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It Chapter Two

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General Review

Parent's Guide to It Chapter Two

It Chapter Two is a supernatural horror film that serves as the conclusion to the adaptation of Stephen King's iconic novel. Set 27 years after the events of the first film, it reunites the adult members of the Losers' Club as they return to their hometown of Derry, Maine, to confront the ancient, evil entity known as Pennywise the Dancing Clown. The narrative explores themes of trauma, memory, friendship, and overcoming fear as the protagonists grapple with their past and face terrifying manifestations of their deepest anxieties. Directed by Andy Muschietti, the movie aims to provide a definitive end to Pennywise's reign of terror. It is a visually intense and emotionally charged horror experience, targeting mature audiences who are familiar with the preceding installment and the broader horror genre.

Things to Consider

High5

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

The film explicitly features a prominent LGBTQ storyline involving one of the main characters, Richie Tozier, who grapples with his unrequited love for Eddie Kaspbrak. The movie opens with a brutal hate crime against a gay couple, showcasing physical violence and homophobic slurs. This content is central to character development and thematic elements, with the narrative presenting a pro-homosexual viewpoint.

The movie opens with two young gay men, Adrian Mellon and his boyfriend, being brutally attacked by homophobic bullies; Adrian is then thrown into a river where he is killed by Pennywise. Richie Tozier's adult storyline revolves around his hidden, unrequited homosexual love for Eddie Kaspbrak, which is a significant emotional anchor for his character throughout the film. Homophobic slurs like 'f-g' and 'f***ing fairies' are used by bullies in the film.

Violence

It Chapter Two contains extensive, graphic, and bloody violence throughout, including gruesome creature attacks, dismemberment, and implied acts of cannibalism. Both adults and children are victims, and the depiction of injuries is often explicit and disturbing. The film features scenes of domestic abuse and suicide.

Romance and Sexual Content

The movie includes crude sexual material, suggestive language, and brief nudity. A significant concern is the strong implication of child sexual abuse (incest) involving one of the main characters. Sexual jokes and references are made by characters, contributing to the crude nature of the content.

Profanity

The film features pervasive strong language, with an exceptionally high frequency of explicit curse words. This includes the repeated use of the F-word and S-word, as well as homophobic slurs and the misuse of religious terms. The language is often used aggressively and intensely throughout the dialogue.

Scary & Intense Content

As a horror film, It Chapter Two is extremely scary and intense, filled with jump scares, grotesque monster designs, and psychological torment. The movie features numerous life-threatening situations, graphic violence, and disturbing imagery designed to induce fear and distress in viewers. The film's prolonged runtime allows for ample space for these horrifying sequences.

Would these 5 concerns matter to your family?

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Medium4
Witchcraft & OccultSubstance UseDisrespect & RebellionAnti-Christian Themes

Additional Context

Best For Ages

Not recommended for viewers under 17 years old due to pervasive disturbing violent content and bloody images, strong sexual themes including implied abuse and crude humor, pervasive strong language, and intense scary sequences. While the MPAA rates it R, sources like Common Sense Media and the Australian Council on Children and the Media suggest that even those 15-17 may find it profoundly disturbing.

Good to Know

The film's runtime of approximately 165-169 minutes allows for prolonged exposure to its intense content. While 'It Chapter Two' continues the story from 'It Chapter One,' it significantly increases the intensity and graphic nature of violence, gore, and sexual themes, particularly with the explicit depiction of the homophobic hate crime and implied incestuous abuse. Parents should be aware that the overall tone is darker and more mature than its predecessor.

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