🎈IT (2017) & IT: Welcome to Derry Sneak Peek - Dolby Cinema Exclusive

5 Out of 5 Bags 💰💰💰💰💰

Written by Jonathan Garcia

IT

Alright leaving the theater at like 12AM after this special Dolby Atmos showing of IT. IT was fucking phenomenal. As a kid, I have never seen the movie before… 🤡 clowns y’know? LOL. But this was incredible. The Dolby Atmos, top tier. The story, acting, soundFX, soundtrack and score are all an incredible 5 bags! Lets not be too scared and dive into the Atmos!

🎧 Dolby Atmos

Woah. The Dolby Atmos helped bring this classic into a horrifying experience that I recommend! The team went BEAST MODE and the immersive just like Pennywise is not to be played with. High energy in the mix but very delicate and soft on the transients. During extreme impact moments our ears weren’t destroyed with any brute information. More like we were taken on an immersive rollercoaster with drops, twists & turns that keeps you in consistent suspense and not knowing what's coming next! Scenes like the first “running up the stairs” away from the darkness. Nothing visibly scary on screen, the IMMENSE role the sound plays in scenes like this shows the attention to detail. The team had to translate a fear almost all children have (running up the stairs because the basement is scary) to the audience and it was so amazing. Jump scares, soundscapes, rooms and different environments alongside an incredible soundtrack and score are all brought to an insane light with the Dolby Atmos. Phenomenal. 

🔊 Dynamics & Loudness

The dynamics were present. Punchy, transient, smooth and silky. The film seemed consistently loud but extremely soft. The volume was never “F1” level loudness but they pushed it to such a point of uncomfortableness. You realize that it’s done extremely well to taste. The mixer(s) or team set you up to fail. They take you to that point of discomfort as if things are about to get too loud or extremely scary and they have this amazing crescendo of chaos. The sound takes you to the point that is past limits and to the point where you think it’s about to be too much and then hit you with a beautiful resolve. There gets to be some high SPL levels in the room but everything is audibly soft and gentle to your ears. 

🎚️LFE

Outstanding. The LFE brought adrenaline into our blood. The LFE played a major role in the film. In quiet scenes there was the eerie feel of a heart beat and we question if it’s our own. Without the LFE this film probably wouldn’t have translated the way it did. 

🎬 Favorite Moments

• Running Up the Stairs: This scene was done twice in the movie and both times we were immersed with the feeling of fear

• Hi Georgie: We are chasing after the S.S. Georgie in the thunder storm and meet a bozo! 🤡 This scene felt like we were running in the rain and the thunders rumble was done well with the LFE. 

• Bloody Hair: From room changes and whispers to a hairy attack this is Immersive chaos!! 

• The Painting Lady: Stanley is with his father in Temple and so are we! The ambience of the empty temple was on point and then when the haunting started, crazy. 

• The Projector: This scene got FRIGHTENING. The squad is in their HQ figuring out a game plan (dads garage) The tone is great and then we begin to get surrounded by horrifying music and an immersive nightmare! 

• All Audio: Hard to pick just one. There were no shy parts in the Dolby Atmos. Everything was placed, mixed and processed perfectly for this film. The transitions were great, music and dialogue balanced great, all the soundFX felt amazing with great LFE support the entire film. Kudos to the team. 

🧠  Final Thoughts

5 Out of 5 Bags 💰💰💰💰💰

This story, movie, characters, meaning and Dolby Atmos are 5 out of 5 BAGS!! If you’re able to catch IT in Dolby Atmos, beat your fears and watch it! This is an expert display of Dolby Atmos and film psychology that will take you through an immersive nightmare of an adventure. Don’t be scared 🎈🤡