Nerds That Geek Movie Review: ‘It’ (1990)

Written by John Edward Betancourt

When it comes to horror, there seems to be a general consensus that in order to make a scary movie successful, there is certain criteria that a horror film must follow. It should be in theaters, where scares can be served in the dark and it should be gory and unfettered and bleak, so that the audience goes through a tough and terrifying experience, and for the most part, this checklist works pretty darn well.  

We've all been privy to some incredible experiences in cinema when it comes to horror, and we've all had to put our popcorn down from time to time once the guts begin to flow. But, the beauty of horror is that the right story, in the right hands can be successful in any medium. Be it radio or television, horror as a whole is about igniting our imagination, letting our minds run wild to feed our darkest fears and the films that accomplish this on a minimalist basis, are perhaps the most brilliant and terrifying horror films of all, since these are the movies that stay with us long after they've ended and force us to check under the bed at night. 

These films are of course far and few between, but in 1990, a grand experiment on television paid off when ABC decided to adapt a Stephen King novel for the small screen, It. This decision would of course be the beginning of many years of King adaptations on television, but this one was important to say the least because well...it's a damn scary movie, one of the finest I have ever seen quite frankly because of what we just discussed a moment ago, it's a minimalist horror film that left everyone shaking in their boots when all was said and done because it preys upon the worst fears buried deep in our imaginations plus it gave life to perhaps one of the greatest villains/monsters in the history of the genre. 

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​Yes, Pennywise the Dancing Clown is outright a perfect villain in fact. It is a being that is bound to no morals or logic. It only knows that It wants to feed, It knows what its perfect prey is and how to get it and the fact that this evil being is a force of nature that does whatever it needs to do to survive is the first element that makes this film and this story so incredibly bone chilling, because by having a monster that one cannot reason with, that will stop at nothing to get what It wants...removes any sense of hope or safety for the audience. Plus...there's the whole clown thing and I've had several people tell me over the years that Pennywise is the sheer reason why they hate clowns to this day.  

But it's what Pennywise does to his victims that is outright special. This is a creature that yes, plans to eat you, but will play with its food before it does. The need to draw the deepest and darkest fears out of Its victims is a stroke of genius, since it takes the audience on a journey through their own mind as well and that's where It is so incredibly successful as a horror film. As a viewer, part of you is wondering while you watch, what awful things Pennywise would make you face, allowing you to bond with the Losers Club instantly and more importantly, the fact that this film was designed to air on television only, worked to its advantage. There's only a touch of gore in this film, and a handful monster themed effects, but at no point do you feel comfortable here because so much of the film relies upon our mind. The awful things happening off screen, well we let our brains fill in the blanks there, and those are the images that haunt us when the lights go out at night.

If anything, It is damn near a perfect horror film, and one that aired on prime time television to boot. Sure, it's a little dated here and there, but who cares? This is about the experience, and terror is what you get when watching this film and before we wrap up...can we take a moment and discuss the fact that Tim Curry is just an amazing actor? I mean really...Pennywise would not have worked with anyone else in that clown suit because the man just oozes evil on screen and it's a performance that is truly one for the ages. Either way, this is a must own film, simply because it is a modern classic, one that has withstood the test of time and it is a rare treat since it is one of those few horror films that will instantly transport you back to that all important first viewing, when your heart was racing in sheer terror once Pennywise flashed that incredibly sly and evil smile...

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