![]() To say I've been eagerly anticipating IT for a while now would be an understatement. Obsessing is a bit more accurate, I have been looking forward to this for a long time, like since the first trailer dropped, so the fact that my local theater had a Thursday showing was the most exciting thing that's happened to me all year. If I'm being honest I'm not a huge Stephen King fan, I've never found his writing to be scary enough for me - love the concepts and characters, not the execution (I can blow through 300-400 pages in a day when I enjoy the content, it took me two days to get through the first chapter of IT) but I can't deny his stuff makes for incredible cinema . But between the teaser images, the trailers, Bill Skarsgård just being who he is, and the raving reviews from friends and trusted sources I knew that this movie was going to be one helluva terror trip. So, I happily walked into the theater - all by myself like a big girl, in the dark - to go see the premier of IT and settled into my recliner for a good and hopefully scary time. It's been a long time since a movie has scared me, which kind of sucks since I love being scared and I love a good horror story. Needless to say I was uncomfortable, freaked out, and left before the credits ended cause I couldn't stomach the thought of being in the theater by myself in the dark. It was terrifying, and totally worth the wait. ![]() Unless you've been living under a rock for the last century, you know the story of IT. It's one of the defining Stephen King novels, and it instilled a fear of clowns into the hearts of Americans everywhere when Pennywise first hit the shelves/screen thirty some odd years ago. It's a story about what happens when small town USA finds itself being terrorized by an unknown presence and children begin to go missing by the dozens. The narrative follows a group of teens during summer break in the year following the disappearance of our hero's younger brother, Georgie. The kids; Bill (aforementioned hero), Beverly, Richie, Stan, Eddie, Ben, and Mike, come to find that their biggest phobias may truly be a larger problem than the local group of bullies down the road. Strange occurrences begin to happen, red balloons begin to show up, nightmares become reality, and a grinning, psychotic clown is roaming the streets. It's a story about adolescence, fear, and killer clowns with supernatural abilities (you know, your typical thing). With just a bit of tweaking, some throwbacks to the source material, and an incredible casting with the likes of Skarsgård and some talented newcomers, the team behind IT has created a devilish concoction for a dark, gritty reboot that stands out amongst its competitors. I'm not going to delve deep into the story or lore of the film, as I feel that it should really be something you immerse yourself in with as little bias as possible, because it is just that worthy of being experienced. Needless to say, I immediately went out to buy the book cause I can't wait another two-three years to get part two for more of the lore and scares. The movie looks phenomenal, it's atmosphere and aesthetically pleasing for cinephiles and horror-fans alike. Every little detail has been paid attention to with such care and intensity that it pulls you from reality into the tension of the moment. It's been noted that they tried to do as much of the movie without CGI as possible and it shows, the feeling of realism is one of the most flattering parts about the film and what really captivated me personally. The movie transports you right to sleepy, small town USA in the late 1980s from the moment the film rolls. The hair, the clothing, the slang, the bicycles, the televisions, every little detail has been paid attention to with such care that you feel immersed in the small town of Derry, Maine. The kids are about as average and mundane as pre-teens in the 80s got and were casted perfectly; they're nerdy and normal so the sense of sheer realism is immersive. I loved that there was something to scare even the most hardened of moviegoers, capitalizing on childhood fears that draw you back to nights in your parents' house after watching Halloween for the first time. It's a two and a half hour terror spree of violence, gore, and shocking moments - I mean the movie straight up opens with Pennywise ripping Georgie's arm clean off, without warning, and doesn't let up after that. There's an unsettling tension throughout the film, where even the most lighthearted moments keep your eyes drawn to the cracks and weeds and hidden spaces with just enough panic to never let your shoulders drop. It's flat out creepy. I cannot stress enough that Bill Skarsgård is phenomenal as Pennywise. He's one of the most talented hidden gems of the acting world and to sit down and watch the movie knowing he did as much as humanly possible without CGI is just stomach churning (in all the right ways). He's creepy, he's demented, and he will make every noise around you jump long after you've left the theater. The casting is phenomenal and every role is done with passion and dedication to the character, the phobias they represent, and the transition from terror to confidence as the story progresses. It was a stark look at how fear can control and just how intense the minds of adolescent youth can really be when left alone for a summer. Personally, I have to give a shout-out to Jack Dylan Grazer, who plays young hypochondriac Eddie. That kid is in a league of his own and deserves an Oscar, but that's just me. All of the kids are believable, relatable, and enjoyable to watch. It's a great introduction to the kids, their traumas, and the character development that leads them to the inevitable second part that we can only white knuckle our chairs and eagerly wait for. Overall, it's a delightful fright right in time for the specter season, and I suggest running to the theater so you can float too. ![]() Written by Alycia D. (MaybeMockingbird ) All pictures are copyright New Line Cinema, characters copyright Stephen King. IT is now playing nation-wide, it is rated R
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorJust your average geek chic gamer chick into all things ghostly and geeky (and vice versa) Archives
April 2022
Categories
All
|