In recent years Hollywood has recreated many classic films, so it is no surprise that “It” has received the same treatment.

The newest film adaptation of Stephen King’s novel “It” is in theaters now.  

Director Tommy Lee Wallace was the first to take on the challenge of bringing “It” to life in the form of a two-part television mini-series in 1990.

Turning King’s 1,138-page book into a film was a challenge, and unfortunately, Wallace and co-screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohen left many viewers wanting more.

The book “It” is about a group of children who band together to fight off a demonic force threatening their home town of Derry.

It follows these children into adulthood as they try to protect themselves and their home once and for all.

Ian Clarke, a freshman majoring in international business at Mississippi State University, said he was not impressed by the 1990 version of “It.”

“The movie, by today’s standards, isn’t scary nor does it take control of your imagination,” Clarke said.

Ray Sweeney, a self-described horror movie connoisseur and junior majoring in chemical engineering, said he views “It” in a positive light primarily due to its historical significance.

“Despite its faults, ‘It’ is a classic horror movie rather than what you might see today, and because of that I view it differently than most modern films,” Sweeney said.

The two-part “It” mini-series did mostly stay true to the book, only leaving out sub-plot narratives and details most people would have considered inconsequential.

While those details might not be necessary to understand the premise of the story, it does leave many unanswered questions about the characters and their motives. 

The 1990 version of “It” tried to meld both the childhoods and adulthoods of the characters using flashbacks.

This method left the film at approximately three hours and lessened the effect of “It.”

“I think the last film was so long that it made it less scary,” Sweeney said. “The slow pace of the movie made me lose interest quickly.”

The new version of the film is just over two hours long and is expected to focus on the characters’ time as children.

Depending on the film’s box-office success, a second film will follow the children into adulthood.

By focusing on their childhood and the horrors they endured at that time, many fans hope to develop a stronger connection to the characters and the story.

Over the years, the “It” film of the 90s has received praise and criticism from viewers and movie critics alike.

However, with the evolution of the horror genre, it will be interesting to see what new elements the 2017 “It” will include.

Today, shocking and genuinely scaring an audience takes more than a disturbing clown and random explosions of blood.

After seeing the trailer, Sweeney has high hopes about the direction of the film regarding the graphics and overall tone.

“I’m excited to see how scary the new Pennywise will be based on the development of graphics in the movie industry,” Sweeney said. “Pennywise seems to have gone from a traditional clown to a clown from peoples’ nightmares.”

From Sweeney’s perspective, even some of the classic scenes featured in the trailer, like Georgie meeting Pennywise in the sewer, have been amped up and transformed into something terrifying.

Clarke said he has different expectations about the direction of the new “It,” and he hopes to see a cast representing the diversity of today’s world.

“It only makes sense to have a diverse cast to represent the nation and planet we live in,” Clarke said. “I hope the new version is a bit more inclusive of other types of people and not just white men.”

Hopefully, Andy Muschietti, director of the new “It,” will able to meet fans’ expectations and adapt the movie to today’s culture and perception of horror.

While it is a cliché to say the book is often better than the movie, it is easy to assume based on the trailer alone this new version of “It” will be on par with scare factor of the original book.

By meeting those expectations first, Muschietti should have no reason not to expect a sequel in the future.

Despite hating horror films, Clarke said this film will have to scare him to death in order to be successful.

“It has to terrify our minds in order to be considered a good horror movie in today’s culture, unlike its predecessor,” Clarke said.