Penny For Your Wise.
135 Mins. Starring: Finn Wolfhard, Sofia Lillis, Jaeden Lieberher, Jack Dylan Grazer, Wyatt Oleff, Chosen Jacobs, Jeremy Ray Taylor, Owen Teague, Nicholas Hamilton & Bill Skarsgard. Director: Andy Muschietti.
'It' follows the chillingly cruel chapter of Stephen King's 1986 classic and is the first time this crazy clown has been sent in since the 1990 Tim Curry mini-series turned double disc movie. For those in the know that was 27 years ago. "It" being the tale as old as terror of Pennywise the clown. The horror harlequin more maddening than a pack of playing cards full of nothing but Jokers. Haunting the children of a sun sleepy small town of Derry, Maine's worst phobias and feeding off their fears and maybe even their limbs as food for their terrified thoughts. And that's just for starters. Just wait until the main course of parents in chapter 2. As 'It' has already been red nose lit for a sequel as this red balloon refuses to pop like how the weasel goes. As this is one legendary Stephen King crowning story this year that is worthy of the classic catalogue bookshelf just like Stanley Kubrick's version of 'The Shining' with "Heeeere's JOHNNY" himself, Jack Nicholson. Especially after Matthew McConaughey's Man In Black and Idris Elba's Gunslinger following adaptation of 'The Dark Tower' fell to critical decline and the fact they tried to cram seven books of material into one movie no longer than your average game of soccer. But this game of two halves that runs at a door stop, cinder block weight of one thousand and a hundred pages plus could be considered Stephen King's actual magnum opus complete with 'Carrie' blood showers and their own Easter Eggs...literally. And was that a Buick 8 in the neighbourhood driveway? Normally horror movies leave me at home. If there was another couch this writer could hide behind, behind the couch he was already cowering under he would. Scaredy-cat isn't even the word...maybe something that sounds like that. The last scary film this writer went to see was the Ethan Hawke finger trembling 'Sinister' (I'm the opposite of a sucker for old fashioned, shutter stuttering, haunting slide show projections in scary movies...so I'm in for a bloody treat) when he was trying to impress an old girlfriends parents. And judging on how he almost ran out of the cinema like cartoon characters off the edge of a cliff...hell of an impression. But right before Halloween we are talking about 'It' here (even if I left my souvenir Pennywise poster in the cinema because I was so creeped out. It'll probably end up on my bedroom wall following me as I wake up tonight I'm sure). The nightmare inducing bedtime story from the King of King's. So fear not it's only right I float too.
Stranger things have happened than this wuss of a writer making his way to the multiplex to see something that goes bump in the night like pop, pop, popping popcorn in foil left on the stovetop. And as a matter of fact this group of 'Goonies' couldn't be more 'Stranger Things' if they had a kid from 'Stranger Things' leading them on their trikes. Step forward Finn Wolfhard in Moranis bifocals. Looking the part but showing that as an actor he can change gears too. As his 'Stranger', more sensitive hero shifts to a cocky, mum joke a minute, "that's what she said" funny bone of this Losers Club. One you'll all want to join and stand by like Lost Boy vamps. There's Jaeden Lieberher's stutteringly brave and shy, sincere soul. Leading with heart, not humour. And Jack Dylan Grazer's best friend type, unsung hero. Always there even if his mum tries to pull him back by the clipped ear. Wyatt Oleff's anxiously afraid character is anything but the meek manner that comes bursting out too. Whilst Chosen Jacobs is the one overcoming it all without a family to call his own from his peers to bolt through the head racism. Jeremy Ray Taylor's strength of character too outweighs the physical appearance that has bullies giving him the truffle shuffle everytime they outrun him after school. His huge heart trying to catch that of our Molly Ringwald of this 'Breakfast Club' (complete with the best, in-joke easter egg of this movie) piece, the flame bob cropped Sofia Lillis. The girl with every boys eyes on her...even the ones she wouldn't want. As this young woman forced to grow up so fast has much more to deal with than some mean girls smearing a slut shaming reputation on her that isn't even remotely warranted. But sadly and more tragically comes from an abusive relationship with her father that somehow has been sickeningly twisted by her so-called friends. Sofia is superb in bringing out the bravery in the face of brutality in a real world much scarier than the monsters hiding below your bed. There's bullies in this school. From most likely to suck, Owen Teague and Nicholas Hamilton's aggressor acting, accented with angst aggravation. But the real brutes and bane of these kids lives look to be the parents who are in line for their own clowning soon. And you won't be able to wait until Pennywise gives these bullies a taste of their own medicine without a spoonful of sugar as the Loser Club is finally winning.
Insane clown posses don't get much more devilishly red hot than the one 'Rocky Horror' legend Tim Curry started with his two-part, T.V. movie picture show. Yet Stellan's son, Bill Skarsgard (last seen peroxiding the roots of Charlize Theron's 'Atomic Blonde') is perfect and the wise choice for this Penny from hell. From the bell in his bonnet to the rattle in his basketball player sneaker sized clown shoes. This jester is as purely psychotic as Heath Ledger's Joker. Bringing 'Dark Knights' to the lazy May Summer days of Derry, Maine as this killing joke who will give you more than just a penny for your thoughts if they are wise to your fears. The flower on his chest doesn't turn into a water pistol but he does morph into your deepest, darkest thoughts of your worse nightmare. Not that devil claws and demonic rows of teeth all the better to eat you with aren't Red Riding Hood versus the wolf scary enough (although this time our soul lost at paper boat roadside gutter sea wears a yellow raincoat hood). And if they don't get you his crumbling war-paint Joker make-up and pitch-fork blood smile contour will. Offset by his vintage Victorian, hallmark haunting clown costume get-up, 'Thriller' laughing final frame yellow eyes and the hair of the one clown responsibile for clogging over a billion arteries served. And just you wait until he talks, moves, or acts like the creppiest, crustiest bozo you've seen this side of the 80's since 'Uncle Buck' porch decked that drunk one that showed up after an all night bachelorette out the back of a mouse with Jack Daniels to entertain some kids. But from turning into portraits bleaker than Dorian Gray and showing young girls everywhere why they shouldn't wash all their hair down the sink, Bill's clowning around is brutally brilliant. Skarsgard sealing his puncuated Pennywise clown character that really is 'It' like a scar. I bet you want a red balloon now in the craziest, most creative marketing campaign that has seen these balloons pop up in the real world of late everywhere to everyones freaked out and fond dismay. This clown killer will scare the seven shades out of you as the winding Jack in the box tension cranks up. Nevermind the bejeebus. And 'Mama' director Andy Muschietti (who brought the American gothic out of the flame-haired Jessica Chastain in her black Bob, pale rocker riding riff) brings us the mother of all horror movies (a week before Jennifer Lawrence's same named, pre-Winter's bone, Darren Aronofsky haunted house and married life) from the forefather of this gruesome genre. And from running up the stairs and behind the back of the door horror reveals, to real world implications from the metaphors of standing up to who the real bullies are and what's really the scariest of them all (abusive parents and peers that make Pennywise the clown look like entertainment in comparison), this is more than what just bedroom door creakingly sneaks up behind you. There is method to all the madness here as this film chills your spine, tickles your rib-cage and even warms your heart as your hairs stand on end. Looking for a horror movie that holds more meaning than just what scary thing lies beneath? Then this is 'It'. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'IT (1980)', 'Stranger Things', 'The Dark Tower'.
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