all, they get on with things. It’s in the
encounters between the kids that is the charming part of this classic story,
and in this new film version, it is updated from the 1950’s era portrayed in
the book to the summer of 1989. So the clothes, music, slang and styles are
retro 80’s all the way, and it’s all perfectly recreated on screen. These kids
swear, crack jokes with one another and don’t hold anything back. All the
casting choices for the essential roles of the seven kids is excellent, and
each of them turns in a genuine and convincing performance. They have a great
chemistry on screen, mirrored by the chemistry they had off screen, which was
just as good. As I was following the production of this film last year, the director
got the kids to spend time together and become friends. And it paid off,
because they all act with and around each other with an effortless ease, which
makes them appear as a tight knit group on screen, and it makes us the audience
care about their characters even more.
Now onto the central attraction of this film, Pennywise. The
casting of Bill Skarsgard didn’t bring any expectations because no one really
knew who he was prior to this film, or what he would do with the character.
Only in his mid twenties, with supporting roles in movies and a few seasons of
the creepy show “Hemlock Grove” under his belt, Skarsgard certainly wasn’t a
household name or recognisable face. He will be now. His performance as
Pennywise is unparalleled to anything I’ve seen before. You cannot compare him to Tim Curry’s
performance, which was more comical and playful to serve the tone of the
original film. This film is dark, twisted and disturbed, so Skarsgard's
performance is equally so. His voice, eyes, body movements and energy on screen
is stellar in every shot he owns. He commands the screen and gets under your
skin in a way very few actors manage to do.
It’s obvious to see he fully immersed himself in the
character, and his handling of a demonic clown who scares and eats children couldn’t have had many
notes to go with it on how to play such a role, but he certainly descends to a
deep, dark level of psychological madness and doesn’t let up. The scenes in
which he appears are shocking, mesmerizing and tense, and each scare and
appearance by the IT is original and well crafted. Director Muschietti knows
the field of horror and uses the various sets and chances to let Pennywise take
control of the scene and get the most out it.
At 135 minutes, this is a lengthy running time for a horror
film, but it doesn’t feel like a long movie at all. It runs by at lightning
speed, as there is a lot of story and character development to get through. It floats by (excuse the pun) and I found
myself with my eyes glued to the screen for the entire time.
On a production level, the 1980’s era recreation of the town
is very well done. It’s a beautifully shot film, with excellent cinematography,
great lighting, brilliant editing and memorable music. I’ve already downloaded
the soundtrack, which works wonderfully to heighten the intense scenes, and
express the more heartfelt and tender scenes of which there are many. On that
note, IT is not your typical horror film. After reading the book for the fourth
time this year before the release of the new film, I grasped more of the novel
than I had during the previous reads. The story really is about the kids; a
coming of age tale that’s about facing your fears and working together to
overcome that which would try to beat you, whether it be a killer clown, the
school bully, or ignorant parents. As a fan of the novel, I believe this film
captures the heart of the story just right, with a perfect mix of scares and laughs
thrown in to balance it all out.
If you’re scared of clowns, IT won’t make that fear any
easier for you to deal with, but watching it might just help you face your
fears. But if you’re after a well acted, well directed, entertaining horror
film which you will feel scared, sad, amazed and warm-hearted in, at many times
throughout the film, then do yourself a favour and go see IT. Be warned again,
it is bloody, violent and disturbing in parts. But the tenacity of the
characters (carried by brilliant performances by all the child actors) will
help you deal with the horror of it all, as that is what they do; band
together, face their fears and fight the evil possessing their town.
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