It (2017): A delightfully scary, humorous, well-acted, entertaining, unique, intense film! One of the best horror/King adaptations in a while!

At first, I was a little skeptical about seeing It due to the source material and the track record of most recent Stephen King adaptations. After watching It, I have to say this is one the best and unique horror films I've seen in recent memory. 

There is a lot to love about this movie. First off, the child actors all give great performances. They had powerful chemistry and engaging back-and-forth dialogue which really sold me on their friendship. I liked how each individual had a certain attribute (ex. stammering, bickering too much, being too nervous/picked on constantly) which added to their personalities and distinguished themselves in their so-called "Loser's Club". Even the actors portraying the bullies were great at showing a psychopathic nature targeting the Loser's Club and being just pure evil teenagers.

I also really loved how despite the fact that a clown is terrorizing their city, these characters are still kids and mature to face their fears as the film goes on. 

A major theme of It is fear, and that is where the clown Pennywise comes in, played excellently by Bill Skarsgard. Pennywise is very scary in this movie, especially during one really intense scene where the kids are using a projector. This clown is not only fearful, but he feeds on the fears of the main characters and creates chilling illusions that only the kids can see.

Most of the horror films that have come out recently usually contain teenagers/young adults making dumb decisions, leading up to a cheap jump-scare. However in this film, the scares work because the kids are genuinely facing their fears (loss of a family member, a scary painting, an abusive parent) and there is a proper buildup of tension. 

A lot of this is due to the smart writing and witty dialogue between both the kids and the villain Pennywise ("You'll float too.": one of the most memorable lines I've heard in a while). In the end, It was a surprising, entertaining, scary horror film with great performances from talented child actors and Bill Skarsgard, along with a heartfelt + powerful story. I definitely recommend It! :)