[Review XN] IT CHAPTER TWO

"Things we wish we could leave behind. Whispers we wish we could silence. Nightmares we most want to wake up from. Memories we wish we could change. Secrets we feel like we have to keep, are the hardest to walk away from. "

You may not agree, but for me, It (2017) not only stands tall in the ranks of "the best adaptation of Stephen King's fiction prose" but also "the best horror film of all time". Yes, far beyond the miniser version which is fortunate to have a Curry Team who appears hideously behind the thick makeup of the life-pulling clown. There are many things that succeed under the handling of Andy Muschietti (Mama) from a solid line of actors where young players form ciamik chemistry, a barrage of terror from Pennywise damn that evokes the hair on the back of the neck, to the storytelling that inserts a sense of warmth making it easier for the audience to embed sympathy into the ranks character. Even if we are willing to explore it further, It is not just a horror dish that sells surprising jolts because there is quite deep talk related to childhood fears whether it be violence, abuse, or loneliness. A combination that is quite rare to find in scary shows these days, right? That is why I was made to fall in love with him and could not resist the urge to listen to his second half, It Chapter Two, which placed the focus of his narration on "The Losers Club" in adulthood. Judging from the high standards set by Muschietti in the first round, it was clear that the expectations accompanying helped to take shape, especially the line of players recruited was not playing around. Now the question is, can the "winning formula" applied by the predecessor still work when used by the sequel?

Taking storytelling in 2016 or 27 years after the events in the first film, It Chapter Two introduces us back to the personnel of "The Losers Club" who have now grown up, trying to get on with leaving Derry, and no longer connected to each other. The only personnel who still stand at home are Mike (Isaiah Mustafa) who works as a librarian. After witnessing a murder where red balloons fly, Mike immediately realizes that the demon clown they once defeated, Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard), hasn't really died yet and now has risen again to spread terror. Remembering his childhood promise that "The Losers Club" would unite in getting rid of Pennywise, Mike contacted his colleagues during his childhood, each of whom responded far from enthusiastic to learning this news. Although reluctant to return to Derry, Bill (James McAvoy), Beverly (Jessica Chastain), Richie (Bill Hader), Ben (Jay Ryan), and Eddie (James Ransone), finally agreed to Mike's request. The only person who refused the reunion invitation was Stanley (Andy Bean), who then preferred to end his life. And indeed, returning to Derry was not an easy decision for these five friends. Besides having to fight the violent Pennywise, they also have to face the childhood trauma that they have been trying to suppress, forget, or get rid of. The trauma is even more terrible than the clown in the eyes of some personnel.

Spanning the duration of up to 169 minutes, at first I was made to wonder, what would Chapter Chapter Two be talking about to the point that I felt the need to ask the audience for three hours of leisure time? For a moment, I was skeptical until I was reminded of the fact that the source material was more than 1000 pages thick. There are many things expressed by King, and it is apparent in the film. If the first half emphasizes childhood fears, It Chapter Two shifts the topic to issues of trauma, suffering, and depression due to past experiences. Each personnel of "The Losers Club" keep their inner struggles; Bill, who could not forgive himself for the death of his younger brother, Beverly who experienced domestic violence, Richie who kept her sexual orientation a secret, Ben who was unable to convey a tangible love to someone, and Eddie who had a serious anxiety disorder. In succession, Muschietti explained the efforts of these characters in dealing with their problems upon arrival at Derry. At first glance it sounds boring and protracted, but believe me, not at all. I just feel this film is so fleeting. In fact this kind of storytelling method is quite effective because it allows the audience to get to know each character better so that it raises affection for them. Supported by excellent performance from the ranks of the players - giving a standing ovation to the formidable Jessica Chastain and the hilarious Bill Hader - then it is not difficult for us to provide support to "The Losers Club" in making peace with the wound while throwing Pennywise from the face of the earth.

Since the main theme of It Chapter Two is no longer dwelling on "fear" but has shifted to "facing fear", certainly no longer surprising when the horror elements in this volume have decreased from the previous volume. Of course Bill Skarsgard still appears as a Pennywise terrible, especially in the initial appearance that floats homophobic issues and scenes under the audience seats, but its existence is not as threatening in It. By the filmmaker, It Chapter Two visualized tends to resemble the spectacle of adventure fantasy rather than horror ... and this is not something bad, even though the potential for disappointment is hard to avoid from those who long for a series of scary scenes throughout the duration. Even so, if you are willing to open up to the slightly different approach applied by Muschietti, I am pretty sure you will find a pleasant sensation when watching It Chapter Two, the speed of narration is rushed. There was excitement when following the strategy of the core characters to paralyze the villain, there were also lots of laughter that accompanied especially when Richie opened his mouth or fought with Eddie. The adult performers really foster chemistry as convincing as young players so that viewers can believe that they are the growth and development version of the characters in the first film. Because of the slick chemical bonds between them, I could not hold back tears when the film presents one or two emotional moments at the end of the duration. I had anticipated screaming, would be excited, and would laugh while watching It Chapter Two. But I really did not expect to be made mili mbrebes when watching it. What a surprise!

Trivia: The author of the novel, Stephen King, also appeared as a cameo here. Can anyone guess who he is becoming?

Outstanding (4/5)