[Review] Crippling & Intense ‘IT’ Feeds On Our Fears!

Published

7 years ago

September 7, 2017

admin

The contemptuous clown Pennywise is stalking the sewers of the small-town Derry once again, and trust me, folks, you will be terrified. Sure, the miniseries is a classic and has left a mark that will stand the test of time with the generation the series was geared towards. However, this new version will none the less give you nightmares and make you laugh and want to become part of the “losers club.”

In my opinion, IT has been the most anticipated horror film of the year, and like a first date, I was very constrictive and cautious going in, I was afraid of the disappointment that occurs more often than I would like to think.

So, I kept my distance, didn’t see the trailer right away, stayed away from the many articles of speculation that floated through my social media feeds, and that was not an easy exercise. A few days before the viewing of the film I slowly opened up and allowing everything in.

As a child of the 80s’, I began to develop a taste for a high expectation of what I wanted to see on the silver screen, and Andy Muschietti amazingly captured the adolescent innocence from a decade once forgotten. IT had no problem tapping into the 80s nostalgia while staying faithful to the foundation of King’s novel as a coming-of-age story in a dangerous world.

The film possesses the same power and quality of cult classics like The Goonies and Stand By Me, this is the reason the film works very well in the 80s’ tradition. IT sure as hell doesn’t lack capturing the tradition of King’s Novel while delivering something new.

IT focuses on the childhood portions of King’s book and the film does an extraordinary job of allowing the viewer to fall head over heels for the characters in the movie, especially the kids of the “losers club.” Capturing the essence of each child’s backstory, we bare witness to dysfunctional family lives in every way possible.

From the overbearing “helicopter mother,” the abusive father, the family stricken with grief, and the latchkey kid the cast and crew capture not only the essence of the dysfunctional families but bring to light how brutal bullying can be and the safeguards that are not in existence to protect.

The children all have each other for support and comfort as these poor kids deal with horrible situations, but this allows the audience to grow closer to each one as we are taken on a journey through their everyday childhood traumas. The screenplay, co-written by Cary Fukunaga precisely knew what he was doing when writing the dialogue for these characters, filling the kids with F-bombs and your-momma jokes; driving the film to generate an unforgettable laughter from the audience as the scene shifts and the terror begins.

Bill Skarsgård’s approach to Pennywise is devastatingly brutal. Unpredictable, Pennywise can appear at any given time, and that is the uneasy part, playing off the kids worst fears, like a game. Personally, I cannot relinquish this shift shaping savage out from my mind, just the mear thought of the clown’s smile spooks me. Skarsgård’s Pennywise is the new terrifying face of horror for generations to come.

IT will not only create havoc amongst our characters but the audience as well, tapping into our fears. For me, the dark and wet basement scene were enough to generate elusive nightmares that plagued my mind for days after. (A spoiler free mini review, so I will not elaborate further). IT is the best big-screen King adaptation that we have had in quite some time.

This Monster will be the revival of the genre and I am sure will open the doors for things to come as our beloved horror films of the past once achieved. The film has something to offer every fan of cinema and achieves the greatness of horror. With twisted visual effects, IT will not stall on delivery.

Floating on by with a run time of 2 hours and 15 minutes, IT can be found showing in your local theatre beginning today and releasing nationwide on September 8th.

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Yay or Nay: What’s Good and Bad in Horror This Week

Published

20 hours ago

May 4, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Welcome to Yay or Nay a weekly mini post about what I think is good and bad news in the horror community written in bite-sized chunks.

Yay:

Mike Flanagan talking about directing the next chapter in the Exorcist trilogy. That might mean he saw the last one and realized there were two left and if he does anything well it’s draw out a story.

Yay:

To the announcement of a new IP-based film Mickey Vs Winnie. It’s fun to read comical hot takes from people who haven’t even seen the movie yet.

Nay:

The new Faces of Death reboot gets an R rating. It’s not really fair — Gen-Z should get an unrated version like past generations so they can question their mortality the same as the rest of us did.

Yay:

Russell Crowe is doing another possession movie. He’s quickly becoming another Nic Cage by saying yes to every script, bringing the magic back to B-movies, and more money into VOD.

Nay:

Putting The Crow back in theaters for its 30th anniversary. Re-releasing classic movies at the cinema to celebrate a milestone is perfectly fine, but doing so when the lead actor in that film was killed on set due to neglect is a cash grab of the worst kind.

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Lists

The Top-Searched Free Horror/Action Movies on Tubi This Week

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

The free streaming service Tubi is a great place to scroll when you’re unsure what to watch. They are not sponsored or affiliated with iHorror. Still, we really appreciate their library because it’s so robust and has many obscure horror movies so rare you can’t find them anywhere in the wild except, if you’re lucky, in a moist cardboard box at a yard sale. Other than Tubi, where else are you going to find Nightwish (1990), Spookies (1986), or The Power (1984)?

We take a look at the most searched horror titles on the platform this week, hopefully, to save you some time in your endeavor to find something free to watch on Tubi.

Interestingly at the top of the list is one of the most polarizing sequels ever made, the female-led Ghostbusters reboot from 2016. Perhaps viewers have seen the latest sequel Frozen Empire and are curious about this franchise anomaly. They will be happy to know it’s not as bad as some think and is genuinely funny in spots.

So take a look at the list below and tell us if you are interested in any of them this weekend.

1. Ghostbusters (2016)

Ghostbusters (2016)

An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.An otherworldly invasion of New York City assembles a pair of proton-packed paranormal enthusiasts, a nuclear engineer and a subway worker for battle.

2. Rampage

When a group of animals becomes vicious after a genetic experiment goes awry, a primatologist must find an antidote to avert a global catastrophe.

3. The Conjuring The Devil Made Me Do It

Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren uncover an occult conspiracy as they help a defendant argue that a demon forced him to commit murder.

4. Terrifier 2

After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County, where his next victims, a teenage girl and her brother, await.

5. Don’t Breathe

A group of teens breaks into a blind man’s home, thinking they’ll get away with the perfect crime but get more than they bargained for once inside.

6. The Conjuring 2

In one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, Lorraine and Ed Warren help a single mother of four in a house plagued by sinister spirits.

7. Child’s Play (1988)

A dying serial killer uses voodoo to transfer his soul into a Chucky doll which winds up in the hands of a boy who may be the doll’s next victim.

8. Jeepers Creepers 2

When their bus breaks down on a deserted road, a team of high school athletes discovers an opponent they cannot defeat and may not survive.

9. Jeepers Creepers

After making a horrific discovery in the basement of an old church, a pair of siblings find themselves the chosen prey of an indestructible force.

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News

Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors.

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie.

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time.

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.