Good morning, House of Madness residents:
I grew up in a small town, and there's nothing quite like it, especially when you compare small-town life to that of life in the big city. Things seem to happen in slow motion, and you're able to fully appreciate the simpler things as they're happening, rather than heeding to the chaos and ferocity everyday existence in the city pours down your throat at the speed of light. Riding your bicycle across town to hang out with your friends doing God knows what until God knows when, while your parents go about their everyday lives without a second thought about your whereabouts, as long as you're home for dinner. Just make sure you're not on someone else's menu.
Derry is just your average, everyday blue collar town where folks work hard, raise their average, everyday children, go to sleep, and then get up the next day to do it all over again. Everyone knows everyone, and if you happen to do something out of the norm, or go and do something foolish, it will be mere minutes until your lapse of judgement is known all over town, spreading like a wild rash on a burning crotch of overzealous desire. Something strange is going on in Derry, however, and it's not the sort of strange that is catching the eyes of the adults, but is more than grabbing the attention of the children that flood the streets, only there seems to be less and less of them as the days slowly churn by. Cries from lost friends can be heard through the water pipes, and sensations of something sinister haunt not just dreams, but seemingly reality, and children are left contemplating how to decipher one from the other, until a trip to the local movie theatre leaves no more room for doubt.....or sanity.
Other than the odd CGI hiccup and some unfortunately questionable child acting, "IT: Welcome to Derry" gets off to a strong-ish start. If you're expecting an immediate homage to your old pal Pennywise, you will just have to be patient, but the table is certainly being set to deliver a fantastic feast of clownish delights. Buckle up, folks, this could be a fun ride.
Madness Meter: 7.2/10
NB
