IT 2017

I heard something sad about this movie earlier tonight. Apparently the National Clown Association is attacking it for putting clowns out of work. Since, you know, they're scary because of it. I'd always thought clowns were initially supposed to be scary, from some pseudo-history lesson I probably never actually had (or a tv show, which is a bad source considering I don't remember which one anyway) but after a wiki walk I found out they were always supposed to be funny. Why putting someone in outlandish makeup like that was ever supposed to be funny, I don't know. Slapstick's really overstaying its welcome these days.

I loved clowns when I was a child. And they are still my favourite thing about the circus, if they are good (sadly there are less and less classic clowns out there). And watching IT and Poltergeist didn't change that. I think you either like clowns or you don't. But honestly, how many children will be allowed to watch this movie anyway?

Tastes change over time. And for clowns being always supposed to be scary... what sense does it make?

This clown association is about twenty years too late.

It's the commercials, plus that creepy clown craze that went on.

Eh, and yeah, I guess scary clowns make no sense. Not sure why I held onto that one for so long. I know I read or heard it from somewhere, just not sure where.

Horror writers love to make stuff which actually isn't threatening at all dangerous. Like summer camps. Trees. T Vs. Dolls.

The thing about scary clowns USED to be the whole contrast of terrible things taking the form of something associated with innocence, laughter and fun times for kids, but we're so easily programmed by the media that scary clowns have become the only clowns

You could argue that Ronald Mc Donald is the last example of a clown played straight but then again...

Yeah, the Mc Donalds commercials sometimes become a little bit creepy.

Hell, even in Supernatural scary clowns are some sort of ongoing joke.

Yeah, you're right. Wasn't the original book published back in 1986? Why are real-life clowns only losing their jobs now? :S

I love that the statement uses the worlds "professional clowning."

edited 30th Aug '17 12:23:13 PM by Beatman1

x4 Well, ARMS has a clown character who's played straight (as in not a monster or grumpy), so I wouldn't say Ronald McDonald is the last of his kind...

I know, those words are amusing together. It's kind of the point, I think. Clowning is a profession with schools and everything, so the words are appropriate, just hilarious together.

Two Enfante Terrible kids that would give Pennywise a run for it's money are Mandy from the Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy and Baby Bonnie Hood. Given their reputation for being horrifying despite being children, I think they would give that clown something to fear itself.

Also the reviews are out, and the judgement is that its better than the miniseries.

Considering the true nature of Pennywise the Clown...I kind of doubt it.

Pennywise is, after all, only a small manifestation of something much bigger and stranger.

edited 6th Sep '17 10:58:54 AM by dragonfire5000

I don't know. Pennywise in the miniseries was acting pretty scared of the club. He continually pushed at them to give up without fighting him, and run. If he weren't scared, he wouldn't have bothered with the intimidation tactics.

It's mentioned in the book that It tries to scare her victims because they taste better that way. That's why she targets kids; kids have "simpler" fears than adults, though she's been known to eat older people as well, like poor Adrian.

I know that's what's mentioned but it doesn't really come across that way. The thing comes at them directly. It tells them to leave. If it were REALLY trying to scare them without looking weak, it wouldn't even react to them. They'd see Pennywise out and about killing children. If it reacted to them at all, it would be a friendly wave and an "I remember you." or "Oh, you're back in town." It wouldn't be writing messages about dead friends or telling them to get out of town.

Clowns were always fucking scary. Pennywise just codified that. I've got no time for whatever industry body is sticking up for those bastards. If they want sympathy they can find it between shit and syphillis in any English dictionary.

... I love the film makers of this project's confidence. They're splitting it into two separate movies? Yeah, good luck with that.

It's getting good reviews so far. And the original was a miniseries, which is two separate movies played close together. They're still separate. You had time to watch one, think about it, and decide with a clear head if you wanted to go back and finish it.

Well it's easy to see that working out regardless if the film gets the sequel they want. The novel has two main confrontations with Pennywise, one that ends with them wounding it and sealing it away as children, and then the final one where they supposedly get rid of it for good as adults.

I'd assume what they did was have the confrontation with It as children be satisfying enough to be a film on its own, but with hints the implication that things aren't over...which practically every horror film ever does anyways.

Super glad the film is getting good reviews.

So am I. After decades we're finally going to get a decent film adaptation of one of Stephen King's horror novels. (Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile were both prison dramas, of sorts).

But I'm not going to watch it. It's just not for me. I'm all Pennywise'd out.

I am thinking what would terrify someone like Pennywise/It. It's something that really likes to prey on the weak, so I am thinking that it would find itself corned on someone who isn't affected by its fear tactics and can terrify it. I do wonder if someone like Carrie would be able to take on "It".

Heck, just imagine Carrie going up against the Loser Club's bullies would certainly have her tearing them a new one in so many ways.

edited 6th Sep '17 4:34:14 PM by firewriter

The thing to remember is that It can use other people to do Its dirty work for it. When the Losers were becoming a bit too much trouble, It began to use some really nasty tactics to get to them. Not to mention that looking right at It in all Its glory can potentially kill you if you're unlucky, as Beverly's husband found out; Bill's wife Audrey got really lucky when all it did was put her into a catatonic state for a while.

In the book, we see It get into Henry's head and direct him to kill Mike and the others, get into the head of Beverly's dad to potentially rape and/or beat her to death, and made Tom kidnap Audrey and bring her into Its lair so that It can use her as bait.

Put it this way: if you don't scare easily, It can still handle you. All It has to do is get into the head of someone else, give them a weapon, and point them in your direction. That is, of course, it doesn't just elect to kill you right then and there, as Henry's friends unfortunately experienced.

edited 6th Sep '17 4:41:01 PM by dragonfire5000

So, the only way for one to encounter It at equal footing without weakening it is another formidable Eldritch Abomination.

Well, the thing is, they do manage to kill It in the book through something called the Ritual of Chud, during which Bill manages to grab ahold if Its heart and kill her. It's a bit mind-screwy, but as you've probably guessed, It's not invincible, just really, really hard to kill.

One thing I wonder if they'll adapt in the movie is Its ability to drive people to commit horrific acts of violence. That was one of the scariest things about It: getting into the minds of other people, taking the negative stuff in there, and cranking the dial up. A kid's father could be frustrated at that kid for some reason or another, then It gets into his head. A few minutes later he's staring at his blood-soaked fists and trying to figure out what drove him to beat his child to death as he's dragged off by the police.

edited 6th Sep '17 4:57:08 PM by dragonfire5000

Oh yes, there is a reason why IT is one of the most horrific beings in fiction. It really knows how to use people against you to it's advantage.

Also just wondering who would win in a battle between the Other Mother from Coraline and It/Penny Wise. They are both entities that seem to feed on children, and often times tries to lure them to their doom. Other Mother/Bedlam seems to be better at putting on the facade, while It as Pennywise really is more obvious about his intent and use his form more to scare his victims. Also they both have a spidery true appearance, which is subtly revealed over time.