‘IT Chapter Two’ warms the heart and scares the soul

The Hudsonian Student Newspaper Monday, September, 30Monday, September, 30 0 Comments Alexis, Derry, Film, funny, IT: Chapter 2, jumpscares, Losers Club, Maine, McCrea, movie, review, Scary, sequel, suspense

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By: Alexis McCrea

Staff writer

If you’ve ever been watching a heartwarming movie about friendship and thought, “oh, I’d like to be scared right now,” give in to the hype and see “It: Chapter 2.” The sequel to 2017s “It” finds the stars of the previous movie, Bill, Eddie, Richie, Mike, Ben, Stan and Beverly, 27 years later and brings them back home to the fictional town of Derry, Maine. Once there, the former “Losers Club” is forced to face everyone’s biggest fear, re-living middle school.

The Losers are brought back by the reappearance of the carnivorous, shape-shifting demonic clown, Pennywise, that stalks their town every 27 years. At Derry, the characters are once again exposed to their worst fears. Bill, losing his little brother, Eddie, sickness and losing control, Richie, his sexuality, Mike, his dead parents and being ostracised and Beverly, her abusive father.

The movie is not only scary, but fast paced, exciting, fun and really funny at points. If you have a second hand embarrassment filter, the part where Bill Hader’s character, Richie curses out a child in a Chinese restaurant is sure to make you laugh.

That is not to say “It: Chapter 2” is without fault. The ending is kind of cheesy, but the movie is so fun, it’s hard to care. The film does not stop moving from the moment it starts right up to the end.

Not only is the plot exciting and fast paced, but the visuals are like candy for the eyes. The CGI and special effects are fun and really scary. Even though there is heavy CGI use, I think it’s also balanced well with good old fashioned jumpscares and suspense.

What I like best is that “It: Chapter 2” does not shy away from anything. From Pennywise brutalising small children, to extreme man-to-man violence and the use of a huge gross out factor.

“It: Chapter 2” is more than just scary. The flashbacks to the Losers as children make you nostalgic. Remembering the days where the peak of romance to you was riding on the back pegs of someone’s bike, and your biggest fear was your first period, or you’re crush not liking you back. “It: Chapter 2,” along with a few of Stephen King’s other works, such as “Stand By Me,” captures the sweet awkwardness of pre-adolescents in such a romantic way, it almost makes you forget how terrible being 13 was. Of course, at that age none of us were fighting monster clowns. Hopefully.

So if you want to pee your pants, while also having your heart warmed, “It: Chapter 2” might be just the thing you need.