It’s intense. It’s creepy. It’s disturbing. It’s a tad overlong. Yes, IT Chapter Two is many things, but luckily, they are mostly good. You see, the goal of this film was not to top the 2017 phenomenon that was IT Chapter One (still the highest grossing horror movie of all time btw), but essentially, to not screw it up. And well, they succeeded - and then some. The craftsmanship here is once more top of the line with gorgeous cinematography and production design to be found throughout. The special FX team also deserve major kudos, as there are more than a handful of wonderfully executed CGI gross-out body horror / monster moments. The movie’s biggest asset however, as with the previous instalment, is the flawless casting. Everyone, from the adult “losers” to their kid counterparts, delivers with A+ performances in their respective roles. And while Skarsgård is once more pure nightmare fuel as ‘ol Pennywise, it’s perhaps Bill Hader’s turn as the wisecracking, yet troubled, Richie Tozier that steals the show. As for plot, it’s all fairly satisfying, albeit peppered with a few too many “jumps to the past.” Otherwise, each character is given more than enough room to let their personal journey unfold adequately. Of course, that also becomes a slight issue here, as there are LOTS of characters, and LOTS of stories to tell, thus making for a rather overlong viewing experience (we’re talking a little under 3 hours - so get comfy). The movie is also less scary this time around, mostly because we have already seen the monster clown’s tricks before. But trust me, it remains creepy as all hell, and you’ll find more than a few effective jump scares thrown in for good measure. So here’s the thing, while It: Chapter Two doesn’t best the first part, it no doubt builds on it for a super strong send-off.