It: Chapter Two

MFC Review

It: Chapter Two (2019) was directed by Andrés Muschietti and features performances by James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader and Bill Skarsgård, among others. It is the sequel to It (2017), based on the novel of the same name by author Stephen King, and presents the definitive conclusion of the story about the terrifying clown Pennywise.

Enjoy other movies based on Stephen King stories here

Although It stands out as one of the best adaptations of Stephen King‘s work, It: Chapter Two lacks many of the elements that made its prequel such a great movie.

The first film excels in the presentation and construction of its characters, because it shows the influence that the clown Pennywise had in the development of each individual story. On the other hand, in an attempt to remain faithful to the original characters, It: Chapter Two shows little to none evolution on its protagonists and seems to overlook the 27 years that separate the stories of both films.

It: Chapter Two avoids delving into the more mature themes that are addressed in the second part of the original novel and, although it maintains the childish look with which it faces Pennywise during the first film, it fails to show a more adult look of the story, downplaying fear and making it closer to an adventure movie. All this, plus a weak script and cheesy dialogues, makes the almost 3-hour-long film to feel slow and, at times, boring.

Although It: Chapter Two does not seem to be at the same level of its predecessor, It remains a great film within the paranormal horror subgenre and doesn’t need its second part to tell a complete and exciting story.

Learn more about the subgenres of horror cinema here