IT (2017)

I’m not very familiar with horror films, and it’s not really my favorite genre. But I recently watched IT. The movie highlighted how fear often stems from our minds or what others make us believe. For instance, Pennywise manipulates psychological trauma—like when a character who loses his brother is haunted by his brother’s ghost, lured by Pennywise to join him. IT reminded me of other psychological horror films like Black Swan and Misery, which similarly explore how fear and trauma play on our minds.

1. The settings/ themes for all such horror movies are mostly fear, death and the “unknown” and places associated with them are abandoned buildings, dark forests and foggy streets.
2. Mostly all the horror movies have somewhat the same visual techniques. However in IT, they use low-light settings which creates a tense or an opressive mood. It allows the audience to feel the threat of pennywise, just as the kids feel it. The pace adds up to this as well, slow camera movement and extented quiteness amplify suspense. Quick cuts and loud sounds emphasize attacks which intensifies the scene even more.
3. Pivotal point in IT –
Point 1: The Losers’( as the other high school kids called the main characters) First Encounter with Pennywise, the shot of the kids in the sewer or Pennywise’s appearance.
Description: This moment shows the real danger Pennywise poses. The kids’ fear and initial shock set the tone for their dynamic with the clown, underscoring the horror they’ll face throughout the film.
Point 2: Beverly’s Kidnapping – the scene showing Beverly in Pennywise’s lair.
Description: This event intensifies the stakes for the Losers’ Club. It signals a shift from passive fear to active confrontation, as the group decides to confront Pennywise together.
Point 3: Final Showdown in the Sewer. The Losers confronting Pennywise.
Description: This climax symbolizes the kids overcoming their individual fears to unite against a common evil. It’s both a moment of resolution for their trauma and a literal defeat of Pennywise (at least temporarily).

IT uses iconic horror techniques like eerie lighting, foreshadowing through symbols (red balloons), and visual emphasis on fear to create a world of suspense and dread. These techniques bring out the intensity of the Losers’ journey and their confrontation with Pennywise. Each encounter with Pennywise escalates the story, taking viewers on a journey from passive fear to empowerment, as the kids face their deepest fears together. This reinforces the message that courage and unity are essential to overcoming inner and external monsters.