I really enjoyed this book, but this movie misses the mark. I think it would've been better as a miniseries. To recap, this is a story of childhood friendship. A Stephen King says no matter how many friends or family you have in your life, you will never have friends like that again. It's also a coming of age story, and what happens as you and your friends start getting older and branching out. It's a story of high school anxiety and 80s nostalgia (Frusen Glädjé!) . And, front and center, of course it's a story about strange things starting to happen and possible dark forces visiting your hometown. Good stuff for spooky season!

Unfortunately, I don't think the story translated well here. Grady Hendrix's books are usually pretty jam-packed, so I don't see how you could cram everything into 90 minutes. It definitely felt choppy. Key scenes and characters fell flat because they didn't have enough set up. Things happened that seemed pretty random unless you knew the backstory. It felt like they were moving really fast, more like paying homage to major scenes rather than building a story that could stand on its own.

The best parts of the book- the sinister, creeping horror story build, the BFF saga, the 80s nostalgia- don't come across, and the whole thing felt rushed. I had no emotional investment in any of these people. It's the first point that bothers me the most. Why watch a horror movie if it's not even going to be spooky or scary?

Anyway, imo you're left with an empty book recap if you know the story, and I don't even know what you'd get out of it if you didn't. Maybe just a time filler movie to watch during a flight or something to have on in the background.

I really like Elsie Fischer, and she and Amiah Miller turn in good performances for what they were given. Chris Lowell too. They at least keep it watchable (if you know the story, anyway). The other actors were barely given enough material to register. Production was ok. 3 stars for the acting and for putting out a spooky movie in October.

This movie is a slog that unfortunately never goes anywhere with its premise. And no idea what it has an R rating as it comes off very PG-13.

Most of it is a rehash of old tropes played as the tropes they are. None are subverted or mocked. And since this is listed as a comedy, I at least expected that much.

No idea why this is set in the 1980's since that plays no part in the story, and all the actors basically talk and act like it's 2022.

I was excited to see Elsie Fisher as I adored her in Eighth Grade, and she does an admirable job given the material, but even she couldn't save this one.

So, this is one of my favorite books. Unfortunately the film doesn't do it justice. The movie is fine in its own realm of existence but it lacks the heart, depth and weight of the novel.

I felt like the film just sped through the story. Sequences were out of order and there was a LOT that was completely reimagined or created purely for the film.

If I had seen this movie first, I wouldn't take the time to read the book. Though, thankfully they did skip something that happens toward the end of the book. I was worried they were going to do it but when I started watching it I knew they wouldn't cuz it wouldn't fit.

You don't get any of what the novel gives you from this film. It's almost a Cliff notes watered down version of the book.

The acting is pretty atrocious. The co-lead that plays Gretchen is its saving Grace even though the story is told through the eyes of Abby.

I really wanted more. It felt rushed and disconnected from the source. Absolutely despised the notes on the characters at the end. Was totally unnecessary.

It did have a solid soundtrack to get that nostalgic feeling going.

I wish they had taken more time to do this film. I wish they had stayed closer to the source material. I wish it had the heart the novel did. The relationships were so watered down that it was frivolous.