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Horror movies are powerful. On one side, we get to experience the fears we have kept at bay as growing children, on the other, it works on nostalgia which slowly resonates with fear inside. However, when the two are mixed, that’s probably where the truest and deepest reaction to fright comes out; and that’s exactly what ‘IT’ does.

While the film is already being hailed as ‘one of the scariest films ever’, here are our 5 reasons why ‘IT’ will probably make you jump out of your seat.

The story

 

While not every horror film manages to keep the screenplay so terrorizing that each moment makes you want to hide behind your popcorns, IT will probably make you want to just close your eyes from fear. It’s definitely a mammoth task to turn Stephen King’s 1100 page novel into a film, but this time around, it feels like justice has been served.

 

Jumpscares

 

Imagine just watching something as innocent as a child playing with a boat turning into a bloody massacre in a matter of seconds. That’s what IT does. It plays with the human psyche – literally and in the screenplay sense – making one scream from pure horror. It’s probably one of the only films out in the recent years that could make adults terrified to look towards the screen, and also probably a reason why it’s rated PG-18.

 

Playing on fear

 

In IT’s case, the film relies on so many different aspects of the horror genre, that as a film critic or even as an avid film watcher, it’s difficult to grasp onto what the film plays on. However, one thing’s for certain, the largest quality of the film is that it feeds on fear (once again literally too). If you don’t like clowns or creatures, steer away from the film right now.

 

Nostalgia

For anyone who has ever been a fan of Stephen King and his brilliant work, there’s a high chance you want to watch the film ASAP. The film is a definite ode to everything the writer stands for, and thus, it feels super close to the novel. Remember the 1990 mini-series that scared the living daylights out of people? Double it and add tons of nostalgia. Having said that, for people who think IT is a new phenomenon and are asking what happens next, here’s what Stephen King has to say to you.

 

Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise

 

For the uninitiated, Pennywise is the real name of ‘IT’ in the novel. Playing the role with perfection, Bill Skarsgård’s garish smile is enough to make people sweat from fear. The actor’s brilliant performance in the film stands out as one of the biggest reasons to why you should see the film. While we may not guarantee that you’ll end up scared from every scene in the film, Bill at IT will make you want to look twice for clowns and red balloons wherever you go.

 

 

 

 

Shahjehan Saleem

The author is Contributing Editor at Something Haute as well as a professor in the Media Sciences department at SZABIST, Karachi. Socio-cultural theories and geography fill up the rest of his time.