*****

Based on the hugely popular Stephen King novel of the same name which has been terrifying readers for decades, the 2017 imagining of ‘IT’ is deliciously creepy and genuinely unnerving.

Brilliantly directed by Andy Muschietti (Mama), there are all the typical scary movie tropes: within the first few minutes we’re introduced to a creepy house, there’s spooky music, innocent children, an unlit basement with a light that doesn’t switch on and some sinister looking statues.

Focusing on a group of pre-teens (‘Stranger Things’ fans will love this reboot), when children begin to disappear in the town of Derry, Maine, the heroes of the story are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries.

Swedish actor Bill Skarsgard plays the shapeshifting, death-obsessed villain effortlessly; deliciously creepy and hauntingly evil, he quickly wins over protagonist Bill’s younger brother Georgie in the opening scenes with temptations of popcorn and an offer of visiting the circus.

Though the creepy clown’s intentions are far more sinister; and things take a bloody, gruesome turn almost instantly...

Cue 90 minutes full of hands-over-your-mouth scares that are more than just jumpy. They’re genuinely frightening: a rare feeling compared to most paint-by-numbers horror movies of the last few years - and a million times more convincing than Muschietti’s last turn, ‘Mama’.

Though comedy and a young romance feature too, ‘IT’ is scarier than the entire ‘Paranormal Activity’ and ‘Insidious’ series’ put together. A real edge of your seat thriller.

‘IT’ is now showing at The Light Cinema in Wisbech. Visit https://wisbech.lightcinemas.co.uk/ for screening dates and times.