Adding a twist to a classic, Stephen King’s “It” has made its long-awaited return in an early release on Sept. 9, one month shy from October. The film has already made a buzz among the horror community due to its prior success as a mini-series on ABC Television in the ‘90s, and now people are flooding in curiously with a collectible ticket in one hand and a red balloon in the other.

Our story begins in Derry, Maine, where seven friends face their fears with the oddities that occur from the result of several missing children cases.

Although the majority of the 2017 film is relatively the same as its old predecessor, there are a few things to take into account. Compared to the 1990’s version of the mini-series, this version emphasizes more on the protagonist’s’ life as teenage youth in the ‘80s, despite the original taking place in the late ‘50s.

The film spent more time emphasizing the growth of the children’s relationship with one another versus the original, as well as inviting crude humor into the mix that felt a bit overbearing and at times, unnecessary. Although the overdone jokes and strong language were excessively overused compared to the original, it was amusing enough to watch.

“It” waived most of the fear factor, relying most of its surprises on jump scares and emphasized more on the crew’s comedic dialogue. Although the CGI was very hair-raising, there was a feeling of missed opportunity in using these creatures to their full potential since the direction of the film was mostly focused in developing tongue-in-cheek jokes.

Bill Skarsgård’s performance as Pennywise the Dancing Clown paid good homage to Tim Curry’s role in the original; his interpretation of the menacing lunatic still retained enough of his sadism to please old and new fans alike.

Besides these changes, something that did stand out from 2017’s “It” were the serious themes it explored; it brought back people’s biggest fears during the ‘80s such as missing children, abusive guardians, sexual harassment, and bullying. Adding more emphasis to these subjects created a stronger foundation for these characters’ backstories and personalities, making their experiences all the more worthwhile.

The overall reboot experience for this movie didn’t stray too far from the original. It felt as though they just added a little more than what was already offered onto the table, and it was enjoyable. All in all, the two versions of “It” entertained both audiences, whether it was with laughs or screams. If you’re expecting to rekindle that same feeling of dread and fear that you received when you watched the original, you’re watching the wrong movie. But if you’re interested in seeing a different take on an all-time favorite, then it’s worth the trip with friends. Just know that you’re basically watching a 2 hour and 15 minute episode of Stranger Things.