It

In the town of Derry, a group of childhood friends must confront their deepest fears and a malevolent entity that preys on children.

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Overview

Poster
Unique Selling Point

What sets this screenplay apart is its ability to seamlessly blend the horror and coming-of-age genres, creating a unique and compelling narrative that explores the power of friendship, the nature of fear, and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unspeakable evil. The diverse ensemble of young characters, each with their own distinct personalities and struggles, are highly relatable and draw the audience into their world, making the stakes and their journey all the more compelling. Additionally, the screenplay's exploration of the town of Derry and the history of the evil that plagues it adds a depth and richness to the overall story that sets it apart from more conventional horror narratives.

AI Verdict & Suggestions

Ratings are subjective. So you get different engines’ ratings to compare.

GPT4
 Recommend
DeepSeek
 Recommend
Claude
 Recommend
Key Suggestions
To enhance the screenplay, focus on tightening the pacing in certain scenes, particularly those that feel drawn out or overly expository. Additionally, consider deepening the exploration of character arcs, especially for Mike and the adult characters, to create a more cohesive narrative. Addressing these elements will strengthen the emotional impact and engagement of the audience.
Story Facts

Genres: Horror, Drama, Thriller, Coming of Age, Mystery, Coming-of-age, Teen, Historical, Supernatural, Adventure

Setting: 1988-1989, Derry, Maine

Themes: The power of friendship and unity, Fear of the unknown, Childhood innocence and loss, The impact of trauma, Confrontation with evil

Conflict & Stakes: The Losers Club's struggle against Pennywise, a shape-shifting entity that preys on their fears, while dealing with personal traumas and the threat of bullying.

Mood: Tense and foreboding, with moments of childhood innocence and camaraderie.

Standout Features:

  • Unique Hook: The story combines childhood innocence with horror, exploring how childhood fears manifest into a tangible threat.
  • Major Twist: The revelation that Pennywise feeds on the children's fears, making their personal struggles integral to the plot.
  • Distinctive Setting: Derry, Maine, serves as a character itself, with a dark history that influences the events of the story.
  • Innovative Ideas: The use of a group of misfit children, known as the Losers Club, to confront their fears and the embodiment of evil.
  • Unique Characters: Each member of the Losers Club represents different childhood fears and struggles, making them relatable and memorable.

Comparable Scripts: It (2017), Stand By Me (1986), The Goonies (1985), Stranger Things (2016-present), The Monster Squad (1987), Super 8 (2011), The Sandlot (1993), Coraline (2009), The Babadook (2014)

Script Level Analysis

This section delivers a top-level assessment of the screenplay’s strengths and weaknesses — covering overall quality (P/C/R/HR), character development, emotional impact, thematic depth, narrative inconsistencies, and the story’s core philosophical conflict. It helps identify what’s resonating, what needs refinement, and how the script aligns with professional standards.

Screenplay Insights

Breaks down your script along various categories.

Overall Score: 7.64
To enhance the screenplay, focus on deepening the character arcs of secondary characters like Eddie and Ben, as their backgrounds and motivations are currently underdeveloped. This will not only enrich the narrative but also strengthen audience connection and emotional investment. Additionally, consider refining the pacing in key scenes to maintain engagement and build tension effectively.
Story Critique

Big-picture feedback on the story’s clarity, stakes, cohesion, and engagement.

To enhance the screenplay, focus on deepening character backstories, particularly for antagonists like Travis, to provide more motivation and complexity. Streamlining the pacing and ensuring consistent character development will help maintain tension throughout the narrative. Additionally, integrating the town's dark history more cohesively can enrich the story's thematic foundation, while allowing for a more impactful climax will elevate the emotional stakes and resolution.
Characters

Explores the depth, clarity, and arc of the main and supporting characters.

To enhance the script, focus on deepening the emotional arcs of the characters, particularly the protagonists like Bill, Beverly, and Eddie. Their internal conflicts and relationships with one another can be further explored to create a more compelling narrative. Additionally, consider amplifying the presence of Pennywise in scenes where he is referenced but not directly shown, as this will build anticipation and tension, making his eventual appearances more impactful.
Emotional Analysis

Breaks down the emotional journey of the audience across the script.

To enhance the emotional depth and engagement of the script, it's crucial to introduce a wider variety of emotional tones throughout the narrative. This can be achieved by incorporating moments of dark humor during tense sequences, developing emotional 'oasis' scenes that reflect on positive memories, and ensuring character-specific arcs are fully realized. By balancing horror with moments of warmth and vulnerability, the script can create a more dynamic emotional landscape that resonates with audiences.
Goals and Philosophical Conflict

Evaluates character motivations, obstacles, and sources of tension throughout the plot.

To enhance the script, focus on deepening the internal conflicts of the protagonist, Bill, particularly his journey from passive grieving to active engagement. This can be achieved by emphasizing his emotional struggles and the evolution of his relationships with his friends, which will create a more compelling narrative arc. Additionally, consider refining the philosophical conflict between fear and courage to resonate more profoundly with the audience, ensuring that the characters' growth feels authentic and relatable.
Themes

Analysis of the themes of the screenplay and how well they’re expressed.

To enhance the script, focus on deepening the emotional connections between characters, particularly within the Losers Club. Highlight their individual fears and traumas while showcasing how their friendship serves as a powerful tool for overcoming these challenges. This can be achieved through more intimate moments that reveal their vulnerabilities, ultimately reinforcing the primary theme of unity in the face of fear.
Logic & Inconsistencies

Highlights any contradictions, plot holes, or logic gaps that may confuse viewers.

To enhance the script's coherence and emotional impact, focus on refining character consistency, particularly for Bill Denbrough and Eddie Kaspbrak. Ensure that their actions align with their established traits throughout the narrative. Additionally, clarify the transition between the real world and the Macroverse, as well as the mechanics of Pennywise's manipulation of fears, to avoid confusion for the audience. Streamlining dialogue to feel more organic will also strengthen character authenticity and engagement.

Scene Analysis

All of your scenes analyzed individually and compared, so you can zero in on what to improve.

Scene-Level Percentile Chart
Hover over the graph to see more details about each score.
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Other Analyses

This section looks at the extra spark — your story’s voice, style, world, and the moments that really stick. These insights might not change the bones of the script, but they can make it more original, more immersive, and way more memorable. It’s where things get fun, weird, and wonderfully you.

Unique Voice

Assesses the distinctiveness and personality of the writer's voice.

To enhance the script, consider deepening character backstories and emotional arcs, particularly for the supporting characters. This will not only enrich the narrative but also allow for more nuanced interactions that resonate with the audience. Additionally, maintaining a consistent tone throughout the screenplay will help in balancing the horror elements with the coming-of-age themes, ensuring that the emotional stakes remain high and relatable.
Writer's Craft

Analyzes the writing to help the writer be aware of their skill and improve.

To enhance the screenplay, the writer should focus on refining dialogue to deepen emotional resonance and character motivations. Additionally, improving plot structure and pacing will help create a more cohesive narrative. By addressing these areas, the writer can elevate the overall impact of the story and better engage the audience.
Memorable Lines

Spotlights standout dialogue lines with emotional or thematic power.

The script effectively captures the horror elements through memorable lines that resonate with the characters' fears and the overarching theme of confronting nightmares. To enhance the script, consider deepening character arcs and emotional stakes, particularly in scenes where characters face their fears. This could involve expanding on the backstories of characters like Bill and Beverly, allowing their motivations to shine through their dialogue and actions, thus creating a more profound connection with the audience.
Tropes
Highlights common or genre-specific tropes found in the script.
World Building

Evaluates the depth, consistency, and immersion of the story's world.

To enhance the script, consider deepening the emotional connections between characters, particularly within the Losers Club. Their shared experiences of fear and trauma should be more vividly portrayed to create a stronger bond that resonates with the audience. Additionally, explore the duality of Derry's idyllic surface and its underlying darkness more intricately, allowing the setting to reflect the characters' internal struggles and fears more effectively.
Correlations

Identifies patterns in scene scores.

To enhance the emotional resonance of the script, focus on deepening character relationships and ensuring that scenes with significant character changes are well-developed. Incorporating darker tones effectively evokes strong emotions, so consider amplifying these elements in key scenes to maintain audience engagement. Additionally, ensure that dialogue quality remains high, as it directly correlates with the overall impact of the screenplay.
Loglines
Presents logline variations based on theme, genre, and hook.