When children in the town of Derry begin disappearing, hunted by a shape shifting demon, Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård – Atomic Blonde) who has take the form of a clown, a group of local kids gang up to search for the cause. One of them, Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher) has lost his brother, Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott). These seven kids must face their own fears, when they vow to rid the world of this evil.
Based on the novel by horror master Stephen King (The Dark Tower), IT brings the scares. Scares that are not just cheap jump-scares. These are psychological. The film plays on ones mind, prompting memories of childhood fears, adulthood phobia. IT sucks you in, chews your mind up, and spits you out just in time for a scene in the film to have some really funny moments. There are doses of nostalgia, with the film set in the 80’s, prompting self-debate on when innocence ends and one is no longer safe to venture out in one’s own town.
IT’s main genre is horror, but there is drama, and a good dose of adventure, aimed squarely at adults, and especially those who grew up with the adventure stories of teens and children saving the day, without adult supervision. Now, all grown up, they need more, and IT delivers. Great cinematography, and an ensemble of characters who are perfectly cast.
As a film, as a story, and as a horror, IT brings an A game. The film is entertaining and engrossing. It has scares, and a story. A thoroughly fun movie, and most certainly one that will draw a big audience.
IT opens 15 September 2017, in South African cinemas.
