Movie Review: Stephen King’s IT
My rating: 9/10
With the September 8th release of IT, the film adaptation of the Stephen King novel, our collective fear of clowns has been very much reaffirmed. Earning over $117M in its opening weekend, the most ever for a horror film, IT shattered US box office records and became the biggest opening for any September-release film ever.
Based on King’s tale of Pennywise, the clown who terrorizes (and eats) children, IT plays on a common fear. Clowns are creepy in a way that most people can’t quite put their finger on. There’s something uncanny about their seemingly human characteristics paired with their exaggerated painted features and cartoonish costumes. It’s a grotesque combination that is often unsettling for children and adults alike.
The film centers around a group of adolescent misfits. Led by Bill Denbrough (played by Jaeden Lieberher), the older brother of one of Pennywise’ victims, the friends try to get to the bottom of why numerous young people are vanishing from their hometown of Derry, Maine. Bill’s younger brother, Georgie, is taken by the clown in the first scene, a particularly shocking moment showing the graphic assault of a completely innocent character. It’s hard to watch. Bill and his friends slowly become aware that they have all seen the clown and realize its ability to shape shift into whatever they fear most.
The friendship portrayed in the film is reminiscent of other coming of age classics like The Goonies (1985) and Stand by Me (1986). With last summer’s release of the wildly successful Netflix series Stranger Things, nostalgia for the 80s is at an all-time high. This gives good credence to the decision to diverge from the novel’s original setting in the 1950s and push the plot forward to take place in the 80s. Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard portrays the potty-mouthed but loyal friend Richie Tozier in IT, firmly cementing Wolfhard as a talented young actor and one to keep an eye on. Even if you aren’t exactly a fan of horror films, the relationships of the young friends and the way they interact with one another is very raw and true. It’s enjoyable to watch because it’s a very timeless representation of what it’s like to be that age.
With its mix of true horror, complex characters, and the compelling storytelling, characteristic of Stephen King’s work, IT will likely become a horror classic. We’ll have to wait and see about the sequel, which is expected to follow the children to adulthood, 27 years in the future, when they come back to Derry to fight IT once again.