IT Chapter Two Review (2019)
8 / 10. We all still float. The same effective creepy atmosphere with great scares, but the flashbacks jar the momentum a little, with a less endearing adult Loser’s Club taking centre stage *SOME SPOILERS*
IT Chapter Two is the supernatural horror film sequel to 2017’s IT Chapter One, both based on the 1986 Stephen King book. The film is directed by Andy Muschietti with a screenplay by Gary Dauberman.
IT Chapter 2 begins with a brutal attack and murder at the Derry Fair in the present (where the book starts), kickstarting Mike to bring the Loser’s Club back together 27 years after their traumatic tussle with Pennywise. Brief updates are given on what Bill, Ben, Mike, Richie, Eddie, Beverley and Stan are doing now. The film then shifts between the present and 1988 flashbacks all the way through, leading to a final showdown with terrifying shapeshifting Pennywise …
Bill’s wife and Beverley’s husband have small parts in the update at the start of the film, removing their subplots, as in the book they turn up in Derry, but at already 3 hours long, there was obviously too much to fit in. It was a good decision to keep the Henry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton, then Teach Grant) subplot in though, he’s a despicably great character, now utterly insane.
The adult casting is accurate in appearance as the older Loser’s Club and they interact well, but they haven’t had as much time to unite. The younger cast in the flashbacks are much more authentic as a group of friends and I enjoyed these scenes more than the adult friendship parts. The flashbacks jar the momentum a little as the switch between past and present is often, with a less endearing adult Loser’s Club taking centre stage in the present.
This could be why there’s many scenes with the kids in Chapter Two, they have much better chemistry with one another. You can tell the flashback scenes are recently filmed though, as the kids are obviously older than the first part, but that works fine.
Bill’s delight at finding Silver, his beloved bike, in the antique shop in the present is a bit redundant, as his love of the bike was never really covered in Chapter One – although it is a great scene as it features a cameo from the master himself, Stephen King.
Bill Hader is good as adult Ritchie, but not as effortless as Finn Wolfhard is as young Ritchie. James Ransone was great, the most accurate portrayal of a grown-up version of his young counterpart. James McEvoy and Jessica Chastain are always good; however, their performances seemed a little forced at times. I like Jay Ryan but feel he’s not used to playing a clumsy geek.
Chapter Two had a lot of anticipation to live up to and events to fit in. It has the same effective creepy atmosphere with great scares. It also jumps from humorous straight to scary scenes which is no mean feat. The standout scary scene for me was Beverley re-visiting her childhood home, the funhouse scene was also unsettling.
There are many Easter eggs in Chapter Two, as there were in Chapter One. The mural in the alley where they take Ben after he’s attacked by Henry features a mural depicting the Bradley Gang shootout that is in the book, and there are turtles placed in some scenes, alluding to the inter-dimensional magical turtle who helps the Losers in the novel. IT’s true form in the book is referenced at the final battle.
Whilst not always a fan of big changes from source novels into screenplays, I like how things go with Beverley and Ben…
“January embers - my heart burns there too.”