It (2017)

REVIEW:

If you’ve never read the Stephen King novel or seen the Tim Curry mini-series, the start of It (2017) will absolutely shock you. Andy Muschietti wastes no time in establishing the film’s tone, one of dread, tragedy, and raw fear within the opening minutes. Watching Georgie’s encounter with Pennywise is not only terrifying, it’s emotionally crushing. It sets the stage for what’s to come: a horror film that understands true fear is not in what you see, but in what you feel.

Andy Muschietti, alongside cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung, delivers a movie that looks and feels like a big budget spectacle, something horror films rarely get. The craftsmanship is astounding. Every frame feels cinematic, from the mist-covered streets of Derry to the decaying house on Neibolt Street. Chung-hoon’s work behind the camera makes It as visually arresting as it is horrifying, giving the movie an epic scope without losing its sense of intimacy.

Tonally, It captures that perfect blend of adventure and terror, like Stand by Me meets The Goonies, only with a murderous clown lurking in the shadows. The story of friendship and fear among “The Losers Club” feels nostalgic and human, even as the horror elements keep the tension high. It’s a coming-of-age story wrapped in a nightmare, and the contrast makes it so compelling.

The main cast is nothing short of exceptional. So much is asked of these young actors, and they all deliver performances far beyond their years. Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lillis, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Chosen Jacobs, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Wyatt Oleff each bring a different dynamic to the group: humour, heart, and courage. Then there’s Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. His performance is chilling in every sense, the contorted facial expressions, the childlike voice that twists into something monstrous, it’s pure nightmare fuel.

Beyond its supernatural horror, It dives deep into real-world darkness, racism, abuse, bullying, and trauma. The town of Derry isn’t just haunted by a creature, it’s poisoned by human cruelty. That’s what gives the film emotional weight. Pennywise may be the face of evil, but the story reminds us that horror often exists long before the monster appears.

One of the most unforgettable moments comes with Beverley’s bathroom scene. The eruption of blood from the sink is both revolting and symbolic, a violent eruption of all the pain and fear she’s been suppressing. It’s horror that means something, not just shock for the sake of it. The brilliance of It is that it doesn’t rely on jump scares; instead, it builds terror through atmosphere, character, and dread that lingers long after the scene ends.

While the movie isn’t terrifying in the conventional sense, it taps into something more primal, the fear of growing up, of losing innocence, of confronting what lies beneath the surface. And just when you think you’ve seen it all, Pennywise opens his mouth to reveal three haunting lights, the “Deadlights,” leaving you questioning what kind of cosmic horror you’re truly witnessing. The emotional core comes full circle when Bill faces Georgie at the end, and it’s devastating. Young Jackson Robert Scott, just eight years old, gives a heartbreaking performance that hits like a punch to the gut.

By the time Bill says, “If it isn’t dead, if it ever comes back, we’ll come back too,” you know this story is far from over. When the screen fades to black and the words It: Chapter One appear, it’s a perfect tease that sent chills and excitement through audiences everywhere. It (2017) isn’t just a horror film; it’s an experience, thrilling, emotional, and haunting in equal measure. Bring on Chapter Two, let’s fucking go.