“I’m every nightmare you’ve ever had. I’m your worst dream come true. I’m everything you ever were afraid of.”
One of 2017’s most anticipated films was a great addition to #31daysofHalloween – because “It” scared the face paint off America!
Who Likes Clowns? NO One! How About Red Balloons?
We might all HATE clowns, but we flocked to see the latest adaptation Stephen King’s “It” – the creepy previews that included the distinctive red balloon got us ready for a great new scary movie – here is the original trailer:
The new version of “It” got rave reviews, and is now on my “must watch” list during Shocktober 2018 – but let’s not forget where Pennywise got his start…
Stephen King’s Iconic Clown!
There have been many great Stephen King movie adaptations: everything from “Carrie” to “The Shining”, and a whole bunch in between…but, with creepy clowns in the news every day, we should give credit where credit is due – King gave us the creepiest of them all – and it wasn’t a film, it was a TV miniseries from 1990!
Pennywise showed up on TV in 1990 as a horror mini-series starring Tim Curry.
Here is the plot of this classic King horror story:
In 1960, a group of social outcasts who are bullied by a gang of greasers lead by Henry Bowers are also tormented by an evil demon who can shapeshift into a clown and feed on children’s fears and kill them. He is known as Pennywise…
STEPHEN KING’S IT, Tim Curry, 1990
The Iconic “Pennywise!”
After defeating the demonic clown as kids, it resurfaces 30 years later and they must finish it off as adults once again. Of COURSE they do!
Tim Curry IS Pennywise!
Tim Curry, best known for his role in “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”, steals this movie as well…check out “It’s” original classic trailer…
It: “Let go. Be afraid. You all taste so much better when you’re afraid.”
The original “It” has a great home video release with lots of special features.
On the DVD commentary track for example, the actors note that Tim Curry’s characterization of Pennywise was so creepy and realistic that everyone avoided him during the filming.
“Pennywise? No Thanks!”
Tim Curry was reluctant to take the role of Pennywise initially because he didn’t like the idea of being buried under so much makeup. When he played the character Darkness in “Legend”, it was a difficult and demanding role, and the hours in makeup was still fresh in his mind. To compromise, Director Tommy Lee Wallace minimized the amount of makeup on Curry, and his performance carried the day…
Everyone I ask goes right to Tim Curry’s performance in “It” as one of the most unsettling they have seen…a classic role for a great Actor.
Speaking of unsettled…remember this disturbing trend last year?
“Real” Clowns Are Here – And They Aren’t Happy!
There were many news reports of clown sightings as “It” opened in movie theaters – and it scared the hell out of residents across the country.
Last Halloween, “real” clowns were spotted across the country terrorizing people – was it a one-time prank gone bad – or something worse – and will we see more this year?
Personally, any clown is a bad clown for me – I’ll watch “It” with the lights off and one eye on the door….and I will also watch these “KILLER KLOWNS”:
Killer Klowns from Outer Space!
What a camp classic! This 80’s comic horror film is a lot of fun. Check out the trailer!
Here is the plot: when a small town is invaded by aliens from outer space, no one takes them seriously. Why? The aliens all look like circus clowns with painted on smiles! Needless to say, something very “unfunny” is going down in town…
This is a feisty little thriller with tongue in bloody cheek!
How can you argue with dialogue like this:
Debbie Stone: “We were up at “the top of the world” and we saw this shooting star and we decided to go look for it. But instead of finding the shooting star we saw this… this circus tent. And that’s when we went inside, and that is when we saw those people in those… those pink, cotton candy cocoons. Dave, it was not a circus tent. It was something else.”
Dave Hanson: “What? What?”
Mike Tobacco: “It was a space ship. And there was these things, these killer clowns, and they shot popcorn at us! We barely got away!”
Curtis Mooney: “Killer clowns, from outer space. Holy shit!”
And as an added bonus, it’s got Dean Wormer from “Animal House!”
Campy, fun and timeless, and these clowns still look like Klowns you don’t want to wake up to!
If all of this horror is bumming you out, maybe you need a “happy clown”!
Bill Murray was a “crooked clown” – and it’s one of his most under-rated films – “Quick Change” is a terrific film that featured a clown, and you can see more movie clowns here:
Enjoy “It” this Halloween season – Pennywise demands it!
Categories: 70's Cinema, Action Films, Books / Media, Comedy Movies, Cult Movies, Exploitation films, Great Films, Halloween, Hollywood, Movies, Obscure Movies, Pop Culture, Revenge Movies, Talent/Celebrities, TV Show
johnrieber 
Shakes the clown is another good one!
LikeLike
LOVE Shakes the Clown! Yes indeed!
LikeLike
Clowns are so freaky, they get to me so much ahhh! I did enjoy IT but I was on edge nearly the whole time!
LikeLike
Apparently there is a clown shortage, as they are now just too freaky so no one wants to hire one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have not seen either version of IT, John, but I do want to watch this new one. I love this book, it is one of my favourites.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The book is of course the way to experience the story for the first time, but this film treats the subject matter with respect, and the characters are very well fleshed out for a horror film!
LikeLike
I’ve not watched It… Maybe I should!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a well done movie, evokes “Stranger Things” in how the kids band together, and it has a few good scares and is very well made but not over-the-top
LikeLike
Such a cool post!!!!!
LikeLike
There is something genuinely scary about clowns that ‘go bad’. My wife is terrified of clowns, and hates to even look at one. 🙂
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLike