By Christopher De Leon
“IT: Chapter 2” is a terrifying film that has a great amount to appreciate, but noticeable flaws make this ambitious sequel fall flat compared to its predecessor.
It proves, once again, how difficult it is for a director to successfully adapt a Stephen King novel.
Andy Muschietti’s project is a well-made film and intriguing experience for audiences.
The imagery that Muschietti provides creates an eerie and frightening atmosphere that leaves the audience with a feeling of dread as they see the protagonists constantly haunted by the daunting Pennywise the dancing clown.
Bill Skarsgard’s performance as Pennywise is exceptional as he provides an uncertainty to the character which makes the clown as scary as he is.
Pennywise’s splitting personality undoubtedly makes him one of the most iconic figures of modern horror.
Bill Hader’s performance as a much older Richie Tozier is also memorable, as he provides excellent comic relief while showing a side of his character that has matured since he was a child.
Overall, the film has its fair share of appealing characters and internal conflicts that definitely catch audiences’ attention.
The pacing of the film, however, was all over the place and could never quite find its footing despite the great cast and setting.
At certain points during the film, certain scenes drag on for too long or not long enough creating confusion on what’s really going on.
The middle of the film follows the protagonists setting on a new journey but the end result reveals nothing that viewers didn’t already know about them from the first film.
The film, in terms of visuals, is done well, as the audience feels the damage done to Pennywise’s victims. Fans of gore will appreciate the attention to detail and authentic feel to the violence.
At times, however, the gore also feels gratuitous, ill-advised and just put a cap on the film’s potential as a horror film.
The use of this type of violence took away from the overall fear that the first movie had and was not as nerve-racking.
The biggest problem with the film is how erratic the narrative is.
The use of flashbacks and recollections work well, as the audience gets to see their favorite characters as kids once more.
As adults, however, they aren’t nearly as enticing.
They lack cohesive characterizations or strong emotional connections.
This is ultimately the biggest disadvantage for the film.
Overall,“IT: Chapter 2” is not a bad film and is definitely worth seeing because of its great imagery and legitimate fear, but it should only be seen as a complementary piece to the previous film instead of an immersive new experience.