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Our take
A full-blown horror film about seven kids hunted by a shape-shifting monster, this one barely pauses for breath. There are constant jump scares and grotesque images, a young child killed in the opening, bloody attacks, and a clown built to terrify. On top of the horror, the kids swear heavily, endure brutal bullying, and one girl lives with a disturbing, predatory father. Intense and genuinely frightening, so hold it for older teens and stay nearby if you can.
Uplifting themes
Beneath the horror, the kids discover that facing their fears together beats facing them alone, and loyalty to friends is what pulls them through. Their found-family bond is genuinely warm The outcast kids defend one another and grow braver as a group, even as they swear, fight, and make some reckless choices. Their fierce loyalty is the part worth holding up
Story (may spoil tone)
In a small town in Maine, seven children known as The Losers Club come face to face with life problems, bullies and a monster that takes the shape of a clown called Pennywise.
What we flagged
Details
Violence Apart from the monster, a gang of older kids beats, cuts, and terrorise…
Apart from the monster, a gang of older kids beats, cuts, and terrorises the younger ones, while the creature strikes in sudden, savage bursts. The fights feel cruel and personal, with real injuries and a knife brought into the mix
Language The kids swear a great deal, flinging the f-word and s-word around cons…
The kids swear a great deal, flinging the f-word and s-word around constantly alongside crude insults. That salty back-and-forth is a big part of how they talk to one another
Sex / nudity Teen innuendo, cruel rumours about one girl's reputation, a first-kiss…
Teen innuendo, cruel rumours about one girl's reputation, a first-kiss moment, and jokes about underwear and birth control all turn up. It all stays at talk and awkward adolescent beats, with nothing explicit on screen
Drugs / alcohol Cigarettes crop up here and there, and one adult drinks over the course…
Cigarettes crop up here and there, and one adult drinks over the course of the story. It stays minor colour at the edges and is easy to miss next to all the horror
Frightening The whole film is built to frighten, with a predatory clown, a barrage…
The whole film is built to frighten, with a predatory clown, a barrage of jump scares, and grotesque, nightmarish visions aimed straight at childhood fears. The dread almost never eases, and several images are genuinely disturbing
Sexual violence One girl's father is quietly menacing in a way that reads as sexual abu…
One girl's father is quietly menacing in a way that reads as sexual abuse, through uncomfortable questions and unwanted closeness. Nothing is shown on screen, yet the threat hangs heavily over every one of her scenes
Child peril / abuse From the very first scene, where a little boy is killed, children are t…
From the very first scene, where a little boy is killed, children are the prey, hunted, hurt, and terrorised across the whole film. Between an abusive father and a violent home life, kids in danger sits at the core of the story
Bullying / discrimination An older boy drives savage, sustained bullying, including a stomach-tur…
An older boy drives savage, sustained bullying, including a stomach-turning carving scene, and racist violence is tied to one boy's past. That cruelty becomes one of the film's ugliest and most constant forces
Gore / death / weapons In the opening a small child loses an arm, a bathroom sink erupts with…
In the opening a small child loses an arm, a bathroom sink erupts with blood, and wounds and bodies surface throughout. The injury detail turns graphic in places, and the monster's attacks come bloody
Dangerous behaviour Older kids pull a knife, hurl rocks during a street brawl, and carry ou…
Older kids pull a knife, hurl rocks during a street brawl, and carry out cruel acts that may unsettle younger viewers. The menace feels real and grounded, never cartoonish
Grief / bereavement One boy is eaten up by grief and guilt over his little brother's death,…
One boy is eaten up by grief and guilt over his little brother's death, and that loss drives much of his part of the story. His mourning is raw and carries through the entire film
Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.
Family watch notes
What other parents think.
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Talk after watching
- The kids only beat the monster once they stop facing their fears alone. How does your family lean on each other when something feels overwhelming?
- Several of these children are dealing with real-world harm at home and at school. How do you spot when a friend is struggling with more than they let on?
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