“It” is the new and highly-anticipated remake of Stephen King’s 1986 novel and 1990 miniseries of the same title.

Playing upon the common fear of clowns, the movie glues viewers to their seats with curiosity and terror. The film lives up to its older versions with excitement, emotion, and refreshing comedy. Although heavy on computer-engineered imagery (CGI), the movie paints a picture vivid enough for even the fearless to see.

“It” is craftily built on character rather than gore and surprise, making it clear that it was time for “It” to evolve. Released Sept. 8, 2017, the film continues to discharge its energy into theaters. “It” was made with one main goal: to terrify.

The movie is the story of “It,” a complex and demonic entity, flowing through a town in Maine. “It,” previously portrayed by Tim Curry and now Bill Skarsgård, takes on many shapes to feed on the fear and death of children, but mostly resides in the form of a killer clown. The film focuses on seven bullied kids, referred to as the “Losers’ Club.”

It is Pennywise the clown, also known as “It” and “Bob Gray,” who morphs into manifestations of his prey’s worst fear. The demon emerges from the sewer every 27 years, the same amount of time that has passed since the original film’s release.

Stephen King is an American author with a niche for horror, thrill, and the supernatural. King has written several renowned stories including “The Shining,” “Misery,” and “Carrie.” The idea of monsters and the power of fear is a reoccurring element in his stories. King said, “Monsters are real… They live inside us, and sometimes, they win.” “It“ takes a win not only for storytelling, but for a powerful transfer of emotions.

Earning a record-breaking $120 million in its debut week, “It” has become the top horror film pre-seller in history. The film is as enthralling and riveting as the original version. However, this year’s film contrasts its predecessor. Taking place in the 1950s, the miniseries can be considered more traditional. The three-hour series, similar to the new adaptation, is built on the terror of children. With harm to children as the foundation of the plot, it can be difficult to make tasteful. Although also heavy on CGI,”It“ (2017) exudes detail and dynamics, while the older version can be seen as boring or static. Great stories transform, and it is possible that every story has several stories within one. This is certainly true for King’s new film.

Stephen King fans can expect not only entertainment from the new “It,“ but also the urge to revisit past versions of the story. The successful film can still be seen in theaters, including the AMC Owings Mills 17. Buy a ticket and you’ll float too.