IT: Chapter 1 Movie Review

IT has finally been unleashed upon us all and it is one of the best horror films in such a long time!

After spending years in development and having numerous writers and directors attached to the project we finally have a movie that the book deserves. I will go as far and say it is my best adaption of a Stephen King story. My other favourites are Stand By Me, Shawshank Redemption and The Mist.

  

I'm going to assume you are familiar with the story of IT either from reading the book or watching the TV movie from the 90's so I'm not going to go over the details of the story. This is the first of a two part movie and focuses solely on the Loser Club members when they are children. The movie is set in the 80's as appose to the 50's when the book is set and the next movie will be set in the present day moving it from the 80's when the Losers face IT again as adults.

They really have turned the horror up on this one, from the opening scene you realise that this is going to hold no punches, if it wasn't from the comedy relieve that comes mainly from Richie and Eddie this would have been one hell of a dark movie.

The whole cast are brilliant, some characters outshine others but I can't find fault with any of the performances. Now this can be seen as a double edged sword for the next chapter as the adults that have to play the same characters have a very hard act to follow.

IT Chapter 1 is going to be very successful at the box office and deservedly so. This is a great movie and the marketing campaign has been excellent. I know it must help to be promoting a character such as Pennywise who is already a household name, up there with Freddy, Jason and Michael but there wasn't any big name actors attached. I do hope this success leads to more big budget horror movies in the future or studios putting some good marketing behind some of the great indy movies that are made year after year.

IT: Chapter 1 proves you no longer have to be terrified of remakes apart from the fact that it's scary as fuck. I admit there has been many unnecessary remakes recently but when the movie is adapted from a book I always look forward to see how someone else can bring the pages to screen especially when it's a book I love. You will always have the saying that the movie isn't as good as the book and the same can be said about this version of IT but it's a much better adaptation then the previous outing.

I give IT: Chapter 1 5/5

Stephen King Overload

The last couple of months have been crazy with Stephen King related content so I thought I would gather together what I can in case you missed any of it.

First up is the Castle Rock TV series announcement.

Being developed by Bad Robot for Hulu not much is known about the series but judging by the trailer it gathers up a collection of characters from the Stephen King universe and dumps them into Castle Rock. Really not sure how the show is going to work, I did joke at the time that the plot was that bunch of kids break into Stephen King’s house and find all his manuscripts which have been locked up and when the kids open them it unleashes all the horrors inside on Castle Rock.

I’m not entirely sold with the little information that is known or if it’s something that needs to be done. How much do people want to see Pennywise go on his holidays to Castle Rock and meet up with Danny Torrance and Annie Wilkes who are also on their holidays there? But it’s definitely got my attention and I’m pretty sure I will be watching once it is released.

Something I am completely sold with is the new IT teaser trailer and it seems I’m not the only one with a record breaking 197 million views in 24 hours. I am very excited for this movie as a kid I found the original TV movie comical but as a adult I found the novel terrifying. I feel this is one remake that everyone who has read the book can agree is necessary. I will now avoid all following trailers and look forward to the actual movie released in September.

Sony have released a poster for the upcoming Dark Tower movie but still no footage has emerged. Unfortunately the release date has been push back to August. As much as I’m looking forward to this movie I feel Sony are struggling with how to market it. They need to do something soon just to ride the waves created by the IT trailer.

Other movies and series based on Stephen’s work to look out for this year is The Mist, Mr Mercedes, 1922 and Gerald’s Game.

Now if that’s not enough to look forward to we also have books being released this year. I’m trying my best to catch up and read everything King has released but he is not showing any signs in slowing down in the writing department meaning my to read list just keeps getting longer and longer.

First up is a novella written with Richard Chizmar set in Castle Rock called Gwendy’s Button Box. Later in the year Sleeping Beauties will be released which he co wrote with his son Owen King. Sleeping Beauties is also being adapted into a TV show.

Now you know what I do. If I have missed anything off then please let me know as I possibly don’t know.

Book Review: 11.22.63

11.22.63 by Stephen King
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

11.22.63 is by far the best book I have ever read, not just my best Stephen King book (who by the way is my favourite author) but the best book I have ever read.

The story follows recently divorced Jake Epping who is given the opportunity to go back in time to the year 1958 and is convinced to stay there to try and stop the assignation of JFK.

This book has everything to the point it's hard to label what genre to categorise it as. I feel I could recommend this book to anyone as there is something for everyone. Yes there is horror elements in it, not from a supernatural prospect but from real people doing horrible things. It's about time travel so there is a scifi element to it. There's a great love story embedded in it along with the thrill ride of can Jake really change the past. There is also something for Stephen King's constant readers as we get to meet up with some old friends is Derry.

This book I didn't want to end. I'm not sure what more I could have asked for from Stephen King but I just didn't want to be away from the world he created. I've only been to America once and that was to New York fairly recently yet after reading this book I am convinced I was there during the late fifties, early sixties

5/5

View all my reviews