EMBODIMENT OF FEAR

Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” But what if that fear was a demented, child-eating, shape-shifting, killer clown that is hell-bent on devouring you in one bite? Well, look no further because Pennywise the clown, played by Bill Skarsgård, returns as the manifestation of fear in Andy Muschietti’s “It Chapter Two.” The terrifying sequel to “It” hit theaters last Friday fully loaded, continuing the story of Pennywise the clown and the Losers Club attempt to stop him.

Our favorite band of losers promised to come back if Pennywise ever returned to their hometown of Derry, Maine in the conclusion of “It.” And sure enough, Mike Hanlon, played by Isaiah Mustafa and Chosen Jacobs, informs his childhood friends that the man-eating clown has returned, ready to wreak havoc on the town of Derry once more. With Jaeden Martell and James McAvoy as Bill Denbrough, Jessica Chastain and Sophia Lillis as Beverly Marsh, Finn Wolfhard and Bill Hader as Richie Tozier, Jeremy Ray Taylor and Jay Ryan as Ben Hanscom, James Ransone and Jack Dylan Grazer as Eddie Kaspbrak and finally Andy Bean and Wyatt Oleff as Stanley Uris, the original cast from “It” returns along with a new star-studded cast that play the grown-up versions of the Losers Club.

TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT

“It Chapter Two” was hyped to be one of the biggest films to open the fall movie season. However, its hype did not quite reach its mark. “It Chapter Two” was long and almost identical to the plot of the first film. In spite of a new adult cast playing the members of the Losers Club, each character still relived the same fears from the first movie. 

The disappointing sequel forced members of the Losers Club to face their fears once more in order to defeat Pennywise. The group had to once again realize that the key to defeating Pennywise laid in overcoming their fears which he fed off of. Though the theme of “making your fears smaller” was identical in both films, it was helpful to see it played out in an adult’s perspective instead of a teenager’s.

ALL-STAR ACTORS DELIVER

Despite the repetitive plot, the acting from the adult members of the Losers Club was refreshing and superb, saving this blockbuster film. Hader excels in his performance, delivering the perfect blend of comic relief and drama. Meanwhile, Chastain and McAvoy deliver once again, adding to their already successful careers. But yet again, Skarsgård’s performance as Pennywise steals the audience with his chilling rendition of the killer clown.

“It Chapter Two” may not have lived up to its full potential but it does bring the story full circle in a satisfying way. The main message of the film succeeded at getting its point across that fear is not meant to rule a person’s life. Although the film has many flaws, it is still worth seeing in theaters because of the terrific jump scares and wonderful cinematography. “It Chapter Two’s” biggest letdown is its mimicked plot, but it is still a pleasing end to the chilling series.