A Beautiful Mess

Rating: 8/10 (19 September 2019)

Following up a film as large as 2017's It, which became the highest grossing horror film of all time, can be very challenging. However, director Andy Muschietti and writer Gary Dauberman provide a more than worthy sequel, which may not have pleased everyone, but it certainly pleased me.
Andy Muschietti proves his sheer talent for directing horror, arguably more so than ever before, here. Every tilt, pan, dolly, and zoom serves a purpose and enhances the immersion for the audience.
The cast is another remarkable aspect. The Loser's Club is perfectly casted, with each actor looking just like their child counterparts. The performances are solid all around, but I found Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, and James McAvoy stood out most to me. On the opposing side, Bill Skarsgård once again turns in a menacing, physical performance as Pennywise, and utilizes his expanded screen time to invoke further terror. Teach Grant as well, gives a quite understated performance as Henry Bowers, and provides a delightful sense of mania that always entertains.
Furthermore, the characters are for the most part, well continued, and explored. Nearly every Loser is given an amazingly compelling, and satisfying arc, all the while continuing their character from the first with ease.
The film is also improved on a technical level from the first. The editing, most of all shines. Its pure creativity in its match-cuts and wipes make for excellent transitions between scenes. The cutting during scenes adds a great amount of intensity too. The visual effects are leagues ahead of the often laughable effects before it. All the creatures and terrors are wonderfully designed and rendered much better.
It: Chapter Two, unfortunately is not devoid of flaws. Especially in its structure.
While the story is intriguing, it's unfortunately muddled by flashbacks, that aside from Richie's and Bev's, come of as redundant, and incredibly repetitive. It really shows the films length, and while the runtime itself isn't a bother to me, it makes it apparent what could've been cut.
And, of course, there are the jump scares. Nearly every modern horror film is plagued by these. Beside some clever uses, the jump scares here are infuriating. They constantly ruin the suspense of scenes and become tiresome.
One more rather minute issue is the comedy. While very well written, I did find a couple of instances where it was poorly integrated into otherwise more serious moments.
It Chapter Two follows up its predecessor, and even surpassed it in quality. Muschietti crafts a brilliantly satisfying, if not muddled and sometimes repetitive story, that grounds its persistent terror in thoroughly developed characters, amazing performances, and technical marvels.