It: Chapter Two

REVIEW:

I must admit that I much preferred It Chapter Two upon this rewatch; however, I was disappointed the first time I saw it because it simply didn’t meet expectations. After the phenomenal success of the first film, anticipation for the sequel was sky high, with fans buzzing about who would be playing the adult versions of the Losers’ Club. There were endless fan casts and rumours about big names, and when the final cast was revealed, it was clear they had nailed it. James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone and Andy Bean all perfectly embody their younger counterparts. The chemistry feels authentic, and you can genuinely believe these are the same kids we met 27 years earlier, only now burdened by trauma, fear and the weight of forgotten memories.

Bill Skarsgård returns as Pennywise with that same eerie unpredictability that made him so terrifying the first time around. His performance remains deeply unsettling, blending childish glee with pure menace. Yet, despite his chilling presence, the film struggles to maintain the same level of horror as its predecessor. Bill Hader stands out as Ritchie, delivering scene-stealing moments of comedy while also revealing emotional depth in his more vulnerable scenes. His balance of humour and humanity is easily one of the film’s strongest aspects.

The marketing for It Chapter Two made it look absolutely terrifying, a promise it doesn’t fully deliver on. The opening sequence, in which a gay couple is brutally attacked in Derry, is dark and distressing, instantly setting a grim tone that hints at a much more twisted and mature follow up. Unfortunately, the movie never sustains that intensity again. The sense of dread fades as the film leans more into spectacle and sentimentality rather than pure fear. The tone becomes uneven, too comedic at times for a story that’s meant to dig deep into trauma and terror.

One of the film’s more interesting elements is how the characters have completely forgotten the horrors of their youth, with only Mike remembering because he stayed behind in Derry. It’s a clever narrative device that symbolises how people repress painful memories, but it also means much of the first act is spent catching everyone up. James McAvoy delivers another great performance here, his stutter and emotional restraint feel natural, and he’s a convincing leader of the group. Watching Pennywise lure and kill the young girl under the bleachers early on reminds us how vicious he can be, but moments like that are sadly too few.

The first hour of It Chapter Two is very solid, re-establishing the characters and setting up their emotional arcs. But when the story splits into separate quests for each character’s “token,” the pacing really begins to drag. These sequences rely too heavily on CGI driven monsters, which often replace genuine tension with cartoonish visuals. Eddie’s encounter in the pharmacist’s basement should have been nightmare fuel, but the sudden use of the song “Angel of the Morning” completely deflates the scene’s terror. It’s as though the film can’t decide whether it wants to scare you or make you laugh.

There’s a genuinely funny Stephen King cameo that fans of the author will appreciate, and moments like that make It Chapter Two oddly endearing despite its tonal imbalance. The humour works more often than not, but it does make the film feel more like a dark comedy than a horror. The standout sequence, however, is when Bill tries to save the boy at the funfair, with Pennywise’s reflection lurking in the hall of mirrors while Bill frantically tries to break through the glass. It’s tense, tragic and beautifully shot, one of the few scenes that captures the emotional and psychological horror of King’s story.

The film also throws in fun nods for fans, like the homage to The Thing with the spider head, a nice touch for horror lovers. Yet, for all its energy and emotional beats, the biggest disappointment remains how It Chapter Two just isn’t scary enough. It’s certainly entertaining, and when you lower your expectations for fear, there’s a lot to enjoy. Upon this rewatch, I found myself appreciating the performances, the heart and even the humour far more than before.

By the end, It Chapter Two manages to be both heartbreaking and uplifting, with the Losers’ Club finally confronting their fears and finding closure. The idea that they “killed It by belittling It” is a fascinating metaphor for overcoming trauma, taking the power away from what once terrified you. It might not send shivers down your spine like the first film, but it delivers a satisfying emotional conclusion. Not as scary as promised, but far more moving than expected, and definitely a better experience the second time around.