It Review

Directed by: Andy Muschietti (Mama)

Starring: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard

Plot: Based on the first half of Stephen King's novel. It is the 1980s in the small town of Derry, Maine. Children are being killed by a shape-shifting clown named Pennywise, who takes the form of what scares them the most. A small group of kids set out to stop him.

Review: 2017 has been a great year for horror movies. Get Out was immensely successful financially and critically. Split was also very successful, and proved that, despite his recent reputation, M Night Shamalan can still make good movies. And now, the new iteration of It has become a box office smash.
Fortunately, this is a great version that deserves this kind of attention. It is based on only the first half of the book, or the first, and most acclaimed episode of the the two-part miniseries adaptation. There have been plans to make the second part, and I am fully behind this.
It is full of intense sequences and creepy imagery. This version of Pennywise is scary enough to match Tim Curry's excellent performance in the original. Even though there are more than a few jump scares, they are overshadowed by several genuinely frightening moments.
But it also plays like a Stand By Me type movie. All of the children are from harsh backgrounds, become close friends, and go on this dark adventure together. Each of these characters are unique, fully fleshed out, and well-acted.
In conclusion, It is the most disturbing film I've seen all year. It has plenty of disturbing scenes, fully fleshed out characters, and great performances from a mostly young cast.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 balloons