Aero Pastle

This movie left me feeling regretful about turning on my TV. It delivered absolutely nothing on any front. Not only was it almost unwatchable because of the cringey and lazy dialogue, it managed to leave me both disappointed and uncomfortable. IT reinforces outdated and problematic gender stereotypes, perpetuates the sexualization of young girls, and delivers a lazy, uninspired narrative. The least it could have done was create a decent villain, but it couldn't even do that. First, let’s talk about the treatment of its only female character, Beverly Marsh. The film relies on tired tropes by reducing her to nothing more than a sexualized figure. She’s the “girl” of the group, and her character arc revolves around her being sexually harassed and objectified, which is framed as part of her “journey.” This trope of the pure, innocent girl needing protection from the predatory, more experienced boys is painfully outdated. Beverly’s character is expected to be both sexually desirable and emotionally burdened, as if her worth as a person is linked to how attractive the male characters find her. I know that myself and others are exhausted by this trope of the "pure" yet "desirable" girl whose entire persona revolves around her sexualization. The film also perpetuates an uncomfortable double standard when it comes to the portrayal of male and female sexuality. The boys joke about their sexual exploits, with no consequences, while Beverly is shamed or objectified by the same boys. It’s as if the film is telling us that male sexual expression is normal and humorous, while female sexuality is something to be mocked or feared. The subtle reinforcement of the "boys will be boys" trope is deeply damaging and not even reflective of real life. I don't know how long it has been since these writers have talked to or seen adolescents, but by the looks of the dialogue, it has been at least several decades. As for the scares, IT didn’t deliver anything memorable. Pennywise, the infamous clown, was supposed to be the film’s centerpiece, but instead of building genuine tension or fear, the film resorts to cheap jump scares and CGI-heavy sequences. There’s no real depth to the villain or any tangible stakes in the story. Pennywise feels more like a vehicle for shock value than a well-developed antagonist. I feel like I watched a completely different movie than everyone else. Perhaps it's for a different generation, but I cannot stand this sort of old-fashioned, outdated, lazy writing.