IT - Movie Review

With the release of the 2017 adaptation of the same name coming, I thought I would revisit the 1990 mini-series starring Tim Curry as Pennywise, the dancing clown. IT was written by Stephen King and directed by Tommy Lee Wallace (Fright Night Part II and Halloween III: Season of the Witch).

IT tells the story of 7 young outsiders, also known as the Losers Club due to their social status in the town of Derry. The town is being terrorised by an evil being in the form of a clown. It also takes the shape of the kids worst nightmares. The mini-series, despite it many flaws takes a lot from the Stephen King novel but due to the mini-series' intentions for TV, they left a lot of the novel out. And for good reason.

I first watched this mini-series just after it's initial release. I was a young 7 year old boy fascinated with everything horror. What kid wasn't into horror? I absolutely adored it and I was also petrified, but that great petrified feeling. I couldn't review the mini-series based on those viewings as a child so I had to revisit IT as an adult and then again last night just for good measure.

It has definitely not aged well and I remember it a lot different to when I was a kid. Sure, it still has those nostalgic moments and the feel of an early 90s movie or series but viewing as an adult showed me that it really wasn't all that scary...or good...

The only thing in the movie that stood out as remotely good was Tim Curry's performance as Pennywise. He was still as menacing as I remember. The actors as kids, as well as adults were all mediocre at best and the score from start to finish was so dated. Almost like a soap opera. There are definitely elements of this mini-series that still haunt me. The sewers, the leper scene, Georgie. Those all stuck with me as a child and still haunt me to this day.

IT (2017)

I believe this was something that needed to be done properly and I am really glad we have a movie adapted for the big screen for the first time. IT (2017) does look fantastic and scary. And this time, it seems as though they have followed the book more, but time will tell. I will review that movie this coming week. So stay tuned for that.

My final thoughts on IT (1990) is, it had it's moments and didn't fall too flat on it's face. It is a fun halloween watch. Dare I say, it is a tame horror movie, one you could potentially watch with your kids with caution. I watched as a kid, and I turned out ok.. I think!

I give IT - 2/5 Nards!