Theater Review by Yasmine Morris
In the terrifying cringiness of the 2017 film It, director Andrés Muschietti shows that coulrophobia isn’t the only fear one needs to be afraid of for the ultimate scare. Andrés Muschietti uses Stephen King’s 1986 literary creation, Pennywise (the clown), as a manifestation of everyone’s worst fears. This thriller will keep you at the edge of your seat.
It begins with showing the strong love between two brothers building up the suspense that something unbearable was going to take place. The tender bond is quickly broken and the audience is left shocked by the devastation of one of the main characters (Billy) losing his brother (George). Followed by the disappearances of many other children, the suspense mounts as the year goes on and the panic grows with the people of the community.
Pennywise, with his cunning attitude, childlike personality and way with kids, made him the perfect villain. His manipulative ways kept the audience wondering. It is no ordinary scary movie, the storyline isn’t just about a clown coming every 27 years using the fears of children to kill them. It addresses how in order to defeat an enemy you must get a team of people and create a community with them.
It is way beyond the typical jump out – scare conception ordinary horror films use to terrify the audience. Pennywise himself was more than a monster in the inside, on the outside he developed a permanent malicious grin, his dark white cracked skin and yellow snake eyes showed his evil presence, and his constant stutter followed by drool every time he had interactions with kids displayed his true intentions.
Andrés Muschietti developed a signature for Pennywise; it wasn’t only the chilling red balloon floating that lured kids his way, but the tv show that appeared every time he was brought up had a mind controlling aspect. Pennywise developed a way to control his victims, giving them a persuasive way of convincing the living to float too.
Pennywise was more than a creepy face in the dark. Stephen King developed this character as a true monster and that aspect played to par.
It was intense and full of surprises. If I had the choice, I would see this movie a thousand times more but I wish the movie would have covered the motivation behind Pennywise’s actions. I feel that the director had a reasoning behind not revealing too much about the villain’s history to create a reason for Pennywise to come back (Spoiler: sequel forthcoming). The director certainly fulfilled the purpose of the movie which was to scare and leave room for wondering about what will happen next. This junior journalist was definitely terrified, despite the corny and commercial aspects that aimed to lighten the mood. For horror enthusiasts, It is certainly worth the watch.
With editorial mentorship by Michael Domangue and Jared Hopkins, Junior Journalist Yasmine Morris reviewed It at the Broad Theater, in Mid-City, where it is currently showing through the end of the week. For tickets, visit www.TheBroadTheater.com