Director:  Andy Muschietti

Starring:  Bill Skarsgård, Jaeden Lieberher, Finn Wolfhard 

Running time: 135 minutes

8/10

After a rather disappointing summer of blockbusters, it seems a remake of a 90s made-for-TV horror story about a supernatural clown entity, was what the movie going public really wanted to see as five screens at the cinema were sold out for this film.

And after viewing it, it's easy to see why.

As far as horror goes. IT is a triumph.

The scares come thick and fast, there is an intense atmosphere throughout the whole film,the characters and actors are endearing and the plot is easy to follow.

We are in Derry, Maine, a favourite location for author Stephen King, where a series of murders bring a group of 12-year-old friends together to discover the horrific secret behind the town's terror.

Cue various encounters with Pennywise The Dancing Clown, who knows what really scares you, leading to the inevitable final confrontation between the proclaimed Loser's Gang and an evil from beyond time.

The original two-part TV mini-series captured the imagination of a viewing public back in 1990, so a remake 27 years later means there is a generation of people eager to see what the new version is like.

Worth noting that in the screenplay, Pennywise resurfaces every 27 years...a timely coincidence?

We know from the book and the TV adaptation that this film was always going to be in two-parts.

The kids encounter It, seemingly defeat It, then move on with their lives, until around 30 years later when they realise It's back, and having sworn a blood oath at the end of the first outing, regroup and return to face the ultimate evil again.

When this movie ends, an on screen caption reads "Chapter 1" so now we know that there is going to be a "Chapter 2" and if they have any savyy, New Line Cinema will get going on the next installment straight away.

It is a great horror film and looks set to become one of the biggest grossing movies of the year.