It

Tropic Sprockets by Ian Brockway

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Finally, here is the first chapter of Stephen King’s “It”, brought to the screen by director Andy Muschietti ( Mama). On the page “It” is an epic novel about our fears and also also a meditation on adolescence and its bonds of friendship. Thankfully these aspects shine through in what makes for a surprisingly creepy but very touching film.

During a rainstorm in Derry, Maine (King’s fictional literary town), Georgie (Jackson Robert Scott) loses a paper boat which floats down a storm drain. Suddenly with a jolt, a pair of eyes flash in the darkness, almost with the supernatural allure of the Cheshire cat. It is Pennywise (Bill Skarsgaard) a vivid but demonic clown with sparkling white teeth. Georgie wants the boat but he doesn’t get it. Instead the clown promises a world of treats to him and the innocent boy gets dragged to his death, his arm ripped off.

Georgie’s older brother Bill (Jaeden Lieberher) is understandably restless and can’t let the tragedy go. He sees images of the clown wherever he goes. And so do some other children. Most heartfelt is Ben (Jake Sim), a chunky kid that no one notices except for Beverly (Sophia Lillis) who sincerely cares for him as an underdog who doesn’t fit in. All of these kids see the terrifying clown who takes the shape of whatever the children most fear. 

Events become so horrible that the kids are at a loss and form a Losers Club. Pennywise taints everything. In one scene, he is close at hand while Beverly’s father, (Steven Bogaert) makes a sexual advance upon her. In another scene, a bathroom becomes saturated with blood reminicent of “Carrie.”

While there are very good jolting scares (a sly, mocking and sarcastic clown who suddenly charges like a locomotive in the hope of devouring kids,) there are also some wonderful episodes of charisma shared between friends: The shy Ben wanting Beverly’s attention or the way in which the group looks at her, their only girl friend with a mix of spaced out lust and apprehension. 

Finn Wolfhard from “Stranger Things” co-stars as a foul mouthed kid who makes everyone laugh. By contrast there is a psychotic teen  (Nicolas Hamilton) who hates others and kills his policeman father.

Central to the story is the concept that the kids must stay unique and united in order to fight this strange circus monster. At one point, the kids do break apart for a time and the understanding is that they have joined the status quo and forgotten how to be giddy and innocent.

Above all though, this film actually feels like a Stephen King story: the pull of terror underneath sexual wanting, the isolation and frustration of being a teenager and the sound of rock music. These are all Stephen King trademarks and they are all here with as much satisfaction as  in “Stand By Me.”

While one may wonder what It actually is, suffice to say, the creature lives on fear and in this adaptation, it is among the very best of Stephen King’s adapted works. Don’t be afraid. It is both frightening and fun with a charge that represents the true spirit of Halloween.

Write Ian at ianfree1@yahoo.com