acid reflects

Traumatizing, but ultimately a satisfying end to the horror in Derry.

The Losers Club return to Derry, Maine 27 years after the encounter with Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) to put an end to the horror.

The good: the wonky narrative is held spectacularly tight by sympathetic performances by both grown-up and young Losers Club actors – comedian Bill Hader in particular, who handles the swing from nervous humor to heartfelt drama with proper weight. The kids? We only wish they could stay like that, always.

Also, at best, the film ruminates on how children deal with terror in different ways (to a lesser extent than the spirit-shattering evil of the book) – but the film’s clever transitions between past and present create a heartbreaking (almost bittersweet) afterthought on how these children managed to survive the trauma.

Also, nightmare-inducing grotesque creature designs that’s a mashup of the best of The Thing with the best of Jeepers Creepers. However, this can also count in The Bad, because The Thing and Jeepers Creepers.

The bad: jump scares as jump scares. The most horrific scene actually doesn’t involve Pennywise, but a hate crime that opens the movie. The sound and score. Because in 2019, too much scoring can literally give earaches. The fact that this film can’t have its full effect and story without the first film.

And that traumatizing running time just to make time for big set pieces that don’t necessarily pay off in equal measure could use at least ten minutes off. You’ll be really glad it ends.

Rated R16.
Trailer here: https://youtu.be/50A8q7Im9bQ
Photos and trailer link from Warner Bros. Pictures
Based on the novel by Stephen King
Director: Andy Muschietti