Rated R

Directed by Andy Muschietti

Written by Gary Dauberman

Cast: James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, and Bill Skarsgård  

It Chapter Two is based on the second half of Steven King’s iconic novel and takes place 27 years after the Losers Club first defeated Pennywise. As predicted, the demonic clown returns to prey on people’s fears in the town of Derry, Maine. Once people start to go missing, Mike Hanlon immediately takes note and quickly calls his fellow members of the Losers Club. Though most of them have now forgotten everything after growing up, they all head back to Derry to meet up with Mike. Upon their arrival, they come to a devastating realization that they must be the ones to kill Pennywise before it’s too late.

The horror genre has undoubtedly been on the rise for the last couple of years, with 2017’s It playing a major role in the resurgence. Not only was It praised by critics and audiences alike, but It also managed to become the highest-grossing R-rated horror film of all time. As one could imagine, the announcement of a sequel focusing on the Losers Club as adults made fans around the world excited. With an all-star cast to boot, the pressure was immense for this sequel to live up to the first movie’s insurmountable expectations. While an unfocused narrative and several other problems may make It Chapter Two inferior to the original, there are still numerous strengths in the filmmaking and acting departments that leave audiences with a decent sequel overall.

The good news about It Chapter Two is that the majority of the original film’s best qualities are still present. Andy Muschietti returns as the director and once again does an exceptional job here. Not only does Muschietti know to shoot the movie with the perfect amount of horror, but he also brings a subtle range of emotional weight to every moment. Even without the dialogue, his visuals tell the viewer exactly what they need to be feeling for every scene, which is a feat most directors tend to fall short of in their films. It also helps that Muschiett’s love and passion for the source material were contagious within all of the other behind-the-scenes departments. Whether it be from the subtle sound design, the elaborate yet claustrophobic production, or Benjamin Wallfisch’s score of whimsy and terror, It Chapter Two is one of those movies where it is easy to see everyone involved behind-the-camera loved what they were doing, and it shows immensely

With everyone off-screen doing extremely well, the cast on-screen thankfully expresses just as much enthusiasm. It would be an understatement to say that everyone in the entire cast deserves an Oscar for their performances. Anybody who has seen this film has been talking endlessly about Bill Hader and for good reason. Hader uses his comedic sensibilities that audiences love and mixes it in with an enormous amount of complexity and depth. Even though the character of Ritchie was not given the most amount of time in the original movie, Hader’s performance elevates the character to be one of the standouts of the film. Then again, when everyone else is also terrific, it becomes tricky trying to pick favorites. James McAvoy does great work as always, especially since he has some of the most emotional moments in the entire movie. Of course, none of these actors would have anything to work off if Bill Skarsgård was not as terrific and terrifying like he was before.

Considering how much It Chapter Two does well, it is simply disappointing that the worst part about this film is the most integral element: the story. The story does not have the same magic or flow that made the original movie so memorable. One of the biggest factors is that it is unfocused and bland in the plot structure. Most of the scenes happen in the same tedious pattern: one “loser” remembers his or her past, does or says something related to Pennywise, Pennywise gives them a scare, and lather rinse repeat. With all of these repetitive scenes blended together into one big package, it feels more like a random series of meandering events rather than an actual plot. Due to Chapter Two’s repetitive nature, that also makes the film feel bloated and for a three hour movie, that is a huge problem. There are moments in the story that are undoubtedly gripping, and the themes are still strong like they were before. However, none of those additions means much when the viewer is busier looking at their watch, waiting for it to be over. 

At the end of the day, is It Chapter Two a sequel that lives up to the insane anticipation of the original film? No, but the terrific cast and the undeniable effort from Muschietti and everyone else behind the scenes help to keep this follow-up afloat (no pun intended). It Chapter Two should be rated as a 6.5/10 film, and any fans of the first film should go and see the sequel if they have not done so already.

6.5/10