By Nadia Ranaputri
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Jaeden Lieberher, Bill Skarsgård, Finn Wolfhard, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lilis, Chosen Jacobs, Wyatt Oleff, Jack Dylan Grazer.
There's an eerie yet brilliant coincidence that It's Pennywise awakens every 27 years in Stephen King's novel. Tommy Lee Wallace's It was released in 1990. 27 years later, It reawakens for the new generation.
Based on Stephen King's novel than spans of more than 1,000 pages worth of story, It takes place in the Summer of 1989 in the town of Derry, where after the disappearance of some of the town's young citizens, a group of young outcasts that go by the name of the Losers Club; decide to act upon finding the figure behind the disappearances: a mysteriously terrifying dancing clown named Pennywise.
Like Christopher Nolan's World War II blockbuster Dunkirk, It boasts fresh new faces in its ensemble. It's main lead Bill, played astoundingly by Jaeden Lieberher; is a stutterer, but a determined and passionate character at heart. His fellow friends in the Losers Club, all with different personalities; complete a compelling ensemble that provides the film of its many heart and humor. Most importantly, we care about them. Their daily lives are already a living hell for some of them, and the appearance of Pennywise becomes a bloody icing on a demolished cake. Another particular standout aside from Lieberher can be seen from the Club's loudmouth, Richie Tozier, played by Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things, who is the occasional comic relief with his humorous remarks.
As It's villain, Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise is a fascinating yet immensely horrifying figure with an infectious smile that's meant to kill. From his childish laugh to his eerily cheery delivery of "Beep beep, Richie," notably one of It's most famous lines; Pennywise has a child-like demeanor that's both captivating and revolting, and Skarsgård's performance creates a fine line between the two. He can be humorous when he needs to, but mostly sickening and gruesome once he shows how terrifying he really is.
It feels like a homage to a classic horror, from its way of muted coloring, tilted camera work to further emphasize the eeriness of the already creepy atmosphere, to Benjamin Wallfisch's score that ranges from the most eerie sound of a violin to an occassional haunting piece from the piano. It has the power to scare, to frighten, and at its worst way of making it the best it ever can: to terrify. It's horror is so familiar yet so new. The jumpscares are more frightening than annoying, and not a single one is a false jumpscare. It's a horror cliché done right and used to its true potential.
Once the scares start, It doesn't let audiences take a breath for more than a minute. It begins with a gruesome and eerie note. The events that happen after are no different. Despite that, It somehow manages to be a coming-of-age film that bleeds of horror. Pennywise isn't the only problem that the Losers Club stumble upon, but he's one problem that they're determined to face. What makes It so great is that we're invested in the story. It doesn't lose itself to making each scare bigger than the last, but it wants to make each act more interesting than the last.
It is one hell of a terrifying ride, but a great one, and one full of heart as well. If there is one thing that one can walk out of the film in true admiration, it's the film's protagonists, the Losers Club. It's a genuine portrayal of young kids barely close to adolescence by incredible young actors. Think of It as The Goonies, but if Mama Fratelli was an embodiment of an entity and ten times scarier. It leaves a lingering trail of eeriness from its villain that is Pennywise, and a spoonful of heart from its main heroes. The aftertaste is one that leaves us wanting more from the Losers and the wicked dancing clown that they dare to face.
Stars: 4.4/5
Trailer
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| Image Source: Movie Pilot |
Director: Andy Muschietti
Cast: Jaeden Lieberher, Bill Skarsgård, Finn Wolfhard, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lilis, Chosen Jacobs, Wyatt Oleff, Jack Dylan Grazer.
There's an eerie yet brilliant coincidence that It's Pennywise awakens every 27 years in Stephen King's novel. Tommy Lee Wallace's It was released in 1990. 27 years later, It reawakens for the new generation.
Based on Stephen King's novel than spans of more than 1,000 pages worth of story, It takes place in the Summer of 1989 in the town of Derry, where after the disappearance of some of the town's young citizens, a group of young outcasts that go by the name of the Losers Club; decide to act upon finding the figure behind the disappearances: a mysteriously terrifying dancing clown named Pennywise.
Like Christopher Nolan's World War II blockbuster Dunkirk, It boasts fresh new faces in its ensemble. It's main lead Bill, played astoundingly by Jaeden Lieberher; is a stutterer, but a determined and passionate character at heart. His fellow friends in the Losers Club, all with different personalities; complete a compelling ensemble that provides the film of its many heart and humor. Most importantly, we care about them. Their daily lives are already a living hell for some of them, and the appearance of Pennywise becomes a bloody icing on a demolished cake. Another particular standout aside from Lieberher can be seen from the Club's loudmouth, Richie Tozier, played by Finn Wolfhard of Stranger Things, who is the occasional comic relief with his humorous remarks.
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| Image Souce: IMDB |
As It's villain, Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise is a fascinating yet immensely horrifying figure with an infectious smile that's meant to kill. From his childish laugh to his eerily cheery delivery of "Beep beep, Richie," notably one of It's most famous lines; Pennywise has a child-like demeanor that's both captivating and revolting, and Skarsgård's performance creates a fine line between the two. He can be humorous when he needs to, but mostly sickening and gruesome once he shows how terrifying he really is.
It feels like a homage to a classic horror, from its way of muted coloring, tilted camera work to further emphasize the eeriness of the already creepy atmosphere, to Benjamin Wallfisch's score that ranges from the most eerie sound of a violin to an occassional haunting piece from the piano. It has the power to scare, to frighten, and at its worst way of making it the best it ever can: to terrify. It's horror is so familiar yet so new. The jumpscares are more frightening than annoying, and not a single one is a false jumpscare. It's a horror cliché done right and used to its true potential.
Once the scares start, It doesn't let audiences take a breath for more than a minute. It begins with a gruesome and eerie note. The events that happen after are no different. Despite that, It somehow manages to be a coming-of-age film that bleeds of horror. Pennywise isn't the only problem that the Losers Club stumble upon, but he's one problem that they're determined to face. What makes It so great is that we're invested in the story. It doesn't lose itself to making each scare bigger than the last, but it wants to make each act more interesting than the last.
 |
| Image Source: IMDB |
It is one hell of a terrifying ride, but a great one, and one full of heart as well. If there is one thing that one can walk out of the film in true admiration, it's the film's protagonists, the Losers Club. It's a genuine portrayal of young kids barely close to adolescence by incredible young actors. Think of It as The Goonies, but if Mama Fratelli was an embodiment of an entity and ten times scarier. It leaves a lingering trail of eeriness from its villain that is Pennywise, and a spoonful of heart from its main heroes. The aftertaste is one that leaves us wanting more from the Losers and the wicked dancing clown that they dare to face.
Stars: 4.4/5
Trailer
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