Photos courtesy of itthemovie.com
It is the movie adaptation of Stephen King’s chilling novel and a reimagination of a 90’s TV miniseries, both of which share the same name. The film revolves around a group of seven young outcasts in a small Maine town, where a sinister force is at work behind the recent slew of suspicious disappearances. Over the course of one summer, this ragtag group of unlikely heroes unravel a blood-riddled mystery dating back hundreds of years, with the creature known as Pennywise at it’s heart.
Pennywise, the terrifying antagonist of the film, is a shape-shifting supernatural being that defaults to the form of an unsettling clown. It has the ability to show people their worst fears, from which it draws it’s power, and it usually preys on children, whose fears are more extravagant and prevalent.
This movie is not for the faint of heart, as it contains many gruesome depictions of the deaths of children. The first and arguably goriest attack occurs only minutes in. You’ll find jump scares scattered throughout, along with frequent instances of abuse, some shown and others merely implied.
Despite all of this, however, It caters to more than just the thrill-seeker. In fact, most of the two-hour runtime is spent tackling the real-life issues of crushes, bullies and growing up. Heart-warming scenes and intricate cinematography are used to create a unique brand of coming-of-age horror that stays with you. It is definitely worth seeing if you’re ready for a fright.
– By Chase Miller
Biggest achievements:
– Slightly adapts Stephen King’s original story to better suit the modern audience while staying somewhat true to the source material
– Incorporates subplot and character building to set itself apart from the rest of the genre
Biggest shortcomings:
– Barely passes the Bechdel test with a brief discussion of reputation by teenage girls
– Grants significant traits to white-male characters that, in the novel, were held by minorities
Scores:
Fear factor: 7 / 10
– Ominous lead-ins and sudden scares from a creepy clown
Violence and gore: 7 / 10
– Stabbings, gunshots, bite wounds, limb loss… overall gross stuff
Language: 9 / 10
– Teenage characters curse incessantly for comedic relief
Sexual content: 3 / 10
– Innuendo, false rumours of promiscuity and a half-clothed swimming scene
Alcohol and drug use: 2/10
– Underaged character shown smoking twice
Sensitive topics: 7 / 10
– Loss, ostracism, domestic abuse
Role models: 4/10
– Mostly bad parents with mostly good kids
Positive themes: 6/10:
– Conveys the power of friendship, facing your fears and working together
Humor: 6/10
– Short jokes stuck the margins of the film, the juxtaposition making them exponentially funnier
Visual appeal: 8/10
– Downtime features well-shot scenes in the retro rural setting
Ingenuity: 7/10
– Demonizes innocent things like balloons and easter eggs; underlying story incites more smiles than shudders
Triumphs: 7/10
– Strong (if sexualized) female character, adolescent protagonists, friend group encompassing various races and ethnicities
