Jaeden
Lieberher Jeremy
Ray Taylor
Sophia Lillis
Bill Skarsgard
Finn Wolfhard Chosen Jacobs Jack Dylan
Grazer Wyatt
Oleff Jackson
Robert Scott
Stephen King is particularly skillful in his
portrayal of characters with dimension and flair, yet always plausible and
believable. He must study humans
constantly and draw on a wealth of information about us that he has collected
through the years. For
example, in this film, the main character has a keen sense of responsibility and
fairness…and a stutter. Another is
chubby and socially awkward…but very bright and rather nerdy in a charming
way. He has acquired an impressive
amount of information about the town of Derry, Maine, that will inform his
newly found friends. King goes
against stereotyping his people, and always adds something unusual, some
special quirk or talent that gets manifested during the story unfolding. Girls can be sexy and fight well and keep up with the boys. Boys can be leaders, but also show fear and tears. These touches constitute little
surprises for the viewer, enhancing interest, and fostering attachment to the
characters. It’s not long before
we know the characters and have an investment in them. Certainly the horror aspects of his
stories do that as well, but for someone like this reviewer who is not a horror
fan, the added dimensions are special treats.
This story begins with two brothers, Bill
(Lieberher) and Georgie (Scott), who have great affection for one another. Bill the older makes a boat for Georgie
to take out to “sea” in the rainy street.
After Georgie encounters a clown in a storm drain, he, like many others
in a recurring cycle of 27 years, disappears. He is not the first one this year, but typical of many
communities, residents seem to be rather apathetic about what should be an
alarming situation—at least that’s so of the adults; the kids express real fear
about it as much as the local bullies.
And Bill is particularly motivated to do something because of his
missing younger brother, as is Beverly (Lillis), who is deeply compassionate
and has her own threat to deal with at home. The others in the tight group friends are more ambivalent
for various reasons, but can always be counted on to join
crime-solving/prevention efforts.
Horror elements that the kids encounter include
not only the hideous, fanged clown Pennywise, beautifully played by Skarsgard,
but a leper, a headless man, and writhing tortured figures/heads as well that
may cry out with advice like “Kill him”, “Kill them all.” Blood is ubiquitous, and sometimes
spells out, “You die if you try.”
There are supernatural events, identity switches, heartless town
bullies, and gruesome bathroom scenes (which, one character points out, is the
most dangerous room in the house).
Few adults are encountered, and when they do appear, they’re useless at
best and abusive at worst. Parents
are so bad that when the kids rebel against them, one wants to cheer.
Director Andy Muschietti and Cinematographer
Chung-hoon Chung artfully bring to life King’s well-told story of suspense, the
supernatural, high drama, and repellant forces working against the good and
innocent. The clown’s showing
something that looked like a shark’s mouth is off-putting in a mixed metaphor
kind of way. The children’s roles
and the actors filling them give children credit where it is due. Lieberher (St. Vincent, Midnight Special)
as the star, Lillis as the “against-type” girl, and Skarsgard as Clown
Pennywise use their considerable talents to embody their characters with
powerful delivery. Supporting cast
should be acknowledged as well, particularly Taylor, as endearing and scholarly
Ben, and Grazer, as asthmatic Eddie who wises up to a hypochondriacal mother.
I applaud the messages implicit in It about overcoming fears and working
together to achieve great things.
The movie is entertaining, suspenseful, wryly humorous, and uplifting.
Stephen King’s much scarier version of
a Scooby Doo story where kids solve a mystery. Pennywise the clown:
“…if it weren’t for those meddling kids!”
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