The Gist:
It’s 27 years later, and The Losers Club have long since gone their separate ways. But a series of gruesome attacks in their old home town sees them return to Maine to battle Pennywise once more.
The Review:
Buoyed by the commercial and critical success of IT, director Andres Muschietti isn’t holding back. Now that the kids are out of the picture, replaced by their adult (and decidedly A-List) counterparts, the gloves come off.
Where IT began with Georgie going missing, IT: Chapter 2 opens with a homophobic attack that sets an uneasy tone for the rest of the movie. Most of the Loser’s Club has more or less forgotten and repressed their childhood traumas. It’s only Mike (Isiah Mustafa), who believes Pennywise is back. As they return to Derry, they slowly start to remember.
This is where the film really takes off. The impressive cast is beaming with energy and chemistry. Bill Hader as an older Finn Wolfhard. Jessica Chastain as the damaged Beverly. James Macavoy as Bill. Jay Ryan as the older and slimmer Ben and James Ransone as Eddie, the panicky voice of reason. When they are together on the screen,
Together the film lights up but once they go their separate ways the film, the pacing of the film begins to drag.
Not to be deterred, each member has their alone time of eery buildup which culminates with an all-out horror/ridiculous CGI-Scooby-Doo monster. That was a small personal gripe I had with IT. After a brilliant and chilling opening with Skarsgard’s Pennywise, I was sold. However, we hardly got to see that creepiness again, replaced by shaky CGI that gives more of a fantasy horror than unsettling presence.
This time around, Skarsgard’s given more dialogue and less CGI, which is a major win. Bill Skarsgard IS Pennywise, which was not an easy task given the cult status of Tim Curry’s portrayal, and when given the freedom he can be terrifying. Not to completely bash the CGI characters, the creepy old woman from the trailers did give me a little scare and tingle on the back of my neck and a grumble in my tummy.
Having seen the film in 4dx, I gave up trying to eat popcorn as every time there was fright (and there were a lot), my popcorn ended up all over the place.
To conclude, the nitpicks are minor, the film works on nearly every level. One can only hope from here on that all of King’s adaptions will be given the same care, dedication and a cameo at it’s finest.
The Verdict:
We’ve had decades of ropey Stephen King adaptations, from the sublime to the ridiculous. It’s taken a while but Stephen King adaptions are on a right path again. Solid acting and directing all around. A fitting companion and conclusion to the IT series.
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