Blending Horror and a Heartfelt Story

Rating: 9/10 (9 September 2017)

I always find it difficult to get scared when a horror film stays strictly in the supernatural realm. Luckily, 'It' blends a freaky supernatural-like villain in Pennywise the clown, mixed with some seriously psychological thrills that the Loser Club goes through. Perfectly balancing some thought provoking horror with a heartfelt story, 'It' delivers on almost every level, and gives us one of the best Stephen King adaptations of all time.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the most important thing in a film is the story and the script that services that story. It all starts with the character, and the characters here are written so well, particularly in the loser's club. When you're making a coming of age film, it's very easy to fall into the trap of clichéd Hollywood high school talk between young kids hanging out, which to be completely honest, is the easiest way to lose an audience. However, 'It' plays it far more realistic. Of course, that could backfire, but the interplay between the various kids in this film makes for some hilarious moments. And that's the main reason why the scares later in the movie work so well.
I bought into all of the relationships and therefore, worried for the characters when Pennywise does his tormenting. His tormenting, by the way, is downright terrifying. Not necessarily jump-out-of-your-seat scary like some horror films, but visually striking for the audience, and scarring for the characters involved. I'm not going to have nightmares, but living through the characters makes for a terrifying experience nonetheless. Speaking of Pennywise, he does some pretty messed up things to the kids in this movie, and in order to be that satisfying with the scares, you needed that R rating. There are quite a few scenes that I won't be able to get out of my head because they were so dang visually unique.
I should give a few words to recognize the director, Andy Muschietti, who has done a little directing before this, but nothing as mainstream as 'It'. I'll definitely be on the look-out for his work now, and hopefully he hops on board to direct chapter 2 as well, because his work here is truly impressive. Managing to direct teenage actors to the likeness that he did, making an iconic character come to life as well as he did with Pennywise, and balancing horror and a heartfelt story are all incredibly difficult but yet he made them look so easy. So great directing, visually distinct style, rapid pace, well-written characters, and one terrifying clown makes for one of the best horror films of the last few years. 'It' is absolutely tremendous.
9.5/10