A band of children bullied and considered outsiders in their hometown are forced to confront a monster disguised as a clown that is responsible for a number of children going missing...
Stephen King adaptations have been a mixed bag over the years. For every Shawkshank Redemption you get a Dark Tower. King's IT was adapted for TV in 1990. When I saw it at the time, I loved it. I watched it again recently and while it has dated in parts, I still think it holds up well.
Now we get a film adaptation of the book, which is NOT a remake of the TV version. I really wish people would stop saying that. Both are adaptations of the novel, but for different formats. The novel, which some think might be his best, is one that took me two attempts to read. The first time, I was around 16 or so and I just couldn't get into it. However, a few years later, I picked it up again and devoured it. It's a great book certainly.
For years there has been talk of adapting the book for film, filmmaker Cary Fukunaga was in serious discussions but then left the project a couple of years ago, though he is still credited as a screenwriter on this version. In came Andy Muschietti, who made the horror fantasy Mama, which I really liked. I'm not sure how Cary Fukunaga's version would have looked, but Muschietti certainly is passionate about the story.
From the opening, where we see Bill's younger brother Georgie being taken by Pennywise, in a truly tense and creepy scene, to the low key ending, this is a fantastic adaptation of the novel. The film only adapts in effect half the book, telling the story of the 'loser club' as youths, with a plan for a second film to focus on the story them them as adults.
Where the film really works, is that it digs into how each of the characters have fears of their own, even before the horrors really hit them. Bev has an abusive father. Bill is haunted by his missing brother. Eddie is obsessed with catching illnesses, to name three. And all of them are being bullied by Henry Bowers and his friends. The film doesn't skimp over the grief and effect of the abuse and bullying, making those scenes uncomfortable to watch at times and that's before we talk about the horror aspect of the film.
Pennywise the clown is a truly terrifying creation. Whereas in the TV version, Tim Curry, who brilliantly played Pennywise was able to bring touches of humour within the horror, Bill Skarsgard's take on the role is sinister throughout. Take the scene with Georgie at the beginning. Pennywise tries to be 'nice' to draw him in, but still has a sinister edge to him. Later on however, Skarsgard really brings the horror. If you have a phobia of clowns, Pennywise will make it much, much worse!
The director, Andy Muschietti stages some truly scary moments; events in an old house being a creepy standout. But even in other moments, a scene in Beverly's bathroom for example, are just as unsettling. Muschietti understands the horror of the story very well indeed and truly delivers on it.
But what a number of King books have and is sometimes forgotten in film adaptations, is the heart and emotional aspect of the story and IT delivers on that here. The bond between the losers is utterly believable. You understand totally why these youths are friends. You can see why Beverly would want to hang around with them. The bond and yes love they have each other is handled well indeed.
It helps that the actors are very good indeed. Jaeden Liberher, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer and Wyatt Oleff are all very good indeed. Likewise Nicholas Hamilton as Henry Bowers, the bully, who has his own issues and Jackson Robert Scott as Georgie are great in support. When it comes to casting the characters as adults for Chapter Two, it's going to be difficult to match the chemistry these actors have.
With great production design, some great effects and a very good score, this adaptation of IT is tremendous. The one caveat I would add however, is that this is only Chapter One. It won't be until we see Chapter Two and the story is complete to see if the filmmakers have really pulled of this adaptation.
But what I will say is that this film, this Chapter One is one of the best mainstream horrors in years. It's scary, not just reliant on jump scares, though these are effective too.
When you look at how disappointing the adaptation of King's The Dark Tower was received and then look at IT, it goes to prove how, unless there is a clear plan in mind, adapting books to film can go horribly wrong or go right. For me, Andy Muschietti's film of IT is one the best King adaptations, sitting up there with The Shining and The Dead Zone.
I loved it. and can't wait for Chapter Two.
Rating - 5/5
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