‘IT: Chapter Two’ Erases the Progress Beverly Made in ‘IT’
Jessica Chastain’s Beverly Marsh is dropped back into a victim role with no meaningful commentary on the cycle of abuse.
One of the greatest achievements of It: Chapter Two is the impeccable casting. Set twenty-seven years after the first film, the sequel follows The Losers Club as they return to Derry to defeat It once and for all. The adult cast includes James McAvoy, Bill Hader, Isaiah Mustafa, Jay Ryan, James Ransone, Andy Bean, and of course, Jessica Chastain. For the most part, the characters are exactly as adult versions of the Losers should be.
Then, there’s Beverly Marsh.
I want to get one thing out of the way: this is not a knock on Jessica Chastain, or her acting ability. She has proven time and time again that she is a phenomenal performer, and deserves all the praise in the world. The blame for Beverly’s mishandling falls solely on the script. I should note that spoilers for It: Chapter Two follow.
It’s worth noting that It (2017) had three screenwriters credited for the final screenplay: Chase Palmer, Cary Fukunaga, and Gary Dauberman. It: Chapter Two only has one screenwriter credit: Gary Dauberman.
