Twenty seven years after the Loser’s Club survived the terrors of Pennywise the Clown they have all moved on from Derry with the exception of Mike Hanlon (Isaiah Mustafa). With children going missing again Mike calls his now estranged friends back to finish off the job they thought they completed as children.

2017’s It was a brilliant film, featured in my 2017 – Year in Review and did well enough at the box office to allow it’s director Andy Muschietti to come back and finish the tale off. Thankfully what he delivers here not only does not disappoint, it is one of the best films you will see this year.

Taking on Stephen King’s mammoth (and brilliant) novel was no easy feat. The first film took the simple option of just telling us the kid’s story and drawing us all in. This sequel has the job of telling us the adult’s story whilst interweaving many flashbacks of their childhood in Derry and bringing us the knowledge of the supernatural origins of It. Taking his time with a 169 minute horror epic Muschietti absolutely nails it.

The updated cast are excellent. Jessica Chastain is Beverley, James McAvoy is Bill, Jay Ryan is Ben, James Ransome is Eddie, Andy Bean is Stanley, Isaiah Mustafa is Mike and the stand out is Bill Hader as Richie. Hader’s turn really shows how talented a comedic and dramatic actor he is (if you aren’t already, watch his brilliant TV show Barry). Whilst the excellent child cast returns as well for the many flashbacks (aided by the de-ageing special effects pioneered in Marvel films).

And then of course there is Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise the Clown. His performance is so blood curdling it is surely set to be one of the most iconic horror film villain portrayals for years to come.

The overall themes of needing to deal with your childhood traumas are deftly handled in and around the horror and every character gets the relevant screen time to flesh out their story. That is not to say the film makers haven’t had to significantly trim the books content or make changes that seem fitting for today’s times.

There are even cameos for Peter Bogdanovich and Stephen King that work really well in a special film.

Treat yourself to an It double bill as soon as you can!