It: Chapter 2
(2019) Dir: Andrés Muschietti
This one was very disappointing. While, save for an excellent an chilling opening scene, the first It wasn’t particularly scary, it was enjoyable and featured a fun nostalgic feel, a solidly creepy performance from Bill Skasgaard and a likeable group of misfit kids. And after becoming the highest grossing R-rated horror of all time, there was obvious buzz for a sequel.
It was nearly 3 hours long and had no reason to be, the first 90 minutes is just them repeating the first movie. But as adults. The reason being that they have all forgotten about their time in Derry. Why like? Surely it would make for more concise storytelling and allow more introspective character work if they all remembered their time in Derry and were traumatised by it or trying to repress it. There’s nothing interesting about them all forgetting about it all.
It’s also not scary with an over reliance on CGI and no sense of dread or tension. The cast are fine, they’re not given much to work with. Bill Hader is trying but even he doesn’t seem to be sure what the point of his character is. There’s very little conflict between the group. Again, not helped by the fact most of them have inexplicable amnesia.
And then the final battle, Pennywise it seems could kill them at any time by simply opening his mouth but he’s too busy scaring them. And they can apparently turn any object into a weapon. Or seen as they’re adults they could just you know, buy guns and shoot him. They beat him up as children, why is this even an issue now that they are fully grown?
A very disappointing follow up to a solid first chapter.