HYSTY’S HORROR HOUSE // IT

Sep 18, 2017 / WORDS Timothy Byrnes / PHOTOS Courtesy Warner Bros. / We all float down here.

It’s been some time since a film has genuinely frightened me.

Horror films terrorised my younger self’s dreams; Gremlins, Poltergeist, even Return To Oz. Lately, horror films haven’t had the same effect on me as they once did. Boring characters, senseless stories, and the all-too-common jump-scare have cheapened big budget horror. But the latest adaptation of Stephen King’s IT turned me back into that scared child.

Set in 1989, the town of Derry, Maine has been plagued by disappearing children, including Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott). Georgie’s stuttering older brother Bill (Jaeden Lieberher) and his equally unpopular friends decide to investigate the cause of these abductions, leading to them facing their biggest fears.

The main attraction of IT is antagonist Pennywise The Dancing Clown, as portrayed by Bill Skarsgard. Skarsgard gives a terrifying performance as Pennywise. His facial expressions are twisted to the point of disturbing, and his rasping voice sends chills. Skarsgard’s performance is aided by some creative CGI which doesn’t dull the horror on screen, especially during his shockingly gory first scene.

Along with outright horror, director Andy Muschietti brings an unsettling presence to the less supernatural parts of the film. Tension increases whenever psychopathic bully Henry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton) appears, especially with how unpredictable he is and the glee he takes in torturing the protagonists.

The adults are less wild, but incredibly creepy, with some churning my stomach whenever they interacted with the young Beverly, played in a brilliantly understated performance by Sophia Lillis.

When not turning your blood cold, IT is heart-warming thanks to the film’s young cast. The kids are a delight to watch, making audiences glow with childhood nostalgia. Particular praise goes to Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard, who is a delight as foul-mouth Richie. Finn’s lines are filthy, but his enthusiasm shines with glee.

IT is a terrifying film; one that disrupted this writer’s nights for a week. IT not only shines amongst the bland big budget horrors choking up cinemas, but will surely go down as a classic of the genre and give kids nightmares for generations. (No, there is no underage gangbang, stop asking. -ed.)

STICK THIS NEXT TO: Stranger Things, Poltergeist

RATING: 8/10