It 2017 - All About It

Fear is one of the most powerful elements of horror. The ability to make someone afraid is both the most rewarding and challenging aspect of making a horror film, but what if a horror film is centered around fear itself?

It (2017) answers this question. Based on the 1986 Stephen King novel of the same name, the movie follows a group of kids who are terrorized by a shapeshifting entity that takes the form of their worst fears. It is a manifestation of fear itself. However, when it is not taking on the form of someone’s worst fear, this creature chooses its favorite form, Pennywise the Dancing Clown.

This post will cover everything to do with the film, starting with a spoiler-free review, and will then be followed by a review containing spoilers as well as some fun facts. It is highly recommended that you watch the movie before reading the spoiler portion of this post. Currently, you can find the movie on Max or Apple TV+, and you can always rent it as well. Let’s dig into It.

It is a wonderful movie and has some genuinely frightening scenes. It uses a mix of effects that are digital and practical. While some people complain that the digital effects could be better, that has never taken me out of the experience. The practical effects work very nicely in this film. This film is lifted by its wonderful acting performances. A standout is Bill Skarsgård, the actor behind the main villain, Pennywise. Skarsgård’s physicality really brings the character to life.

However, Skarsgård isn’t the only one putting their talent on display. Jaeden Martell, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Sophia Lillis, Finn Wolfhard, Chosen Jacobs, Wyatt Oleff, and Jack Dylan Grazer all perform amazingly as our group of main characters. Their chemistry is brilliant, and they are believable.

Finally, the story is brilliant. Not only is it written to be scary, but in true Stephen King fashion, it goes deeper. These characters are complex. You want to root for them. It isn’t just another horror film with boring leads. It is better than that.

In short: Should you watch this film? Definitely.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Now that you have a general idea of what the movie is like, let’s get into the spoiler review. If you haven’t seen the movie, turn back now!

The movie opens on a rainy day in the town of Derry, Maine. We are introduced to brothers Bill and Georgie, played by Jayden Martell and Jackson Robert Scott, respectively. It is on this day that Georgie suffers a fatal encounter with Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård). This opening sequence is important because it not only introduces us to Pennywise, but it also sets up the character Bill for the internal struggle that results from losing a brother.

Let’s talk about this first kill. Right away, the movie lets you know that this isn’t meant for the squeamish. Lured toward the clown with promises of the circus, Georgie is caught off guard. In one fell swoop, the killer clown’s jaw opens, showing razor teeth, and rips off Georgie’s arm. We then see the aftermath in all its gruesome glory. We see Georgie screaming, we see the bloody stump that used to be his arm, and then we see Pennywise reach for Georgie and drag him down into the sewers.

This is the first time we get to see Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. During the scene, Skarsgård displayed some impressive skills. Done completely practically, Skarsgård contorts his face to make the audience feel unsettled. There is something not quite right about this clown. If you pay close attention, you’ll notice that Skarsgård’s eyes are not going in the same direction. This was an intentional effect, originally planned to be added in post-production, that Skarsgård revealed he could do completely naturally. As an added touch, Skarsgård also contorts his smile to be even more off-putting.

The movie continues by properly introducing us to Bill as well as the rest of the friend group. We see that each one of them suffers from bullies, and we get to learn a bit about their personalities. In this film, the horrors of everyday life are just as, if not more, scary than Pennywise. Seeing just how cruel people can be to one another is far scarier than a malicious entity. However, Pennywise uses those real-life struggles to torment the kids.

After almost all the characters have each had their own encounter with Pennywise, they decide it must be stopped. It is in this next sequence that the action really ramps up. They head to a dilapidated house on Neibolt street, where they believe Pennywise resides. Now that the characters are so close, Pennywise begins to torment them even more. They finally come face to face with the clown. Before this scene, none of the cast had ever seen Skarsgård in the makeup. This genuine fear makes their acting even more powerful.

One by one, each member of the group gets separated, each having to deal with their own personal nightmare. It is here that Richie (Finn Wolfhard) has his first proper encounter with the clown. Ironically enough, it is clowns he fears the most. He gets locked in a room by himself with many clown dolls. It is in this room that we see an easter egg depicting the first ever on-screen Pennywise. It is nice to see this reference to the original 1990 miniseries, in which Pennywise was played by Tim Curry.

During this sequence, we also see Pennywise approach and corner Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer). Once he has him trapped, the sinister clown begins to drool. This drool was real. The prosthetic in Skarsgård’s mouth caused this. Rather than change out the prosthetic for another one, director Andy Muschietti decided to keep it, believing that it was a nice touch. He was right.

One last scene that I would like to mention is the final battle with Pennywise. It is an emotionally moving fight because we get to see our characters overcome their individual fears and defeat the clown. This is consistent with the excellent character development that I mentioned earlier. It is a satisfying way to wrap things up. Finally, the kids all promise that if Pennywise should ever return, they would, too.

It is a great movie and is absolutely terrifying. So terrifying in fact, that Skarsgård reportedly had nightmares after wrapping the film. So, what do you think? Did you like It?

Please check out my other blog posts as well as the source of today’s fun facts: Screen Rant.