“It: Chapter 2” clowns around with terrified viewers

It’s not a common occurrence to walk into a theater showing a horror movie and hear the audience members booming with laughter, despite having just screamed in terror and jumped out of their seats only a few moments before. However, those who are brave enough to view “It: Chapter 2” will experience just that and more, hopefully making it out of the theatre without being terrorized by Pennywise himself. 

Lead by an amazing cast – with actors such as James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, and Bill Hader to name a few – the sequel to the beloved 2017 film “It” follows the now grown-up children fans remember from the first film, who is forced to come back to Derry, ME after 27 years to take down their childhood enemy once and for all. While the plot drives the story along, the actors’ performances and the amazing characterization make it a worthwhile watch, enhancing the already entertaining script.

Despite the coming-of-age and humorous aspects, fans of the film are typically watching it for one thing: horror. “It: Chapter 2” delivers it without question, even more so than the 1990 or 2017 films. The special effects makeup is incredible, and the psychological horror will haunt viewers long after they leave the theater. 

Despite the overwhelming amount of praise, some aspects still fell short. The romantic elements, though a key point to the plot of the original film, the sequel, and the book, felt forced and out of place at times. This caused moments that were meant to be scary to come off as poorly written, despite the quality acting by the cast of the film. Other horror scenes also felt cheesy due to the writing of the story itself; however, this is not something that can be critiqued too much, as these scenes are present in the novel and serve as the final climax of the film.

“It: Chapter 2,” though cheesy at times, proves to be a satisfying conclusion for fans of the story due to its humorous script, star-studded cast, engaging plot and terrifying special effects. This film cannot stand on its own, however, and a viewing of the 2017 predecessor is a must for anyone hoping to enjoy “It: Chapter 2” this spooky season.

8/10

Grace Barnett // Centerspread Editor