Stephen King has proven to be one of the most difficult authors
to adapt. Dozens of his stories have been brought to the big screen over
the years, with an extremely mixed bag of results. Trapped in development
for years, various directors and screenwriters have struggled to bring his
mammoth epic, IT, to theaters which
has instilled a sense of caution within diehard fans and horror aficionados.
Andy Muschietti's version is a trimmed down, well-oiled infernal
contraption. Featuring an outstanding ensemble, uncharacteristically
striking visuals, and a poignant story about the power of friendship and
imagination, audiences can rest easy. The near perfect adaptation of a
King novel has finally been created.
Children are being killed by an otherworldly entity in the
quiet, but insidious town of Derry, Maine. Seven children, The Losers,
band together to put a stop to the terror once and for all, with the
unbreakable bonds of comradery as their only weapon. Bill Skarsgard gives the
performance of a lifetime as Pennywise, the menacing clown-like avatar of the
creature. While a previous incarnation focused on stinging humor and
psychological warfare, Skarsgard doubles down on the cosmic menace, portraying
a horror out of time. One of the best aspects of the script is how
Pennywise is only one face of IT, allowing each experience with the clown to
have maximum impact. While the story omits several important concepts
from the text, it remains true to the heart of the story, focusing on the
struggle of children who so often go ignored in the face of unrelenting
cruelty. Nicolas Hamilton provides an equally chilling turn as
sociopathic bully Henry Bowers, The Losers corporeal enemy. While the
supernatural is an omnipresent foe, Hamilton's Bowers is a remarkable
adversary, a chilling reminder of the playground specters that haunt outsiders
every day.
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| Here fishy fishy....... |
Finn Wolfhard is the showstopper. His embodiment of Richie
"Trashmouth" Tozier is not only a pitch perfect copy of the
character, it's also the wounded heart at the center of IT's mythology. These are mischievous, foul mouthed kids
discovering themselves in a summer of darkness, and Wolfhard's patient, smile
inducing turn is one for the ages. IT
blends elements of films like The Goonies
and The Monster Squad, building upon
the group of rejects trope and morphing it into a parable about the universal
truth of life: In the end, only your crew matters, be it blood relatives, or
brothers and sisters gained in the face of tragedy that inevitably finds its
way into the heart and it is Wolfhard’s comedic hero that drives everything
home.
Legendary cinematographer Chung-hoon Chung's attentive eye is
everywhere. The camerawork, combined with claustrophobic editing produces
a visceral effect that leaves the heart racing in virtually every sequence.
This is part of the fun. Yes, there are jump scares aplenty and an
abundance of CGI, but Chung's ability to frame compositions, be it in a
desiccated house or a filthy sewer pipe allows the special effects to meld into
the environs seamlessly. The manner in which the "Deadlights"
and their malicious effect is communicated is resplendent, an untrustworthy
glimmer within Pennywise's unholy lair; a set piece that will hopefully garner
awards for Peter Grundy's outstanding art direction. Makeup and costuming
are used to inflict maximum trauma, symbolizing a beautiful understanding of IT's phobic nature. Fear is the
enemy, and while Skarsgard's Pennywise is essential to the recipe, the
underlying implications of the power of fear over children is the core of
King's work and Muschietti and company are meticulous with their presentation
of this throughout.
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| Damn, there sure are some stranger things going on around here....... |
IT delivers
the thrills, laughs, and most importantly a potent reminder of the power of
cinema. While the material is most certainly adult oriented, it's
virtually impossible to experience Andy Muschietti's dark fairy tale without
remembering the wonders of childhood. An absolutely unforgettable horror
fable that builds upon the uncanny strength of its youthful cast and features
audacious visuals that will enchant as much as a they torment, IT is the film experience audiences have
been waiting for.
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Score
-Kyle Jonathan