After 30 Years, Stephen King’s ‘IT’ Miniseries Still Floats

November 17, 2020

As of today, three decades have gone by since the world was introduced to Pennywise the Dancing Clown on film in Stephen King’s IT. Tim Curry put on the makeup and cemented himself forever as a horror icon in the made-for-TV miniseries based on Stephen King’s massive ground-breaking novel from 1986. Since the reboot films have released and taken on a more modern level of horror, some fans, especially the younger ones, have looked back at the 1990 mini-series as cheesy and sometimes even unwatchable. Like a child that left Derry after seeing the original, I forgot almost all the parts that made the mini-series great, only to be reminded of them when I went back.

Even the opening scene was risqué for 1990. You hardly saw children being killed in horror movies at this point, and IT knocks off two in the first 10 minutes, while giving us the first introduction to a horrifying Pennywise as he longs to sink his razor-teeth into an all-too trusting Georgie (Tony Dakota). Tim Curry’s predatory, almost sexual satisfaction to luring Georgie to his death is delivered so brilliantly. The only way to even come close to matching this performance in the reboot was to use Bill Skarsgård’s natural eye movement talents and add drool. Not that Skarsgård’s performance wasn’t fantastic, but as a kid, Tim Curry was straight up nightmare fuel.

The introduction of The Losers’ Club was well-done. You have to remember, this film came off the heels of films like Stand By Me, The Lost Boys and The Monster Squad, and although the special coming-of-age friendships and chemistry weren’t nailed in IT like they were in those films, it comes with the expectation that Tommy Lee Wallace (Halloween III, Fright Night 2) making an ABC original movie wasn’t going to be the same as Rob Reiner or Joel Schumacher making blockbuster films. Regardless, each loser’s story was told well, highlighting different struggles in the life of a child, be it bullying, racial discrimination, abuse, and parental hardships. I related to at least one, as did most children, I assume. These memories flowed back to me during the re-watch and I found a level comfort in the kids meeting one another, finally feeling like they belong, and looking to the late Jonathan Brandis’ (R.I.P.) Bill Denbrough for leadership.

Most of the second half of the series focuses on the adult versions of The Losers’ Club, and I think the lack of focus on the chemistry as children takes away from the chemistry as adults a bit. Although the restaurant scene of them all coming back together for the first time is still one of my favorites. It pulls you in for a single moment to feel comfortable again, only to shatter that comfort with the incredibly creepy fortune cookie scene and prerequisite to the horrors to come.

The technical aspects of this series are overlooked as well. The score is an amazing blend of orchestral and synth music that ended up winning Richard Bellis a Primetime Emmy. The lighting and camera work can feel a bit jumpy at times, but looks fantastic in other moments, bringing a true feeling of unease. For example, the scene where Seth Green’s Richie Tozier is made to retrieve a mop from the school boiler where a looming werewolf is waiting for him, is the perfect re-telling of any scared child entering a dark and scary room. The effects were extremely competent for the time. Practical effects were used mostly throughout with a few exceptions, including some stop motion work on stuff like Pennywise emerging from the shower train, or the giant spider in the finale. The was far before the reign on CGI blood in the ’90s, so the splattering was real, and looked great. Pennywise’s makeup being top-notch is a given, but there were a lot of creepy things had slipped my mind, like moss and rot-covered skeletons reaching out of the barrens, the animatronic fortune cookies, or the full werewolf costume.

I think the only thing that felt distracting was the inconsistency in the rating. Some scenes were intensely scary or vulgar, especially when it came to the bully Henry Bowers (Jarred Blancard), but then other scenes felt like they were PG. One scene, you’re seeing blood explode all over people’s faces, in another the camera cut away from razorblades slashing skin. I’m guessing this all had to do with the TV rating guidelines, so I’m not giving it too much grief.

I know I mentioned it a bit before, but there’s a reason Tim Curry’s performance is so highly regarded by horror fans, even with somewhat limited screen time. As the series progresses, you can feel the desperation grow in Pennywise’s reactions and dialogue, little by little. It almost feels like a wounded animal still trying bite back after it’s been mortally wounded. He starts off so frightening and imposing and almost as if we are in The Losers’ Club, his daunting character starts to dwindle as it no longer has power over us, when we fight back. This is all Tim Curry. The guy is a once-in-a-lifetime talent.

Although this version of It may be a tough sell to the younger generation of horror fans, as the series isn’t the most fast-paced thing in the world and is 3+ hours long, if you’re around my age and saw this as a kid or teen, you should absolutely go back and embrace it for what it is. Try to enjoy it the way it was meant to be enjoyed in 1990. Don’t leave Derry for good. Don’t forget about what you saw. Don’t break your promise to come back.