All shout and no atmosphere

Rating: 5/10 (21 July 2019)

Sadly, it's fallen into the 'jump scare' category.
"If you're not careful, Pennywise will Chase you to loud music while screaming!"
The most effective scene from this movie was in the library when Ben is looking at the history of Derry and the librarian (Pennywise in disguise) smiles just out of focus behind him. It creates such an uneasy atmosphere and actually makes you nervous for what will happen.
Unfortunately, audiences seem to prefer the sudden very loud music and jump scares which has ensured that no modern 'horror film' is too dissimilar to 'The Nun'; an absolute archetype for the kind of directorial thinking that goes something like 'if we make the audience jump and ply them with unbelievable CGI, that's even better than creating mood or atmosphere!'
A truly good horror movie makes you afraid to turn off the lights, it makes you question what's in the shadows, and this movie just does not achieve that. You know nothing is in the shadows because it would've run out of the shadows screaming at you, "PLEASE FIND ME SCARY!!!"