Directed by: Andy Muschietti

Written by: Gary Dauberman

Based on the novel “IT” by: Stephen King Cinematography: Checco Varese

Editor: Jason Ballentine

Cast: Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, James Mcavoy, Jay Ryan, Isaiah Mustafa, James Ransone, Bill Skarsgard, Jack Dylan Glazer, Finn Wolfhard, Sophia Lilis, Jaeden Martell, Xavier Dolan, Jess Weixler, Peter Bogdanovich 

Defeated by members of the Losers’ Club, the evil clown Pennywise returns 27 years later to terrorize the town of Derry, Maine, once again. Now adults, the childhood friends have long since gone their separate ways. But when people start disappearing, Mike Hanlon calls the others home for one final stand. Damaged by scars from the past, the united Losers must conquer their deepest fears to destroy the shape-shifting Pennywise — now more powerful than ever.

While the film is certainly entertaining. This is barely a film as it does love up to it’s Title. As it feels more a continuation or Second half. Rather then a movie of It‘s Own merits that could stand up without part one. 

As there is information to let us know about the characters and their motivations. It really more helps if you have seen the previous films

The film feels repetitive. As each of the characters faces their defeats or are terrorized individually. They each go through a horrifying adventure. Then the film moves onto the next character and this takes up a good amount of running time.

It also seems to still treat the character of like who stayed in town and is the only African American character with short change. He gets them all to come back and has theories but has little else to do. As he is haunted but we barely see him or what exactly he is haunted by as much. 

The stars are all here to play the Adult characters. They all do good with the characters though Bill Hader is the one who stands out the most and gives off the strongest impression. As well as a kind of unrequited love story and a deeply held secret that it seems no one else knows nor is really revealed to any of them.

While certain aspects are left out of the film from the book that serves as motivation stronger in the book but not in the movie. Bill’s wife is majorly Absent from the film and she plays a big part in the finale of the book. Though she seems Removed to give more romantic tension between the characters of Ben and Beverly

Though it is funny when the movie is filled with all these stars and one of the lesser-known acting leads played by Jay Ryan is actually the one who has the more traditional movie star looks and is supposed to be the grown-up version of the overweight character.

The film is more scary and terrifying then violent though the few times there is violence it is shocking especially when towards children who are dispatched in rather shocking yet similar ways.

The opening scene of the movie seems random And unneeded though does give the film. A certain ugly reality and informs us of it feeding off of fear, anger, and hatred. Though it still makes the opening hard to watch.

Director Andy Muschetti is certainly able and good with visuals but while the film feels rich but seems to lack a proper structure. So that whole it feels freewheeling and random and sticks to a story. It allows itself to jump around. Which is convenient but might confuse the audience.

There is no three-act structure and even when absent that this film tries to get off on atmosphere which gives a scary vibe that quickly becomes repetitive and even if it has art film Aspirations it would generally be about something. This film is supposed to be about endings. Though it stretches them out until it seems more about making cheap thrills then General quality entertainment. It feels like entertainment that tries to seek itself overwhelmingly towards agreeability and worse feels somewhat manipulative trying to make the audience get forget the points it is skipping. Instead of trying to make them even feel constantly in a challenge or a game. Forgetting This is a film and we are supposed to be watching a story.

It’s a continuation. It doesn’t feel like a film of it’s own. That can be enjoyed and understood independently. It needs the previous film to be a whole. So even as a sequel, it can’t stand up on it’s own two feet. So while entertaining it is never it’s own entity. No matter how it’s Presented or forced to be

In the end, this is a fun horror film to watch that whole gruesome still feels more mainstream, but luckily has stars to distrAct but also achieves the mood and scares it tries for.

Grade: B-