It Chapter Two

‘IT Chapter Two’ opens with a chilling crime scene in the sleepy American suburb of Derry that sets the stage for an action packed confrontation. Director Andy Muschietti and writer Gary Dauberman show us glimpses of the present-day situation of the members of the Losers Club. Except Mike (Isaiah Mustafa), who stayed back in Derry as the town librarian, all others have moved on to life in the city. They have struggled to put the past behind them until a phone call from Mike brings them back to where it all started.The film travels seamlessly between the past and the present, but for those who haven’t caught the original, connecting the dots might be difficult. That said, the flashback scenes featuring the young cast are undoubtedly the best. These scenes successfully merge terror and humour, such that you’re left wanting for more. This is mainly due to the top-notch performances by the young actors, each with distinct character sketches. Among the older lot, Jessica Chastain as Bev and James McAvoy as Bill are most impressive. The rest of the cast performs well, but in comparison with their childhood counterparts, their chemistry feels severely lacking.Meanwhile, the film’s antagonist Bill Skarsgård as the clown and its many forms is at his devilish best and never fails to send a chill down your spine. His scenes with the children are the most terrifying. The film constantly throws up jumpscares, some of them predictable yet scary. A bulk of the screenplay has a horror-house like feel, with remarkable special effects. However, some of the conflicts come off as repetitive as the film often tries to give the message of confronting the demons within, and overcoming our own fears. It does so with a highly graphic imagery that builds tension and terror at regular intervals. To sum 'It' up, there's a lot going on in this sequel that manages to engage you despite a complex narrative and an exhausting runtime of little less than three hours.