Review: It

You'll float too.

Bill's (Jaeden Lieberher) little brother George went missing months before. We know that Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard) a demon clown is responsible but Bill doesn't know that yet. Until he and his group of friends, the "Losers" as they call themselves all start seeing Pennywise in random places and realize that something isn't right in the town they leave in.

*book spoilers*

I had really high expectations for this, and it met nearly every one. While the 90's mini series felt campy, this film is having none of that. It presents itself as a coming of age type story, but when it needs to be creepy it dials it to eleven.

All of the child actors here are excellent in that parts, with Leiberher being the strongest. I was worried when I saw the trailers that they were going to forgo Bill's trademark stutter, but its still there and he makes it very believable on top of all the emotional baggage Bill brings around. Sophia Ellis plays Beverly, our lone girl in the group. Her story is easily the most disturbing and she handles that subject matter well. Other standouts are Finn Wolfhard as the trashmouth Ritchie and Jack Dylan Grazer as the ever jittery Eddie.

Following in Tim Curry's footsteps isn't an easy but, but I think Bill Skarsgard one ups him as Pennywise. This clown is downright horrifying and the script stands behind him.

The film isn't perfect. I don't agree with changing the decade to the 80's instead of the 50's like the novel. I felt it was only done so they could have a better musical selection for the soundtrack. Otherwise nothing they did justified the time difference and it's going to make Chapter Two, whenever that comes out even weirder considering it will take place in 2016. It also really diminishes Mike's connection with the group. He's the one that will eventually bring them together again as adults, but of all the foreshadowing that goes on in this movie, there's none for that.

I would complain about Beverly being made into a bit of a damsel - Pennywise kidnaps her and that's what gets all of our Losers together in the sewers, but considering the novel quite literally had her have sex with all of the boys to get them out of the sewers this is a massive upgrade. The way they temporarily defeat Pennywise this time around is quite different from the book.

Recommended: Yes

Grade: A-

Memorable Quote: "Now I have to kill this fucking clown." - Ritchie Tozier (Finn Wolfhard)