Wednesday, October 10, 2018

31 Days of Horror 2018: It (2017)


Directed by Andy Muschietti.
2017. Rated R, 135 minutes.
Cast:
Jaeden Lieberher
Bill Skarsgård
Sophia Lillis
Finn Wolfhard
Jeremy Ray Taylor
Chosen Jacobs
Jack Dylan Grazer
Wyatt Oleff
Nicholas Hamilton
Jackson Robert Scott

As if we needed to be told, our movie is set in October. More important than that, it is 1988. We'll get into why that matters a little later. What matters at this moment is that, for some reason, little Georgie (Scott) thinks its a good idea to play in the rain. He goes out wearing the quickly iconic yellow raincoat, playing with a paper sailboat given to him by his older brother Bill (Lieberher). If you've seen the trailer, you know that Georgie will inexplicably come across an evil clown hanging out in the sewer. It doesn't go well for Georgie. At some point, we learn that the clown's name is Pennywise (Skarsgård), but not before we fast-forward a year. That's when we join the grief-stricken Bill and his band of misfits go on a quest to find his brother's body in hopes the boy is still alive. Along the way, they have to deal with a crew slightly older hooligans out to kick their tails at every turn. Of course, the more dangerous entity is Pennywise who seems to always be around the next corner or popping out of the nearest shadows.

Now, about 1988. It makes no bones about using nostalgia as its preferred form of currency. The movie doesn't just look like the 80s, it feels like it could've been made back then. In true 80s fashion, it's a group of kids who don't quite fit in with the rest, on an adventure. Each character is the right kind of quirky, making them a bunch of lovable losers. We travel with them, get to know them, and develop an affection for them. This is what pulls us through the movie more than anything. If not for that, none of the proposed frights would have any effect.They do because we care for them. Younger viewers might find it reminiscent of the Netflix show Stranger Things, but it's really a page torn from Steven Spielberg's, and even more so, Rob Reiner's playbook. With the entire plot revolving around a dead body and a gang of older kids hot on their trails, this is very much Stand by Me with a killer clown.


As derivative as all that sounds, this movie pulls it together in a way that truly works. The young cast, including Finn Wolfhard from the aforementioned Stranger Things pulls off their roles really well. Wolfhard, however, is not the standout. I'm a bit undecided on who that is, but I do have three really strong contenders. Our de facto leads, Jaeden Lieberher and Sophia Lillis, as Beverly, the only girl in the crew, do an outstanding job carrying the film for much of the runtime. However, Jeremy Ray Taylor, who plays Ben, proves to be quite the scene-stealer. Of course, the rest of the cast is not bad. In fact, they all acquit themselves rather nicely.

While the cast is very good, they aren't what brings us to the edge of our seats. That would be Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. He fully embodies the character in every way imaginable, imbuing the clown with equal parts silliness and menace. When he's on the screen there is nothing else it is even possible to watch. You simply cannot tear your eyes away from him. He's aided by some wonderful visuals that play up the supernatural elements of the character. The visuals, in turn, receive  mammoth help from the score. It's utilized in such a way that it heightens tension right as Pennywise is making his approach towards our heroes or just doing something to otherwise dazzle the eyes. I know the normal thing, here, is to compare his performance with that of Tim Curry from the 1990 TV mini-series. Unfortunately for you, I've only seen small parts of it, and not since the early 90s. Therefore, I really can't tell you how Skarsgård stacks up. I can only tell you that he is phenomenal. His only shortcomings are due to the script. What exactly Pennywise is, his abilities, and why he does certain things don't always make sense. It's all a bit murky. Luckily, the other elements of film-making, namely the tension-building is good enough that we're not concerned with any of that. We're very busy enjoying the moment.

Over and over, the movie makes sure that we stay locked into what's happening that particular second. The tactics it employs are basic, but used to perfection. It makes for a movie that functions exactly the way a kiddie horror flick should. Technically, it's not really meant for kids since it is Rated R, but this is one I wouldn't mind the early and mid-teens watching, so long as they're not too easily freaked out. It brings them, and us, some very tense, even scary moments with a charismatic and unsettling villain, and a swift pace helping it maintain a sense of fun. This helps take the movie a long way beyond it's two biggest flaws. First is it's undeniably derivative nature. Not only is it another adaptation of a decades old Stephen King novel, it also parrots a number of well-known movies, importing their aesthetics and plenty of the tropes. Second, that villain can be a bit confusing if you think about him a bit. Luckily, you will be so busy having a good time,you probably won't be.  With charm in spades, at least as much nostalgia, and flat-out exuberant film-making,  It is one of the most fun entries in the horror genre in quite some time.



14 comments:

  1. It was really surprised how well this film had turned out to be!

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  2. I loved this movie but I still don't like that they changed the setting to the 80's. I wish they would've left it in the 50's like the book. I feel like I'm getting a bit of 80's overload lately.

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    1. The 80s are everywhere right now, ain't they?

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  3. I still have to see it and the jury is out although I did see the mini series and was freaked out with Tim Curry's performance and laughed at the giant spider and over acting of Harry Anderson. I love the 80's-that was my time to have fun even though my dad died in 1988. I might see it...one never knows

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    1. Skarsgard is excellent...and creepy, but this is just fun. I think you can handle it.

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  4. I might have to post the review I've written of this tonight to fully address where you and I differ on this. I think it's a dandy film for anyone who doesn't know the source material.

    It as a project really needs something like two 10-episode seasons on NetFlix. It's hard not to be disappointed when so many of the best parts of the book are not included here.

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    1. I think you answered your own question. I haven't read the book and haven't seen the entirety of the miniseries. So I didn't bring any baggage into it. That said, I can see it being a mini-series.

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  5. This is on HBO/Cinemax as I'm thinking of seeing it as it fits in with the films we're all watching right now but there's so many other things that I want to see. I hope to fit it in for this month.

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    1. Hope you do. I think it's worth your time.

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  6. I'm glad it worked so much better for you than it did for me. I loved book and I really wanted to like this which is why before writing the review I watched it twice. I felt the same way both times. It didn't flow smoothly, the characters weren't as fleshed out as they were in the book, and it wasn't as creepy. I did like the way they defeated It which was different from the book and Skarsgård was pretty awesome as It.

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    1. I'm getting that the way people feel about this movie tends to break down along familiarity with the book. I haven't read it so I don't have that to judge it against.

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  7. Really really liked this, and am glad you did too. Skarsgård really was pretty amazing, and the kids were all great. They got the tone of the thing exactly right, which went a long way towards my liking it so much. It really did feel like a piece of the '80s. And the stuff about the friendship among the kids was just as strong as, if not stronger than, the horror stuff, which is rare in a lot of horror movies.

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    1. Yes, yes, yes! The tone was perfect, and so was the pacing. That, plus the friendships you mentioned, really carry this film.

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