Did IT Scare You?

Are you afraid of clowns?

While some of us are, Andy Muschietti has introduced a redeemed form of fear known as Pennywise, the Dancing Clown to the modern generation. Pennywise is a mythical entity disguising as a clown to lure children and eat them for its longevity or survival. The opening scene where little Georgie ran after his paper boat and ended up talking with Pennywise set the course of the movie. It also gave a conspicuous idea or vision to those who do not know or read the book of the famous Stephen King novel "IT". It takes and uses different forms of fears to easily capture the victims' attention, make them psychologically weak and let them fall into its trap. In Georgie's case, IT used the paper boat to unleash its demonic agenda while offering him a balloon. In Georgie's mind, the boat was his brother's unconditional love to him. And he was afraid losing it because Bill might get mad at him. The kid took the risk, stretched his arm to take it back, and a few seconds later, he had lost his right arm. After that, nobody heard of him again even his big brother, Bill. Only his blood spilled on the pavement was the memory of his terrifying death.

       A moment before Pennywise ripped off Georgie's arm

That's how Stephen King's killer clown works. It feeds on everyone's fear especially kids, Why children? Because they are the easiest targets and their innocence tastes better. Why does Pennywise often disguise as a clown? Because clowns induced joy, trust and comfort. Despite being kids, a bunch of kids known as the Loser Club must face and overcome their fears in order to defeat Pennywise. The group is comprised of seven members. They are Bill, Georgie's brother, Beverly, Richie, Eddie, Ben, Stan and Mike. Not only Pennywise was the group's burden but also a group of bullies led by Henry Bowers. And having a tough relationship with their parents seemed to be the most agitating burden. Imagine a parent who doesn't believe in you and accuses you of making things up. It is more terrifying than Pennywise.

   The Loser Club trying to discover IT's origin and shelter

The bond of the seven kids became stronger as each of them have had a horrifying encounter with the clown. They knew how to face it and became stronger when united. The Losers Club had setbacks and comebacks as a part of their friendship and crusade. The final setback happened after their first encounter with the clown in the well house. Eddie broke his arm. Beverly and Bill had an argument with the rest of the group after Bill encouraged everyone that they should be prepared next time. The rest were reluctant of coming back. Bill and Richie, the funniest Loser, confronted each other. Afterwards, Bev and Bill were only the remaining members of the Losers Club. Pennywise capitalized on this situation. They became weaker when they don't believe they can defeat the monster as a whole. Beverly, the rose of the group, was abducted by Pennywise after incapacitating his abusive father. The rose must be saved by the thorns. The Losers reunited for two purposes - save Bev and kill the fucking clown.

The boys trying to save Mike from Henry Bowers

Beverly, the heart of the group, planning her escape

Knowing its hideout, the Losers successfully trespassed the enemy lines despite Mike having an unexpected and brutal fight with Henry. His life was uncertain after falling into the well. While the boys were trying to find Beverly, Bev woke up in the den of the clown. Dizzy and stoked, she saw the missing kids, with decapitated bodies, floating in the air like a celestial body revolving around the sun. Pennywise emerged from somewhere and danced. Beverly saw a passage and ran towards it. Unfortunately, the clown was wiser and choked her. Its mouth gaped wider than its face and a shimmering light from its dreadful mouth shone on her face. She floated and her eyes turned to white.

 The floating kids producing a dreadful scene to the Club

It was Bill who first saw Beverly but decided to finish an unfinished business with IT disguising as Georgie. The other boys looked for Bev until they saw her in the air. They grabbed her out of the air. Ben kissed the girl knowing it would wake her up from a nightmare. Beverly woke up and recited the first few part of the poem made by Ben who had a crush on her. Then the place was filled with joy while they all breathed the breeze of fear and sadness. Georgie came out of nowhere and talked to Bill with a missing arm. His dress was the same but not the smile he wore when Bill made the paper boat. A bittersweet reunion for the brothers did not stop him from believing that it was all Pennywise. What took Bill so long? He wanted to take his brother home but in a different way. While the other kids approached him, he pointed Mike's gun on Georgie's forehead and shot him without a doubt. Georgie needed an everlasting peace so he gave him one.

 The Losers Club's first encounter with Pennywise

Pennywise had no choice but to kill them one by one. The desperation of the clown was the kids' ace as IT took forms of their fears. They were not afraid of it anymore. Instead, the clown was scared of them. Defeating Pennywise needed simplicity. They acknowledged the fact that courage always defeats fear and there's no way Pennywise can defeat theirs. For a meantime, the courage they had had defeated Pennywise knowing it would come back after 27 years. And they made a blood pact and swore they would face IT when it comes back and terrorizes the Derry town again. The Loser Club will not stop fighting and defeating IT. It's an oath to be kept and fulfilled.

 While cementing their hands with blood, they promise to return if IT comes back...

Are you still afraid of clowns after watching it? Probably not.  In reality, we sometimes become a Pennywise of our own. We spread fears to others because we don't want to be scared by them. Pennywise is a representation of those things we hate and fear such as a corrupt government, calamities, diseases and crimes. Let this Pennywise thing be removed from us. Yet becoming afraid is a part of growing up and being a human, facing our fears and overcoming them do matter the most. We face fears everyday and bearing a positive mind, we learn how to deal with them. Let's not wait every 27 years to be terrorized by a red balloon or Stan's ugly girl in the painting or even a clown in the sewer. Monsters and evils are not the real horrors in life. There are more terrifying things in the world that keep happening while we live. It is not a rocket science or a myth or a parallel universe that needs clearer explanation. Real things have more horrifying effects. Having a rough relationship with our parents is scarier than any horror fiction. Losing a Georgie or our beloved ones, suffering from an Alzheimer's disease or being left alone by the people whom we care the most are more horrifying than a horror movie. Fears live with us. In times like these, be a LOSER who always uses courage to beat a bunch of Pennywise.

THE GOOD THINGS ABOUT THE MOVIE

   Friendship is the core of the Loser's journey

It stays true to the source material. Most Stephen King adaptations were flops due to lack of coherence with the story. Even though the time frame took originally in the 50's as it was discussed in the book and the 1990 tv mini series, Muschietti had successfully turned the 80s into an atmosphere of mixed ambiances. Every important detail in the book was brilliantly explained. Aside from the presence of Pennywise, the inside jokes, friendships, love and profanity were really captivating. The pace of the story was properly executed. It is a movie that everyone can easily understand and relate to. It is more of a coming of age movie with horror elements. If you are a true blooded horror fan, you might get disappointed because it is composed of different genres. It is a breath of fresh air in the horror genre. It's a must watch movie with a Rotten's certified fresh rating (85%) and 8/10 IMDB score. It is probably one of the best movies in the last ten years. Stephen King admitted that there was a scene, not part of the book, scared him. Beware of the painting in the room. See it for yourself.

Stephen King, the author of IT

THE NOT SO GOOD ABOUT IT

Some CGIs were flat and unnecessary The Henry Bowers character was a bit terrible. He looks more psychotic than an annoying bully. Pennywise becomes less terrifying when it appears often and attacks its victim. The creepiest thing in the movie is its stare and they should have maximized it.

   Pennywise appearing from the projector screen

Score: 8.5/10 (Highly recommended)

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