"I am the eater of worlds."
--Pennywise, It: Chapter Two
It: Chapter One may not have been a frightening experience for many viewers, but it proved to be one of the most ambitious and well-executed horror films of all time, shattering expectations for child acting in the process. While It: Chapter Two does not have the same consistency of quality that is so prominent in its predecessor, the stellar performances, scattered revelations about Pennywise's nature, and sporadic but brutal killing scenes will almost certainly leave many fans of the first movie satisfied enough to enjoy the film.
At almost three hours, it rivals Avengers: Endgame in length, but most of the scenes truly do contribute something worthwhile to the overall structure of the movie. There are long stretches with relatively little action, and yet these periods develop onscreen confirmation of the fact that adult life can be just as terrifying as that of a child--for reasons that sometimes have nothing at all to do with Pennywise and his legion of illusions. Ultimately, It: Chapter Two is at its best when the relationships shared by the grown members of the Loser's Club are at the forefront.
Production Values
I often start the production values section by addressing the visuals and audio of a film (which are largely great here), but the strongest aspects of the production values here are definitely the writing and acting. The older members of the Loser's Club interact with an open intimacy and vulnerability that are missing from far too many adult friendships, all thanks to excellent acting on the part of each member of the adult cast. Bill Hader specifically stands out for a very comedic but sentimental performance, while James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, and the other adult actors very capably step into their own roles. McAvoy does not get the chance to display the same wide range that he does in Split and Glass, but he does not need to in order for his character to convey his guilt over the death of his brother and eventual acceptance of the matter.
The returning child actors likewise offer excellent performances that complement those of their adult counterparts very well. There is much to praise about the individual representations of the young Beverly, Bill, Ben, Eddie, and other kids, with the scenes that feature some or all of the young members of the Loser's Club tying into the present day struggle to stop Pennywise from ever killing again. An even greater sign of production talent, though, is the fact that the children and adult versions of each character are superb matches. The adults often physically look exactly like what one might expect the children to grow into and carry on the personalities already established in It: Chapter One. This consistency benefits the drama, but it also benefits the comedy.
Since the runtime of the movie has already been directly compared to that of Endgame, one of the only movies this year with a scope that eclipses that of this film, it is worth mentioning that It: Chapter Two handles its comedy far better than Endgame does. There is more genuine humor than many viewers might expect; nevertheless, it never overpowers the drama or urgency of the final attempt to kill Pennywise. Scenes that call solely for regret, despair, or sadness are left unravaged by attempts to make audience members laugh. Between Ready or Not, It: Chapter Two, and (to some extent) the reboot of Child's Play, 2019 has showcased some great examples of how to merge horror with comedy without having to pit one against the other!
Bill Skarsgard's Pennywise, as one might expect, deserves his own paragraph. His clown form is reserved for only a small handful of scenes, but the actor is still phenomenal when he does appear. The Loser's Club encounters alternate creatures more frequently than they do Pennywise himself, and it is unclear if these apparitions are other forms of "It" or merely illusions, but Pennywise is more vicious than in the first film when he does directly kill or attack people (especially children). One scene with a young girl is particularly effective at showing how he can manipulate kids into a state of vulnerability so that he can consume them, alluding to his conversation with Georgie at the beginning of It: Chapter One. Pennywise might not have a lot of time onscreen, but he is utilized very well nonetheless.
Story
Some spoilers are below!
As a new wave of Pennywise killings strikes the town of Derry, the only member of the Loser's Club that never left the area after childhood calls the ones that left the town, informing them that they need to return to confront "It." Since he has remained in Derry, he remembers the traumatic events of his childhood rather well, but the other members of the Loser's club experience a deep amnesia about their relationship with the town and with Pennywise. As the others return, they begin to recall the horrors they once faced, hoping to engage in a ritual that could kill "It."
Intellectual Content
Few films truly emphasize sensory illusions in a way that intentionally or unintentionally highlights how one can only use one's senses to prove that some sort of matter exists [1] and that one is perceiving a given set of stimuli. There is nothing more that one's senses can ultimately reveal about reality. Given the overt uses of grand illusions throughout the film, it was very fitting for It: Chapter Two to go beyond this and allow a failed attempt to kill Pennywise with a sharp object to affirm that belief does not dictate truth. Before the final confrontation, Beverly gives Eddie a weapon, telling him that it can kill monsters if he believes it can, but it does not do anything more than briefly slow Pennywise. Ultimately, it is truth that defeats Pennywise, not belief--a thematic point that is long overdue in the world of entertainment. Belief is worthless unless it aligns with reality, after all, and it is time for cinema to finally acknowledge this on a consistent basis.
Conclusion
It: Chapter Two will probably disappoint many viewers with its unusual length, but fans of the 2017 adaption willing to invest the time required will likely love the acting and continuation of the first half of the story. Either way, this does not seem to be the last competent movie based on a Stephen King novel for 2019: I eagerly await the release of Doctor Sleep, the sequel to The Shining, in November! Since Stephen King himself had a Stan Lee-like cameo in It: Chapter Two and since the novelizations of The Shining, Doctor Sleep, and It all occur in the same universe, the sequel to It might be using the cameo to foreshadow a larger cinematic universe of Stephen King screen adaptions. We will be able to find out fairly soon!
Content:
1. Violence: There are relatively few killings, but the occasional deaths of children often involve more viciousness than os typical of movie deaths. One scene shows dismembered bodies of children floating out of Derry's sewers.
2. Profanity: "Mild" to "strong" profanity is used throughout a great deal of the film.
3. Nudity: Blurred male nudity is shown in the background of an early scene. In another scene, a demonic apparition taking the form of an old, naked woman is shown.
[1]. https://thechristianrationalist.blogspot.com/2018/08/matter-is-not-illusion.html
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