So close being really amazing

Rating: 5/10 (27 July 2018)

I'll start with pro's and con's and later elaborate-
Pro's -
I like this kind of horror. They don't scream and jump on you every second, it's abrupt. Sometimes with silence, sometimes it builds up, when you least expect it (like after Bev smashed her father's face), and yeah, sometimes they do scream and jump.
The CGI is quite good most of the times
There is actual character development and somewhat of a story
It's really relateable and silly - All of those awkward teen moments. Makes ya giggle and remember.
The villain is quite quirky and fun.
Con's -
When the CGI isn't good, it's horrible.
There is lack of character development & screen time for Mike (the farm kid), the Jewish kid and the fat kid. (And richie, I literally forgot about him and remembered after writing a whole other paragraph, which is a bad sign for the character.) All the rest got a proper treatment.
The characters dynamics got messed up and wasn't even that good in the begining
The ending.
Elaboration-
I wanted to love this movie, I really did. But I just couldn't.
Mike. The farm kid.
The actor was great and underused. They didn't give him enough screen time to actually make him a character. He is basically nothing more than an idea for a character.
Character dynamics.
Once everyone got mad and scared over Billy the protag and split up- Something felt... Missed, abrupt, odd, as if it wasn't supposed to happen. All the character dynamics that was there initially (the fat being awkward with bev yet they are both somewhat flirty for example) was gone and we were left with 3 characters that actually do some speaking and action - Billy, Bev and the Placebo/Broken arm kid. The rest might as well have died or dissipated and there would hardly be any difference.
The love triangle.
The fact there is a love triangle is already bad. Billy, Bev & Fat kid. And honestly? I rooted and wanted the fat kid to be with Bev, and not Billy the protag. Hell, they teased for it right in the beginning of the movie, and with the post-card! It was the perfect. classic underdog kind of character that has redeemable features against his outer appearance (like standing against the bullies when they pulled the knife, which was great. And the fact he was smart as hell yet quirky, with his love for music.). There was no context or buildup for Bev & Billy aside of Billy hitting on her awkwardly. Suddenly, she only goes to hug billy for the rest of the movie??? And even after the fat kid kissed her and she found out HE sent the post-card- two minutes later and it's as if it didn't happen.
The kiss at the end drove me crazy mad and annoyed the HFIL out of me.
The End.
Aside fromt hat horrendous kiss, the ending itself was quite... Underwhelming and not very surprising. They hinted all of the movie that fear made the clown strong, but the characters shouldn't have dished it out for the audience. Show, don't tell. And Georgey, why is he dead and the rest of the kids aren't? There was no need to bitter-sweet this if it doesn't make sense.

Lots of potential. But nothing more than that- Only potential. Most of it not used.