Clowns. You either hate them or love them. The infamous movie “IT” has implanted a fear of clowns for many people. Originally released in 1986, the classic horror film has been revamped and remade to a more modern version.

The new version remained true to the original plot. In fact, one of the first scenes is identical to the original movie. However, I never expected to actually enjoy a scary movie.

As a person who is very easily scared and has only seen a rough total of 10 horror films, Stephen King’s “IT” blew me away. There were multiple times that I nearly jumped out of my seat, but there were also moments where I was laughing uncontrollably.

With a cast full of kids, it can be hard to tell how their acting performances will be. Jaeden Lieberher played the main character Billy, who was on the search for his missing brother Georgie. Children throughout their town of Derry have mysteriously gone missing, and Bill and his friend group decide to investigate the situation. As they do so, they all encounter a terrifying clown. The clown preys on the fear of children, and he uses their fears against them by shape shifting to what they are most afraid of.

While the main plot was focused and well executed, two of the child actors stole the show with their incredibly hilarious performances. Actor Finn Wolfhard as Richie, known for his appearance in hit Netflix original “Stranger Things,” had an endless amount of one liners that evened out the scare factor of the movie. Alongside Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer played Eddie who would rebuttal the “your mom” jokes from Richie. Arguably one of Eddie’s funniest moments was as he confronted his mom for giving him false medication. Screaming “These are gazebos,” rather than “placebos” resulted in an eruption of laughter in the theater.

The group of kids travel to a haunted house that they believe is the home of ‘it.’ As they explore, they must escape the hands of the clown on multiple occasions. To finish the movie, after the clown is no longer a burden for the kids, they form a pact that they will return to the cursed town if ‘it’ ever returns. Obviously hinting at a second part, I found myself eager and excited at the thought of another movie.

In regards to the portrayal of the clown himself, Bill Skarsgard made the character Penny Wise unforgettable. Covered in makeup and with the help of special effects, Skarsgard’s performance was believable. It was apparent that he was extremely committed to his character. After seeing him without the effects and makeup, his personality and looks were drastically different. It made his performance even more incredible. “IT” would not have been half as good as it was had they casted someone else as Penny Wise. Skarsgard did not disappoint the horror fanbase.

My standard for horror films has increased immensely due to the perfect collaboration of horror and humor. In addition, the cinematography and videography was impeccable and raised expectations for movies across the board. For people who have never seen the original movie “IT,” or for the ones who have, “IT” is undoubtedly worth the money to go see. It will cause a reevaluation on any previous horror movie you have ever seen, and will raise your expectations for other movies.