It Chapter Two (Review)
It Chapter Two Proves that Killer Clowns Never Go Out of Style.
It’s been a pretty banner year for Stephen King fans with Pet Sematary hitting theaters earlier this spring and Doctor Sleep waiting patiently for a late fall release. However, the film I’ve been looking forward to the most was It Chapter Two. The film is the follow up of 2017s retelling of the twisted horror novel featuring one of the most terrifying clowns of all time, Pennywise. Sure die-hard fans refused to shut up about Tim Curry’s portrayal of the iconic character but for my money, Bill Skarsgård’s take is truly the stuff of nightmares. That being said, the sequel is a solid film but doesn’t quite live up to the first installment.
In case you’re out of the loop, you can check out my review of the first It movie to get all caught up on what previously happened. This time around the losers reunite 27 years later when they realize that they failed to kill the otherworldly Pennywise (kids just aren’t that great at killing monsters, I guess). Now as adults, played by James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Jessica Chastain, Isiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, and Andy Bean, they return to their sleep home of Derry to finish the job. The only problem is that Pennywise is waiting for them and has held quite the grudge these past few years. Oh, and there aren’t really Youtube tutorials on how to kill a shapeshifting entity that is the embodiment of pure evil.
One of the first things you might notice about It: Chapter Two is that it has a runtime long enough to threaten Endgame. Clocking in at just shy of three hours, the film is probably the most terrifying when it comes to the sake of your bladder. That being said, no one can accuse It Chapter Two of dragging its feet. There are probably a few scenes that could have been cut, but none of them feel superfluous. They all go a long way in re-establishing the bond between the heroic losers and their terrifying struggle against Pennywise. Several times, the film drifts back to the past revealing scenes from that fateful summer when they first did battle with the demented clown that never appeared in the first film. It also has plenty of callbacks to some of the creepier elements as well. Still, the film covers so much, that at times it doesn’t feel like it gives key scenes the attention they deserve. Oddly enough, this incredibly long film moves at a remarkably brisk pace, which is definitely a bit of a downfall as it struggles to cover everything it wants even in its generous runtime.
It Chapter Two has a star-studded cast. McAvoy and Chastain are the clear A-listers and steer the film for the most part as the others fill in as various archetypes. However, it’s Bill Hader that really steals the show as the foul-mouthed comic relief. He’s not simply playing a vulgar buffoon though. Rather he’s a character that’s doing his best to help the only way he knows how, by making jokes to help raise spirits. Deep down though he’s harboring a secret that is eating him alive. While the movie never outright addresses it, it’s pretty clear from the context what that secret is, and it’s sad that Hader’s character feels like it’s so taboo even in 2016 (the period in which the film is set). As good as Hader is (and he’s been getting better and better since starring in HBO’s Barry) the rest of the cast has no trouble keeping up with him. All in all, the performances from all the actors are reliable and stable, allowing the audience to focus more on keeping up with everything else It Chapter Two throws at them.
At its core, It Chapter Two is a movie about, friendship, loss, and bullies. The first installment was a wonderfully told coming of age story set in the horror genre. The second tells us what happens after you “come of age.” It’s not easy growing up and it turns out adults have a lot of the same problems that kids do, it’s just a little less entertaining watching them deal with them. The film tries to remind us that even as we grow, deep down we’re still the same person we were as kids for better or worse. Sure, we can bury our past and try to be the person we always dreamed of, but at the end of the day, you are who you are. It’s a philosophy I don’t think I completely agree with, but it’s one that I can respect. Still, It Chapter Two gets a little heavy-handed when it comes to clinging to the past. So much so, that it feels like the characters (and actors) are simply doing impersonations of their younger selves, and that’s a little sad.
Even with the issues that It Chapter Two faces, I stand by my assessment that it is, in fact, a solid.film. It’s not going to knock any socks off, and the ending is a bit anticlimactic, but it’s still an enthralling watch. Lovers of the first It movie will regret not getting a chance to see the sequel on the big screen and horror fans, in general, will enjoy it for a number of reasons (including a pretty big Stephen King cameo). It’s not quite as good as the first one, but then again, horror sequels never are.
