I went into this film with some high expectations. I haven't read the novel or seen the TV mini-series, but the trailer and the recent critical acclaim had me hyped up. So, guess what? I left the cinema a bit disappointed.
First at foremost - it is an alright film. I won't beat around the bush on that. But, without even knowing how faithful the adaptation is or how it compares to the mini-series, to me it just seemed liked a slightly creepier/gorier version of a kids supernatural adventure film. To me, this felt like a movie version of Stranger Things.
I guess I expected it to be quite a tense and scary ride, but there wasn't all that much intensity and the scares were a bit predictable. It certainly has creepy moments, but nothing that stuck with me. For comparison sake, films that have creeped me out in recent years have been Insidious and The Conjuring. The Descent is also one that comes to mind as being a horror ride for me.
What we get with IT is a fun film with the gang of kids working very well together. Their individual personalities really shine through and make for an enjoyable film experience. There are a lot of laughs, which perhaps takes away from the horror of the situation. IT himself is well portrayed, but after a while I felt the film relied too much on quick cuts and fast movements from him to be scary. I didn't feel the real menace of IT enough. This is what was missing for me. I wanted that suffocating dread. I want the stuff of nightmares to come alive. It didn't for me.
In the end though, the film is entertaining and well produced. The cast of kids really do make it work. I do look forward to Chapter II. For those that don't know, this story is a two part presentation, but Chapter I does resolve to the point it feels like a complete film. Chapter II will be from the Adult perspective.
3/5
