"IT Chapter Two"

In probably one of the most anticipated horror sequels, I am happy to be doing a piece on it being fortunate enough to see it opening weekend as a late birthday treat (September 3rd) which is partly the reason for the lack of post recently among other commitments. One of Stephen King's most memorable novels for its cast of characters, its disturbing and sometimes controversial scenes that leave you shocked and a scary as hell clown that is not finished with a little town in Maine yet.

Since the summer of '89, the Losers Club has grown up and left behind the small town of Derry, Maine with the exception of Mike Hanlon (Isaiah Mustafa (adult) Chosen Jacobs (kid)). Never forgetting the events of that summer and the promise they all made, when Mike hears of an incident at the bridge just outside of the ongoing fair and sees a frightening message left in blood he knows after twenty-seven years IT (Pennywise the Dancing Clown that it likes to take the form as) (Bill Skarsgard) has returned to Derry and Mike must now make the call to reunite the gang.
One by one, each member is called having little to no memory of their past in Derry since they left and are now being struck with memories and dormant fears. Bill Denbrough (James McAvory (adult) Jaeden Martell (kid), a novelist working on the screenplay version of his book with his actress wife, Beverly Marsh (Jessica Chastain (adult) Sophia Lillis (kid)), is now married to a man much like her father was, Richie Torzier (Bill Hader (adult) Finn Wolfhard (kid)) has become a famous comedian, Ben Hanscom (Jay Ryan (adult) Jeremy Ray Taylor (kid)) has now lost weight and is a successful architect, Eddie Kaspbrak (James Ransone (adult) Jack Dylan Grazer (kid)) is a statistical analyst with a wife who is worrisome as his mother was and Stanley Uris (Andy Bean (adult) Wyatt Oleff (kid)) now married, but not willing to face his past makes a heartbreaking choice to keep him from returning to Derry.
As they return to their roots, they are forced to face their long forgotten memories of their time together and apart as well as the fears of Pennywise as he begins to get inside their heads terrifying them with their worst fears while continuing to hunt the children of Derry. Resistant at first, the group decides they have no choice but to face Pennywise again and destroy him once and for all with a native ritual Mike has gained from the local natives outside of town and gather tokens of their past to sacrifice to defeat Pennywise, but it will not come easy and the friends will find the key to defeating IT will come from standing as one and facing their fears head on.

Frighteningly amazing. I've had my fair share of reboots that were absolute disasters but this was one of the rare few that stand out and live up to the hype. While I still love the 1990 classic, this one I can honestly say stands in the same league as its original. With the terrifyingly creepy performance of Bill Skarsgard making Pennywise the stuff of nightmares along with the equally frightening special effects bringing the Losers Club's fears to life it will have you sleeping with the lights on. Along with a talented cast including that of James McAvory playing the determined yet guilt-ridden Bill Denbrough and having to relive the loss of his brother after so many years makes him a emotionally-relatable character to those who've known loss first hand. My only complaint about this film is that the writers exercised their liberties and stepped away from the book more than the original did while putting in some parts that I didn't feel were necessary to the storyline yet it didn't take away too much from the story. While I don't have any red balloons to hand out, I can give five G.M.Stars along with a terrifying skull for the first time ever a Cult Classic Skull for this horrifying masterpiece that is sure to become a classic.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💀
Green Mountain Stars and Cult Classic Skull

"IT Chapter Two" is currently only available in theaters, but if you wish to see it from the beginning "IT Chapter One" is available at Redbox and where movies are sold/streamed.