Upon viewing It (Chapter 1) in the cinema, I found myself questioning whether I’d stumbled into an alternate reality where computer-generated zombies were considered frightening. While the audience reacted with terror, I remained largely unmoved. Regardless of my personal feelings about the first film, its considerable success guaranteed a sequel, especially since it only covered half of the source material.
Twenty-seven years have elapsed since the Losers Club vanquished the malevolent clown, “It” (portrayed by Bill Skarsgård). Each member has since established a new life, relocating from their childhood home. All, that is, except for Mike (Isaiah Mustafa), who remained to observe. Following a brutal murder of a young, homosexual man, Mike quickly deduces that It has resurfaced. He summons the Losers Club, only to find their memories of their youthful encounters are fragmented. They soon realize the gravity of their situation as unsettling events begin to unfold upon their return. The time has come for a final confrontation with Pennywise.
Director Andrew Muschietti returns to the helm, following his direction of the highest-grossing R-rated horror film to date. His renewed confidence in replicating that success with the sequel was therefore unsurprising. I’ve read that the initial cut of It Chapter 2 exceeded four hours. This leads me to wonder what exactly was excised, as the theatrical release feels excessively comprehensive, bordering on drawn-out. Each character’s individual encounter with It is presented in its entirety, sequentially, rather than utilizing cross-cutting techniques. This approach raises questions about the inactivity of the other characters during these sequences and contributes to the film’s protracted and repetitive nature. Furthermore, the reliance on computer-animated ghouls and other horror tropes fails to elicit genuine fear. The sole truly frightening element, Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise, is significantly underutilized. Initially, I was skeptical about Bill Skarsgård’s assumption of the role, previously made iconic by Tim Curry. However, Skarsgård proves to be a highlight, with his brief six (6!) minutes of screen time representing the most chilling and compelling moments in It Chapter 2.
The casting of the adult Losers Club is astute, creating a believable sense of continuity from the first film. Bill Hader’s portrayal stands out, although his occasionally edgy humor can detract from the intended horror atmosphere. Jessica Chastain delivers a commendable performance, and James McAvoy offers a subtly nuanced interpretation. It was also interesting to see Isaiah “Old Spice” Mustafa in a more serious role beyond his well-known commercials.
While a fundamentally flawed film remains so regardless of technical presentation, a mediocre film can be elevated by a strong Ultra HD release. This is arguably the case with It Chapter 2. The visual fidelity is exceptional, particularly in a carnival scene early in the film, where individual light bulbs and vibrant colors are rendered with striking clarity. A scene beneath a bleacher featuring It is also noteworthy. The film effectively utilizes both light and darkness. The soundtrack, presented in Dolby Atmos, exhibits a predominantly front-heavy sound mix, with limited surround sound engagement. For a horror film, a more immersive and enveloping soundscape would have been preferable. The audio quality itself is satisfactory, with well-balanced levels and robust bass response. The packaging suggests a wealth of supplementary material; however, surprisingly, none was found on the disc. Only commentary tracks are included, and the documentaries are absent from both the UHD and BD discs. This omission may stem from the film’s considerable length fully occupying the disc capacity, potentially warranting an additional disc. Regardless, an apparent oversight has occurred.
The primary expectation of a horror film is, naturally, to be frightening. It Chapter 2, however, falls short in this regard. It functions more as a mildly unsettling thriller, eliciting, at best, a slight shiver. The film’s age restriction also seems somewhat incongruous, given its relative lack of intensely frightening content. The “R” rating in the USA likely stems more from the characters’ use of profanity. The rationale behind the fifteen-year age limit in Sweden is unclear. The opening amusement park scene is arguably the film’s most unsettling, yet its impact hardly justifies such a high age restriction, especially when compared to other films like Lara Croft, which features drowning and receives a lower rating.
Despite my criticisms, I found aspects of the film enjoyable. As previously stated, it functions more as a cozy, if lengthy, horror-tinged detective story, enhanced by an exceptional UHD presentation that is well worth experiencing. Therefore, I would still recommend It Chapter 2 on UHD 4K.
