A review by Brooks Rich
The horror genre actually took great strides this decade. We had some very interesting new voices emerge and create legit nightmares on films. I'm thinking of films like The Witch, The Lighthouse, and Hereditary. But we also had some big studio films actually work as legit horror films. Although it might not be the scariest film of the past decade, IT Chapter 1 is definitely one of the most well made horror films of the past decade and has maybe the best ensemble cast of young performers since Stand By Me. Hey, Stephen King knows how to write kids. Who fucking knew?
I almost just want to refer to IT Chapter 1 as just IT because Chapter 2 is easily one of the worst of the decade. But that's for another post. Instead let's focus on the awesomeness that is the first film. For those that don't know IT takes place in 1989 in the small town of Derry, Maine. Seven outcasts discover that an evil clown named Pennywise, performed wonderfully by Bill Skarsgard, is responsible for the rash of missing children. The group, who call themselves the Losers, must band together to defeat Pennywise and save not only themselves but all of the children of Derry.
So the cast is easily this film's biggest strong suit. Let's start with Bill Skarsgard who had the unenviable task of following up the legendary Tim Curry as Pennywise. Skarsgard makes the role his own and Pennywise is the stuff of nightmares. Anyone doubting me who hasn't seen the film just search on youtube for the opening scene where Pennywise kills Georgie to see how easily Skarsgard goes from playful to evil as Pennywise.
But like I said before this has the best ensemble of young actors since Stand By Me. The kids playing the Loser Club are the heart and soul of this film and one of the main reasons why this film is one of my favorites of the past decade. I credit director Andy Muschetti for directing them to be real kids. These are foul mouthed kids who don't talk like the typical precocious Hollywood kids. We generally care for them and so there are stakes when Pennywise is threatening them.
The scares in this film are a lot of jump scares, which isn't my favorite, but they are mostly done well and earned. I would say there was just one other big studio film that did the jump scare better this past decade. The one scare that stands out to me in IT is when Ben is confronted in the basement of the library by a headless ghost carrying Easter eggs. I can't put my finger on quite what makes this scare so effective. I just think it's the anticipation and timing.
If you like horror films and you missed this film, for God's sake go watch this. Skip the sequel. It's complete garbage. Just watch this as a standalone horror film and you'll be fine.
The horror genre actually took great strides this decade. We had some very interesting new voices emerge and create legit nightmares on films. I'm thinking of films like The Witch, The Lighthouse, and Hereditary. But we also had some big studio films actually work as legit horror films. Although it might not be the scariest film of the past decade, IT Chapter 1 is definitely one of the most well made horror films of the past decade and has maybe the best ensemble cast of young performers since Stand By Me. Hey, Stephen King knows how to write kids. Who fucking knew?
I almost just want to refer to IT Chapter 1 as just IT because Chapter 2 is easily one of the worst of the decade. But that's for another post. Instead let's focus on the awesomeness that is the first film. For those that don't know IT takes place in 1989 in the small town of Derry, Maine. Seven outcasts discover that an evil clown named Pennywise, performed wonderfully by Bill Skarsgard, is responsible for the rash of missing children. The group, who call themselves the Losers, must band together to defeat Pennywise and save not only themselves but all of the children of Derry.
So the cast is easily this film's biggest strong suit. Let's start with Bill Skarsgard who had the unenviable task of following up the legendary Tim Curry as Pennywise. Skarsgard makes the role his own and Pennywise is the stuff of nightmares. Anyone doubting me who hasn't seen the film just search on youtube for the opening scene where Pennywise kills Georgie to see how easily Skarsgard goes from playful to evil as Pennywise.
But like I said before this has the best ensemble of young actors since Stand By Me. The kids playing the Loser Club are the heart and soul of this film and one of the main reasons why this film is one of my favorites of the past decade. I credit director Andy Muschetti for directing them to be real kids. These are foul mouthed kids who don't talk like the typical precocious Hollywood kids. We generally care for them and so there are stakes when Pennywise is threatening them.
The scares in this film are a lot of jump scares, which isn't my favorite, but they are mostly done well and earned. I would say there was just one other big studio film that did the jump scare better this past decade. The one scare that stands out to me in IT is when Ben is confronted in the basement of the library by a headless ghost carrying Easter eggs. I can't put my finger on quite what makes this scare so effective. I just think it's the anticipation and timing.
If you like horror films and you missed this film, for God's sake go watch this. Skip the sequel. It's complete garbage. Just watch this as a standalone horror film and you'll be fine.
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