“It Chapter Two” wants to be a grand finale. It mostly gets there, but the journey sags badly in the middle. The 2019 sequel picks up years after the Losers Club defeated Pennywise the Clown in Stephen King’s original novel. Now adults, they return to Derry to face the evil that never truly went away. The film runs over three hours, and that length shows in its pacing.
Trailer, via Warner Bros..
Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise
Bill Skarsgård steals the movie. His Pennywise is a terrifying force, a creature that shifts between clown and something far less human. He delivers lines with menace, and the film leans on him heavily to carry scenes that otherwise drag. His performance is the reason anyone watches the first hour.
The Losers Club cast is strong across the board. James McAvoy plays Bill, Isaiah Wright plays Richie, Jessica Chastain plays Beverly, and James Marsden plays Eddie. They bring genuine chemistry to a group that has spent decades apart. The adult versions of the characters feel like real people who once were friends, not actors reading lines.
The Length Problem
The film’s biggest issue is its refusal to cut fat. The runtime demands patience, and the middle section loses focus. Long stretches follow individual characters through mundane scenes that add little to the plot. The pacing suffers, and the tension built in the first hour fades.
The story jumps between timelines, showing the adult Losers as children and then returning to their present-day lives. This structure could work, but the transitions are choppy. Scenes meant to build dread often stall into quiet domestic drama. By the time the final act arrives, the payoff feels earned despite the wait.
Comparing the Two Parts
| Film | Runtime | Pace | Strength | Weakness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| It (2017) | 2 hours, 15 minutes | Tight | Atmosphere | Narrow scope |
| It Chapter Two (2019) | Over 3 hours | Slow in middle | Performances | Length |
The 2017 film set a high bar for horror atmosphere. It Chapter Two matches that in spots, especially when Skarsgård appears on screen. But the sequel’s ambition outstrips its execution. Where the earlier film stayed focused, this one wanders.
The film’s strongest moments come when it stops explaining and starts showing. The chase sequences, the confrontations, the final showdown with Pennywise all land with real weight. These scenes justify the length. The rest of the runtime feels like filler.
What Works Best
- Bill Skarsgård’s performance anchors the film.
- The adult Losers Club has real chemistry.
- The final act delivers on the setup.
-
The practical effects hold up well.
-
The middle section drags badly.
- Some character arcs feel underdeveloped.
- The pacing never fully recovers.
- The runtime demands too much patience.
The film’s best trick is its willingness to commit to its premise. Pennywise is a real threat, and the Losers Club treats him as one. That commitment carries the final stretch, even when the road to get there is bumpy.
The story’s message about facing childhood trauma as adults is handled with care. The Losers return to Derry not just to fight a monster, but to confront the fear they left behind. That theme grounds the horror in something personal, and it resonates even during the slower patches.
Final Word
It Chapter Two is a worthy successor to the 2017 film, but it struggles to sustain its own length. Skarsgård’s performance and the final act rescue it from mediocrity. The middle sections, however, test the audience’s patience.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
