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5 Terrifying, Non-Clown Scenes From Stephen King’s IT

Published

9 years ago

November 7, 2014

I love Stephen King’s IT. I love the book, and I love the two-part TV movie. While I’ve only read the book in its entirety once (it’s just so ridiculously long), I’ve watched the movie countless times, beginning with the nights it first aired. I was hooked on it from the very beginning. Luckily I had recorded the initial airing on an old blank VHS, which would get worn out over the years until I finally got the DVD as I upgraded my collection to the newer format.

I love Tim Curry’s Pennywise, and as much as I’m looking forward to Cary Fukunaga’s theatrical adaptation, it’s very hard for me to envision anyone else in the role. The Curry Pennywise remains arguably the most nightmarish fictional clown ever to grace the screen (sorry, Twisty, but give me a break). It’s truly hard to imagine the movie without him, but in reality, there are a lot of creepy moments in IT that don’t involve a clown being on screen (there are even more such moments in the book, but that’s another story).

With that, let’s take some time to celebrate some of these moments, as it feels like Pennywise gets all the credit for making this movie what it is.

1. Georgie’s Photo

I think this is the scene that actually freaked me out the most when I watched the movie as a kid. Bill’s little brother Georgie has already been killed by IT, and Bill is in Georgie’s room looking at a photo album, feeling awful about what happened. He stops to look at a black and white photo of Georgie, which then winks at him to chilling effect. After that, Bill throws the album across the room, where its pages start rapidly turning by themselves, before landing back on the page with the Georgie photo, which starts bleeding all over the floor. This is all accompanied by a fantastic, dread-inducing score.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wiAaT7zManM

2. Dead Kids in the Sink

Ah, the old “dead kids in the sink” gag. In another particularly creepy, clownless scene, Beverly hears the voice of Derry’s dead children coming from her bathroom sink talking about how they float, before a red balloon bubbles up from the drain, and bursts in a splatter of blood all over the bathroom and Beverly’s face. Her father comes in, and can’t see it.

3. Mrs. Kersh

Beverly Marsh visits her father’s home when she returns to Derry, only to find that it’s occupied by an old woman named Mrs. Kersh. Kersh tells Beverly she knew her father, and we see that Beverly misread the name on the doorbell (it said Kersh instead of Marsh, which she thought it said at first).

Mrs. Kersh invites Beverly in for some tea, and we soon realize that yes, it really did say Marsh on the doorbell, as Mrs. Kersh guzzles down her blood tea and turns into a frightening, decaying monster version of Beverly’s father. Obviously, it’s IT.

We do see IT in the Pennywise form, standing by the door as Beverly runs away, and turns around to look.

4. Skeleton in the Barrens

Ben is upset after being punished for fighting with his asshole cousin with whom he and his mother live. He gets on his bike, and rides down to the Barrens, where the kids play all the time. It’s a much scarier place when they’re alone. First, Ben sees his father standing out on the water in the creepy swamp. His father starts talking to him, and naturally starts talking about and holding balloons before completely turning into Pennywise. So yes, the clown is certainly a part of the scene, but it’s a swampy, slime-covered skeleton that reaches out of the water and grabs at Ben, talking about everybody floating down there.

5. The Mummy

In this scene, Stan is out birdwatching, and hears a voice calling to him from an old creepy house. For some reason, he decides to go in, and is confronted by a pretty scary mummy walking down the stairs toward him. Technically it’s clown mummy, but it’s not the version of Pennywise we’re accustomed to by that point. Anyway, Stan gets the fuck out of dodge, conveniently meeting up with Bill, who rides him away like a bat out of hell on his bike Silver.

The part where the mummy is walking slowly down the stairs is pretty effective. I’m having a hard time finding an embeddable video of this one, but here’s a picture.

There are a lot of great scenes in IT. Many of them show Pennywise. Many of them don’t. Some of the IT-related scenes aren’t as scary as they are fun. Who doesn’t love Richie encountering a werewolf in the basement or watching balloons splatter blood all over people’s faces while Pennywise carries on like a madman? And let’s not forget about the old pharmacist Mr. Keene, who was always partial to licorice. There are many reasons IT remains a beloved classic, especially for a TV movie. I think it’s nice to remember that Tim Curry’s Pennywise, as wonderful as he was, is far from the only one.

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Morticia & Wednesday Addams Join Monster High Skullector Series

Published

2 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Timothy Rawles

Believe it or not, Mattel’s Monster High doll brand has an immense following with both young and not-so-young collectors.

In that same vein, the fan base for The Addams Family is also very large. Now, the two are collaborating to create a line of collectible dolls that celebrate both worlds and what they have created is a combination of fashion dolls and goth fantasy. Forget Barbie, these ladies know who they are.

The dolls are based on Morticia and Wednesday Addams from the 2019 Addams Family animated movie.

As with any niche collectibles these aren’t cheap they bring with them a $90 price tag, but it’s an investment as a lot of these toys become more valuable over time.

“There goes the neighborhood. Meet the Addams Family’s ghoulishly glamorous mother-daughter duo with a Monster High twist. Inspired by the animated movie and clad in spiderweb lace and skull prints, the Morticia and Wednesday Addams Skullector doll two-pack makes for a gift that’s so macabre, it’s downright pathological.”

If you want to pre-purchase this set check out The Monster High website.

^{Footwear for Wednesday Addams Skullector doll}

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1994’s ‘The Crow’ Coming Back to Theaters for A New Special Engagement

Published

5 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Cameron McFarland

Cinemark recently announced that they will be bringing The Crow back from the dead once again. This announcement comes just in time for the film’s 30th anniversary. Cinemark will be playing The Crow in select theaters on May 29th and 30th.

For those unaware, The Crow is a fantastic film based on the gritty graphic novel by James O’Barr. Widely considered one of the best films of the 90s, The Crow’s lifespan was cut short when Brandon Lee died of an accidental on set shooting.

The official synapsis of the film is as follows. “The modern-gothic original that entranced audiences and critics alike, The Crow tells the tale of a young musician brutally murdered alongside his beloved fiancée, only to be risen from the grave by a mysterious crow. Seeking revenge, he battles a criminal underground that must answer for its crimes. Adapted from the comic book saga of the same name, this action-packed thriller from director Alex Proyas (Dark City) features hypnotic style, dazzling visuals, and a soulful performance by the late Brandon Lee.”

The timing of this release couldn’t be better. As a new generation of fans eagerly awaits the release of The Crow remake, they can now see the classic film in all of its glory. As much as we love Bill Skarsgard (IT), there is something timeless in Brandon Lee’s performance in the film.

This theatrical release is part of the Scream Greats series. This is a collaboration between Paramount Scares and Fangoria to bring audiences some of the best classic horror films. So far, they are doing a fantastic job.

That’s all the information we have at this time. Make sure to check back here for more news and updates.

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Hugh Jackman & Jodie Comer Team Up for a New Dark Robin Hood Adaptation

Published

6 hours ago

May 3, 2024

Cameron McFarland

A report from Deadline details director Michal Sarnoski’s (A Quiet Place: Day One) newest project, The Death of Robin Hood. The film is set to feature Hugh Jackman (Logan) and Jodie Comer (The End We Start From).

Michael Sarnoski will write and direct the new Robin Hood adaptation. Jackman will be reunited with Aaron Ryder (The Prestige), who is producing the film. The Death of Robin Hood is expected to be a hot item at the upcoming Cannes film market.

Hugh Jackman, The Death of Robin Hood — *Hugh Jackman*

Deadline describes the films as the following. “The film is a darker reimagining of the classic Robin Hood tale. Set of its time, the film will see the title character grappling with his past after a life of crime and murder, a battleworn loner who finds himself gravely injured and in the hands of a mysterious woman, who offers him a chance at salvation.”

Lyrical Media will be financing the film. Alexander Black will produce the film alongside Ryder and Andrew Sweet. Black gave Deadline the following information about the project. “We are thrilled to be part of this very special project and to be working with a visionary director in Michael, a phenomenal cast in Hugh and Jodie, and producing with our frequent collaborators, Ryder and Swett at RPC.”

“This is not the story of Robin Hood we’ve all come to know,” Ryder and Swett stated to Deadline “Instead, Michael has crafted something far more grounded and visceral. Thanks to Alexander Black and our friends at Lyrical along with Rama and Michael, the world is going to love seeing Hugh and Jodie together in this epic.”

Sarnoski seems to be excited by the project as well. He offered Deadline the following information about the film.

“It has been an incredible opportunity to reinvent and freshly innovate the story we all know of Robin Hood. Securing the perfect cast to transform the script to screen was essential. I could not be more thrilled and trusting in Hugh and Jodie to bring this story to life in a powerful and meaningful way.”

We are still a long way away from seeing this Robin Hood tale. Production is expected to begin in February of 2025. However, it does sound like it will be a fun entry into the Robin Hood canon.

That’s all the information we have at this time.

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