“IT: Chapter Two” (R)
One of Stephen King’s most ambitious novels has finally been given its due with “IT: Chapter Two,” the monstrously thrilling second half to the first chapter of “IT” in 2017. Yes, it will feel long to some audience members with a 2-hour, 49-minute runtime (it’s more than a half-hour longer than the 2017 original), but for those enamored with the details of King’s source material, there’s plenty more story to revel in.
The great thing is, not only is this chapter told from the standpoint of the adult versions of The Losers’ Club, it melds in many more pages from the stories of the young Losers in flashback, which naturally involves more nightmare scenarios with the ghoulish Pennywise the Dancing Clown.
“IT: Chapter Two” picks up where the 2017 film left off in 1989, where a group of adolescent outcasts – after they seemingly defeated Pennywise – make a blood oath to return to their hometown of Derry, Maine, and reunite to fight the embodiment of evil once again should he resurface. Just as the Pennywise legend foretold, the demented clown returns to Derry and begins to claim more victims 27 years later in 2016, and its up to traumatized adults to not only muster up the courage to stand united in the hometown they left behind, but carry out a tribal ritual that will rid their town of the creature they call IT once and for all.
Starring an impressive cast almost entirely made of young teens in the 2017 film, “IT: Chapter Two” is twice as good from an acting standpoint, as we not only get the adult versions of the Losers’ Club (including Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy and Bill Hader), the young cast returns as well in flashback scenes that expand their storylines. As for Pennywise, Bill Skarsgard is back and even more frightening than the original, appearing in not only creepy clown form (which is scary enough), but as an assortment of nightmare-inducing creatures that will make you jump, squirm, turn away in disgust and laugh at the same time. It’s a howling great time and bloody brilliant follow-up to the 2017 blockbuster.
Lammometer: 8 (out of 10)
Tim Lammers reviews movies weekly for “The KQ92 Morning Show,” WCCO Radio, WJON-AM, KLZZ-FM, “The Tom Barnard Podcast” and “The BS Show” with Bob Sansevere. On TV, Tim has made hundreds of guest appearances on “KARE 11 News at 11” (NBC).
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