By Jarrad Mann
Photo Editor
I saw IT and I loved it.
Like so many others, I was captivated by the initial teaser for the movie IT when it was first released at the beginning of the year. Stephen King’s thousand-plus page epic that told the haunting tale of missing children in the small town of Derry, Maine was finally coming to the silver screen.
The trailer alone broke world records by being viewed 197 million times in just 24 hours.
For the last 27 years, the image of Pennywise was that of legendary actor Tim Curry, best known as Dr. Frank-N-Furter from the Rocky Horror Picture Show. However, now the infamous role is in the hands of Bill Skarsgård, son of actor Stellan Skarsgård and like millions of others, I couldn’t wait to see the visceral images of the evil entity that chose to take the form of the clown Pennywise.
IT didn’t disappoint.
The updated version of the killer clown was both entertaining and terrifying.
Naturally, I had my doubts, perhaps because I have seen one too many movie adaptions that either strayed away from the source material too much or blatantly ignored it.
IT, however, stayed true as much as it could for cramming one-half of the novel into just over two hours worth of celluloid and it was fantastic. I don’t think I am alone in this critique because IT has gone on to break box-office records by hauling in $117 million dollars in its opening weekend, virtually guaranteeing that the studio and producers of the film will follow up with chapter two.
It probably did not hurt that the Master of Horror himself, Stephen King, gave his approval.
There are a number of attributes I can focus in on for the film IT. In fact, this was the first time in a long time that I walked out of a movie theater and couldn’t stop pestering my wife about how good the movie was.
IT’s cast of child actors represented King’s characters to a tee. This movie is brilliantly cast. Finn Wolfhard, who plays Richie and known mostly for his role on Netflix’s Stranger Things, delivers the film’s most memorable lines with exquisite execution. His flawless timing brings a sense of humor to this otherwise horrific and at times uncomfortable movie.
I really enjoyed the IT experience and suggest watching it in IMAX or MPX. One of the stars of this film is without a doubt the sound. The eerie score hits all the right notes at all the right times and adds to the effect of the thrills when they happen and believe me – there are a few of them. I just hope that the makers of IT don’t fall into that age old Hollywood mistake of, “If it isn’t broke, go ahead and fix it anyway.” Meaning: if the original team that brought to us what is now a bona fide hit returns, then chapter two has the ability to be just as good.
Go see IT, or you’ll float too.
