This year has been the year of highly anticipated films.
We have already seen the release of “Logan,” “Guardians of The Galaxy Vol. 2,” “Wonder Woman,” and “Spider-Man: Homecoming.”
We still await “Justice League,” “Thor: Ragnarok,” and “Star Wars: The Last Jedi.”
However, there is a common theme running through these films: they are all of the Sci-Fi/Action genre. We live in a cinema world where these genres dominate the playing field, and many other genres suffer without attention because of it. That is why the new adaptation of Stephen King’s “It” stands alone as the most anticipated horror movie in recent memory.
“It” taps into all the right fears that it needs to, especially our most unconscious childhood fears. One can look at the movie on the surface and say that the clown is terrifying, which is true. The fear of clowns is one of the most common phobias in the world. However, there are so many other innate fears present here, such as the fear of having nobody to look to for help. At certain points in the movie, the kids are in grave danger but are unable to turn to the adults. This is because either the adults are not able to see the problem or are just ignoring it all together.
The plot is built around this concept as these children seem to be the only ones paying any mind to the disappearances in town, one of whom is related to a protagonist. The main characters take it upon themselves to figure out what is going on and the pieces of the puzzle are slowly put together as they each have some kind of encounter with Pennywise.
The cast really aids the plot as each member of the “Losers Club” (the group of seven children that make up the protagonists) adds something special to the group. On top of the issue with It, they all struggle with issues in their personal life, like hypochondria or an abusive parent. It is for these reasons they come together in the first place.
However, the most important member of the cast is Bill Skarsgård as the titular antagonist, It. In the novel, It is an interdimensional being that takes the form of what an individual fears most. However, in this film, much like in the 1990 TV Miniseries, It likes to take the form of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. Pennywise is nothing short of haunting: from the demeanor of the clown, his weird mannerisms, and dark sense of humor to his shockingly gruesome and violent tendencies. Seeing a giant clown as sadistic and evil as Pennywise really stays with you. I have never been afraid of clowns, but I may have to rethink my choice after this film.
At the end of the day, “It” hits all the right notes. “It” is not over-the-top scary, but certainly has a good amount of jump scares. The film is more well thought out than it is scary. The director wanted to spend a lot of time playing out the characters which was a nice effect. This allows us to feel the fear vicariously through the characters.
Ultimately, “It” gives you everything—fear, joy, shock, and even humor. Whether you are a horror fan or not, take a trip to the movies and watch this. Just don’t plan on going to the circus directly after.