It: Chapter One (2017)

One of the most talked about horror movies in 2017 was the most recent adaptation of Stephen King's "IT".

Well, it's 2018, and I'm going to be talking about it.

What? Too soon?

The small town of Derry, Maine has been plagued for centuries by strange disappearances of children. Unknown to the residents, something sleeps beneath them, waiting until it's time to feed again.

But it's waking up now... and only a group of teenagers called "The Losers" can save them...

The book it self is long. Really long. Which is why it had been done as a mini-series back in 1990, and has been split up into two movies- with this one being "Chapter One". The two movie breakdown is actually quite appropriate since the book is pretty much two stories. The first one is from the teenage perspective, while the second is from an adult perspective.

The characters in this chapter were really well done, and likeable. You come to sympathize with each of them, and relate to them in one way or another. Basically, you want The Losers to win. Pennywise was suitable creepy, sinister- while still be interesting as well.

I have to say that the acting was great. All the young stars brought life and depth to their characters, making them quite believable. Special note needs to be made of the performances of Sophia Lillas (Beverly), and Bill Skarsgard (IT/Pennywise). Both blew me away. Lillas, in my opinion, stole the movie in terms of The Losers. Just a really powerful, amazing performance. Skarsgard's Pennywise was true to the book, while being entirely unique from Tim Curry's famous performance. The look, movement, sound of Pennywise was just a fascinating portrait of nightmarish fun. And that smile... just... that smile...

Frankly, when it comes to Stephen King adaptations, I'm going to have to put this one near the top of my favorites along with "Misery" (1990), "Carrie" (2013), and "Pet Semetary" (1989). I'm putting "IT: Chapter One" into "The Good".

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