Pennywise the Clown is a horror monster like no other.
Similar to the Boggart of Harry Potter, or Room 101 from the George Orwell classic 1984, the character’s a manifestation of your greatest fear(s), be it werewolves or giant, pregnant spiders. And in a few weeks, he – or, rather, It – will creep back into theaters once again for It: Chapter Two.
It’s looking like it’ll be one of the most successful horror films ever as well, far exceeding the box office haul of the first part – for the record, Chapter One did about $700 million worldwide. And to ensure that hype is as high as can be, Warner Bros. and New Line have now allowed for the social media reactions to go live. Unfortunately, though, they’re not terribly positive, with one person even calling it the “biggest disappointment of the year.” Ouch!
It: Chapter Two is the biggest disappointment of the year. A dull & bloated mess that spends too much time rehashing things from the first film. While there are a few good moments, the film ultimately lacks suspense and scares. The performances are also a mixed bag. #ITChapterTwo pic.twitter.com/3NlauZxj2f
— Scott Menzel (@ScottDMenzel) August 21, 2019
#ItChapterTwo has some excellent set pieces and a few great performances, but it's also got big problems. It's very contrived, the jokes get in the way of the scares and it relies too heavily on flashbacks about the kid Losers instead of developing the adult versions. pic.twitter.com/SwixiPU2De
— William Bibbiani (@WilliamBibbiani) August 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/CinemaSnopes/status/1163981116849762305
#ITChapterTwo is big and ambitious and can't *quite* handle the weight of its aspirations, but it's still a fine piece of heartfelt horror. The parts that work, work REALLY well and Bill Hader is every-bit the scene-stealing standout we all hoped he'd be.
— Haleigh Foutch (@HaleighFoutch) August 21, 2019
#ITChapterTwo is probably scarier than chapter one – more Pennywise imagery to haunt your dreams. But it also loses a lot of charm in the shift in focus from the coming of age to the now adult characters. At nearly 3 hours it feels long.
— /Film (@slashfilm) August 21, 2019
Thankfully, not everyone was so down on the film. Below, you’ll find a few reactions that are mostly positive, which leads us to believe the upcoming sequel may be a bit divisive when it lands in cinemas next month.
Saw #ITChapterTwo last week! It definitely lives up to the hype of the first one by delivering memorable scares and incredible visuals. The adult losers club’s chemistry was amazing. It’s scary af. pic.twitter.com/PK6R3AD1u4
— Dorian Parks @ SDCC (@DorianParksnRec) August 21, 2019
#ITChapterTwo is awesome. The adult cast is perfect and loved the way the film mixes in the old and new. I don't want to say too much because most of you are going to see it. Congrats to everyone that worked on it for a job well done. pic.twitter.com/b8yFZe3FzU
— Steven Weintraub (@colliderfrosty) August 21, 2019
Ultimately, I think people will struggle over which part they liked best, but I like to think of them both as one film and the second chapter delivers a satisfying and emotional conclusion to one of the best horror films ever made. #ITChapterTwo @joblocom
— Arctic Ninja (@arcticninjapaul) August 21, 2019
With a lengthy runtime of two hours and forty-nine minutes, It: Chapter Two will certainly have more than enough time to tell the rest of Stephen King’s sprawling horror epic, as the Losers’ Club reunite again to confront Pennywise once more. And even despite some of these harsh reactions, we can’t wait to see how the saga concludes.
But what about you? Has this first wave of social media reviews put you off of the sequel? Or are you still excited to head out to theaters on September 6th for another round of scares courtesy of Pennywise the Dancing Clown? As always, sound off in the usual place below.