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I Laughed, I Cheered, I Cried, But Did IT Die??


This review will contain spoilers for IT: Chapter 2.

Set 27 years after the events of Chapter 1, IT Chapter 2 focuses on the adult versions of the Loser's Club as they have to face the dark entity known as IT once more. However, is this a climactic finale filled with terror, or, more like King's novels, is the ending weak enough to almost ruin the entire story?

 For me, this film was incredible to watch. I was a huge fan of Bill Skarsgard's performance in the first film, and was delighted with the increased presence of the character. Once again, Pennywise is simultaneously charismatic and horrifying, especially when he meets with Vicky. This tender lure, much like Georgie in the first film, shows just how perfect IT's hunting techniques have become over the centuries.

 This film definitely has more humor than the first, with every loser having at least one good zinger in the film. Personally, the humor never felt forced or random, and greatly helped alleviate both tension and the overall mood of the film, as there are many darker scenes in this one. The film goes much more into the various atrocities of the times, including hate crimes, domestic abuse, suicide, along with being a horror film.

 One critique I've been reading online was the increased use of CGI in this picture, but I honestly was all for it. Using CGI allowed the forms IT takes to be more elaborate and intense, as well as utilize imagery typical of nightmare sequences in the reality of this story, such as clamoring hands, a slithering eyeball, and even a massive spider form (more on that later).

 A few of the major story arcs in this film came from added pieces of the story from the summer when the group had disbanded, where we learn that IT had continued to chase all of the members of the club, with IT's attacks much more menacing and powerful than when he took them on together, further illustrating the need to work together in the final battle. These added moments seemlessly transition between the adult and kid forms, and was a fantastic chance to see those phenominal child actors once again.

 Unlike the novel, the turtle Maturin does not actually make an appearance in the film, but there are enough turtle easter eggs as well as a name drop to ensure the connections to other works are still there. Additionally, the Ritual of Chuud does also arrive in the story, as the expected way to destroy IT. Despite the group's best efforts, the ritual fails, leading into the final fight, which featured IT's spider form, similar to the novel and the mini series. However, this version maintained Pennywise's boddy and head, kind of like a properly-rendered version of Dwane Johnson's Scorpion King from The Mummy franchise. This form is one of the largest and most intimidating forms IT takes in the film, along with the Deadlights pulsing and flashing behind IT, creating a strong, disorienting, and very intense final fight.

 Finally, I have to give credit to the closing moments of this film, as they definitely got an emotional response from me. Unlike the novel, the Losers get to keep their memories of the fight, including the death of Eddie, and each receives a copy of a letter from Stanley, who had committed suicide rather than returning for the final fight. In this letter, Stanley explains that he made the move he thought would best aid the team, which was to take himself off the board, afraid that his fear would lead to the group failing to stop IT. This added moment is accompanied by Richie re-carving some initials in a bridge from when he was a kid. Earlier in the film, we see him carve the "R+" as a kid, but the final initial wasn't shown until the end, where it was revealed that the other initial was an "E", revealing that Richie was not only secretly gay the whole time, but that he was in love with Eddie.

 All in all, this nearly 3-hour film is able to capture the horror, humor, and heart that the first one had, and is able to further develop each of these characters into a satisfying story. While some may not be fully satisfied with the ending, this is definitely a sequel well worth the return trip.
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