By Geno McGahee
In 1990, horror history was made with the made for television horror film “IT” premiered and became an instant classic with fans of the genre. Adapted from Stephen King’s book of the same name, IT featured Pennywise the Clown, played by Tim Curry, and played so well that it was hard to imagine anyone else ever being able to be that monster in an acceptable and unique way. In 2017, IT returned with Bill Skarsgard taking the role of Pennywise and adding a new approach and darker character in a new adaptation that is just as good as the original and different enough to stand out.
Warner Bros. Home Entertainment has released IT on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray and Blu-ray combo pack along with DVD and Digital HD and is a must own for any horror fan and especially those that love the original. The story is much the same but the approach is much different with the restraints that the first had removed. This is not a family film or a film that strayed away from the gore. It’s an edgy and entertaining film bringing Pennywise back in a big way and leading to a much-anticipated sequel.
Bill (Jaeden Lieberher) has lost his younger brother, Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott), and suspects that something bad has happened to him. His parents have given up the search, but Bill still wants answers. He teams up with his friends, Ben (Jeremy Ray Taylor), Beverly (Sophia Lillis), Richie (Finn Wolfhard), Mike (Chosen Jacobs), Stanley (Wyatt Oleff) and Eddie (Jack Dylan Grazer), to investigate and to also see if they can figure out where all the other missing kids have gone.
The group starts to confide in each other and begin talking about Pennywise, the clown that has been tormenting them all and soon, the clown begins to come after them when they are together. Skarsgard is amazing in this role and the visuals in this film are very good and memorable. The rest of the cast is very well selected and do a great job, but I found myself constantly waiting to see Pennywise again. For those that were adamant that nobody could replace Tim Curry, Skarsgard proves that he can make a statement and make the character his own.
Along with Pennywise, the group has to deal with the town bully, Henry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton), and his group of misfit friends. In the updated version of IT, we learn more of Bowers’s life and what he contends with at home. His abusive father created this bully, which is often the case, and it was a good addition to this film. We also get a darker look at Bev’s father and it gets pretty uncomfortable as he gets too close to his daughter. The character development and writing is just spot on overall and the pacing is there with the intensity building and building until the climax of the film.
The presentation and bonus features on the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment release are great, including some deleted scenes, commentary and behind the scenes items. IT (2017) is what horror should be and covers all the bases with respect to the original. The film made huge profits at the cinemas and that is due to the word of mouth advertising because the film is that good. I cannot recommend IT enough. It’s easily one of the best horror films in the last ten years.
