Andy Muschietti's IT Chapter Two is a horror movie based on a Stephen King novel, but it's not as scary as the first movie, though it does have its fair share of horrifying moments. Directed by Muschietti, IT Chapter Two is based on King’s 1986 novel IT, just like 2017's IT Chapter One movie. Compared to the original film, IT Chapter Two plays out more like an epic drama rather than a traditional horror. So while there are jump scares, as is standard practice for blockbuster horror movies, it's a thrilling drama at its core.
Taking place 27 years after the events on IT Chapter One, The Losers’ Club members return to Derry, Maine, to confront their darkest fears. Pennywise the Clown awaits them, and so do more tragedies and shocking revelations as the IT story comes to an end. The main cast and characters return for IT Chapter Two, along with older versions portrayed by James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Hader, James Ransone, Andy Bean, Jay Ryan, and Isaiah Mustafa.
The MPAA has given IT Chapter Two an R rating (meaning nobody under 17 can see unsupervised) for "disturbing violent content and bloody images throughout, pervasive language, and some crude sexual material," while the BBFC has given it a 15 rating (meaning nobody under 15 will be admitted) for “strong gory violence, horror, language, discrimination.” But what does all that really mean? Here are the spoiler-free basics for IT Chapter Two.
How Terrifying Is IT Chapter Two?
Jump scares are a driving force in IT Chapter Two. Some are more blatant, while others are designed for a slow burn. The terror begins from the start, and the thrills may feel incredibly real, as Pennywise the Clown feeds off human fears. Meaning, the villain is a contrived identity, but the themes are most definitely steeped in traumatic childhood memories, and how they affect people as adults. Given the film’s 169-minute runtime, audiences will have moments to decompress. But IT Chapter Two is indeed designed to infiltrate the viewer’s subconscious via Pennywise the Clown.
How Violent Is IT Chapter Two?
IT Chapter Two is quite gruesome and aggressive with its violent sequences, even having people beaten to a pulp from the very start of the movie. Considering that it's R-rated, IT Chapter Two doesn't hold back with the blood and how Pennywise devours his victims, which itself may be quite disturbing for some viewers. If people are provoked by extended shots of rotting corpses, then IT Chapter Two may be a tough watch.
The Rest Of IT Chapter Two’s Rating: Swearing And Nudity
IT Chapter Two does include frequent use of the words “f**k” and “motherf**ker,” very much like the first movie did, even though that one was filled with children. While there’s no blatant nudity in IT Chapter Two, the film does have a brief shot of a naked older woman.