With Hollywood witnessing its worst summer box office in over a decade, the 2017 adaptation of “It” devours audiences and unleashes a refreshingly-nostalgic nightmare of Stephen King’s horror-stopping 1986 novel and 1990 ABC television movie.

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Several teaser trailers, which were released throughout the summer, stirred a mixture of skepticism and excitement amongst fans of the “King of Horror” himself. However, within seven minutes, the crowded theater erupted in silence all at once, astounded by the horrifically-gruesome opener which set the tone for the remainder of the film.

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This year could not have been more perfect for the return of Pennywise, “The Dancing Clown,” who terrorizes the town of Derry every twenty-seven years to feed on the fear of children. However, this time, the 2017 adaptation introduces never-before-seen imagery of childhood trauma, boldly breaking the boundaries of gore and child mutilation.

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Director, Andres Muschietti, best known for his directing in 2013 horror film, “Mama,” respectfully brought Stephen King’s classic back to life to both an old and new generation of horror storytelling.  While King’s novel and film are introduced in the late 1950’s, Muschietti introduces his adaptation in the late 1980’s, possibly in an attempt to capture the decade that confirmed King’s stardom-stature with the 1986 novel that started it all. With ringer tees, station wagons, and old-school bike trailing, the aesthetics of the film gave a “Stranger Things,” vibe, completely disregarding the fact this isn’t the first time we have seen Finn Wolfhard, widely known as Mike Wheeler in the Netflix original series, running away from a supernatural entity.

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Wolfhard, who plays Richie, along with the remaining young cast of misfit teens, deliver a superb performance from start to finish. The casting could not have been more spot-on, particularly between the young actors and their counterpart, Pennywise, played by Bill Skarsgard. The youngest actor, Jackson Robert-Scott, who portrayed Georgie, justified the famous interaction first seen with Pennywise when his brother’s sailboat, “SS Georgie,” is sucked down a storm drain where the menacing clown lingers in the darkness waiting to snatch the young boy.

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Robert-Scott captured the pure innocence of a child’s first encounter with a stranger. Skarsgard introduces the child killer with an eerily-good demeanor, which intensifies the fear of which Georgie feels after sharing an uncomfortable dialogue with the clown. Let’s just say the scene that immediately follows has been tinkered a bit from the original film’s fate of Georgie. In other words, prepare for the unexpected.

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Georgie’s brother, Bill, played by Jaeden Lieberher, delivers an excellent performance with not only nailing his character’s speech impediment, but also portraying a desperate older brother in search of his missing brother, whom he sees in apparitions through the psychological paranoia in which Pennywise imposes on Bill and the rest of the children’s ultimate fears. The remainder of the “The Losers Club,” as the group of bullied outcasts refer to themselves, deliver raunchy humor throughout the film through foul language and adult-rated innuendo.

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The female leader of the group, Beverly, played by Sophia Lillis, delivers an outstanding performance, enforcing female empowerment amongst the group of teenage boys. As all the young teens face difficulties with their homelife, Beverly’s is deemed the darkest, showcasing the off-screen sexual abuse from her father which at times, oversteps even the most unsettling encounterments shown between Pennywise and the children.

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The original Pennywise was played by Tim Curry in the 1990 film, and while many did not like the idea of his classic character being revamped, it turned out to be a refreshing change.

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Curry’s Pennywise was more on the spectrum of “creepy” rather than the terrifying entity that Pennywise is described as in the traditional novel. It was as if Pennywise was truly just a man dressed up as a clown and, only until the moments of horror and dismay occurred, there was not much threat to be felt.

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It is fair to say that costumes, hair, and makeup were to blame as this was during a time when special effects were limited; however, acting style played a part in the impression that Pennywise gave off as well. Curry played a much more calculated and casual -while still insane- villain, but did not always instill fear as intended. Instead, Curry’s performance was mostly comical.

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Bill Skarsgard’s Pennywise, on the other hand, was much more within the realm of what Stephen King’s antagonist was meant to embody. Just the look of Skarsgard in full costume and makeup is enough to make anyone’s skin crawl. His white face makeup chips away at the skin while his unsettling rat-like smile only adds to his menacing stare. Every moment that Pennywise was on screen was a cringe-worthy experience, and even off-screen, created an allure of terror and anxiety. Skarsgard brought to life a truly sick and deranged clown that, on very few occasions, incited a chuckle.

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The 2017 adaptation of “It” was a true representation of the horrific psychological thrill of Stephen King’s original creation. Muschietti is prepared to bring Pennywise back with Chapter Two of “It,” as the end of the adaptation teased the viewers with, “Chapter One.” If the films stay true with its predecessor, the children should return as adults thirty years later for a second and final showdown with the menacing killer.