ON THE BOX
IT CHAPTER TWO
IN THIS concluding part of Stephen King’s novel conversion, it has been 27 years since the summer of 1989, when teenage members of the Losers Club – Ben Hanscom, Beverly Marsh, Bill Denbrough, Eddie Kaspbrak, Mike Hanlon, Richie Tozier and Stanley Uris – banded together to defeat Pennywise the clown.
Hellish history repeats in 2016 and Mike, who has remained in Derry as the town’s librarian, summons other members of the Losers Club to revisit their darkest nightmare.
Ben, Beverly, Bill, Eddie, Richie and Stanley take his call, their memories of the past wiped in the intervening years.
It doesn’t take long for Pennywise to draw succour from the group’s mounting dread.
Director Andy Muschietti’s over-long return to the highest-grossing horror film of all time stars James McAvoy, Jessica Chastain, Bill Skarsgard, Isaiah Mustafa, Bill Hader and Jay Ryan.
■ Available on Sky Cinema Premiere.
BAD EDUCATION
NO RELATION to Jack Whitehall’s namesake sitcom-inspired feature, director Cory Finley’s comedy drama stars Hugh Jackman.
Based on a true story that happened in the early 2000s, it centres on Frank Tassone (Jackman) and Pam Gluckin (Allison Janney), who reign over a popular Long Island school district on the verge of the nation’s top spot, inspiring record college admissions and rising property values.
When an embezzlement scheme surfaces that threatens to destroy all they’ve built, Frank is forced to maintain order and secrecy – by whatever means necessary.
However, he doesn’t count on the resourcefulness of teenage reporters.
The supporting cast includes Ray Romano, Geraldine Viswanathan and Welker White.
■ Available on Sky Cinema Premiere.