Jeff’s Top 13 Horror Films of 2017: #2

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IT 

Seven young outcasts in Derry, Maine, are about to face their worst nightmare -- an ancient, shape-shifting evil that emerges from the sewer every 27 years to prey on the town's children. Banding together over the course of one horrifying summer, the friends must overcome their own personal fears to battle the murderous, bloodthirsty clown known as Pennywise.

This is not the moment when I will compare the beloved 1990 mini-series with this “remake”. Maybe someday I will, after all, there are a lot of differences to consider and Tim Curry is just one of them. Really the only important one if I were to inject a bit of honesty. But, all that aside, 2017 was the year of the King adaptations and IT was the most anticipated, and most critically acclaimed of them all. Currently, it is the highest-grossing horror film and the third highest-grossing R-rated film of all-time (after Deadpool and The Matrix Reloaded). All with good reason. IT is very faithful to the source material, has a brilliant ensemble cast, and though it only covers half the story, is a complete tale of phobia and horror. This is a love letter to the master of written horror and Andy Muschietti doesn’t hold back on the homage. The time period of the younger losers club has changed making it much more appealing to the generation that came of age in the 80’s and allows us to share our nostalgia with our kids. IT is the Stranger Things of the theater. IT more than makes up for the mini-series failings while still paying homage even to that. The real issue to consider is the notorious Pennywise. I choose to accept that this film is a retelling of the source material in another universe. I have to because I love Tim Curry’s portrayal so much. But, Bill Skarsgård has brought a far more evil and sinister character to life that more than fits King’s character. This Pennywise has an awkward childlike innocence that can instantly change to monstrous evil. This is the way an evil clown looks and acts. This Pennywise is the definition of coulrophobia.

 Granted, we still have the adult side of the story to consider in 2019 before we can say the adaptation is complete. There’s also a lot of missing elements that die hards will agree need to be explored before the story can come to a close. We will be anxiously waiting for the clowns return.