It: Chapter One is essentially all the best parts of Stephen King’s novel of the same name. It, the movie, graciously left out all the ugly, disgusting parts that made me hate the book. This popular horror movie dropped in 2017, which I watched several months later. Even seven years following that initial watch I still enjoy going for a rewatch when leaves start falling and the weather gets cooler, unlike the movie’s setting. The setting in which school is coming to a close, and life isn’t half as exciting as Derry, Maine, during the summer of 1989. This is a great movie to kick off the Halloween season, creeping in on everyone. It begins by introducing the audience to two brothers: Georgie and Bill. The day is cold and rainy, and Bill would just rather not go outside. However, his younger brother, Georgie, doesn’t have the same idea. I’ll go light on spoilers, but since the book has been out for 38 years, it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise when I say this is the last time we saw little Georgie. At least, the real one. Aside from that and on a far more positive note, watchers are quickly introduced to a misfit group of middle schoolers, dubbed the “Loser’s Club,” who will be our main protagonists of the story. Yes, the name is fitting. They are also, unfortunately, that small town’s only hope against Pennywise, one of the most ridiculous antagonists in the history of horror.
Despite that, this movie spares absolutely no details when it comes to gore, which is established early on. That’s one of the few things– yeah few – that makes it scary, really. Sure, people argue Pennywise was a terrifying villain, but he’s really just a clown, quite literally. I’d say what made It scary, aside from copious gore, was really the era of trends that surrounded the film. Yes, the whole Killer Clown Craze of 2016, coming only three years after the release of American Horror Story: Freak Show, killer clowns were on the rise. I fear the movie may not hit the same if you hadn’t at least heard of it in that era, or even been involved in or following the stories. Pranks and even a few cases of real crimes were being committed in clown costumes, some even went ahead and wore a mask of Pennywise’s face. Watching the movie was like some freaky, supernatural caricature of real trends and real life.
Don’t even get me started on Pennywise’s face. I used to think his design was scary, but after one watch with a friend who kept pointing it out, all I can think of is the receding hairline. This movie feels more like comedy with a side of thriller, almost like a mock horror, similar to scream. As previously mentioned, the Loser’s Club are middle schoolers, and losers. One can imagine the taste in humor they might have, this is a warning to anyone who might be looking to watch this for the first time. Between grimacing at Pennywise’s face and startling at jumpscares, there’s plenty of comedy, mostly bad and a little bit cringe, but they keep it shockingly lighthearted with the copious comedic relief. It provides a breath of fresh air, even with all the topics this movie handles. Such as losing a sibling, actually insane bullies, and two different kinds of abusive parents, It still manages to maintain a balance.
Speaking of lighthearted, remember the intro? About the book? Yeah, the book is far less so. This movie takes all the tough topics Stephen King’s writing in the original book tackles, and manages to make it something less gruesome, less vulgar, and more respectful and easily digestible. I think Stephen King’s vulgarity is what makes people love or hate his writing. Some would see it as admirably ‘raw’ and enjoy how he really likes to get to the ‘nitty gritty’ of things, but I just felt it was an unnecessary addition for shock value at best and some gross freaky fantasy at worst, especially with the way he was writing it. Overall, in my unprofessional opinion, the movie is a watered down version of the first half of the novel. Not in a bad way, more in a diluting something that was way too strong in the first place kind of way. I would personally recommend it to watch this Halloween season.
