Finn Wolfhard says 'It' is more than just a horror movie

— -- "It," the new film adaptation of Stephen King's 1986 novel about a clown named Pennywise -- or something that appears as a clown -- who terrorizes seven children in a small Maine town by exploiting their deepest fears, opens Friday.

The remake is an R-rated horror flick, which means that most of the members of the movie's young cast couldn't even see it in theaters without adult, including Finn Wolfhard.

Best known for his role as Mike Wheeler in Netflix's "Stranger Things," the 14-year-old Wolfhard told ABC News that while the scares are obviously important to "It," there's more to the movie.

"This movie is a lot more than just a horror movie," he said. "I think that's why a lot of kids are going to see this movie is because, you know, it's about growing up as well and a coming-of-age movie."

That said, the movie apparently is pretty scary, and has been called a faithful adaptation of King's original novel, which is exactly what director Andy Muschietti intended.

"For me it was very important staying true to the essence of the book, and the book is pretty gruesome," the director told ABC News. "And very intense."

It stars young Bill Skarsgard -- son of veteran actor Stellan Skarsgard -- as the evil central figure. Wolfhard plays Richie Tozier, one of the members of the so-called Losers Club forced to face their fears in the movie.