Pennywise: We All Float Down Here

When it comes to horror films, I am not the type to watch The Conjuring, or Hereditary. And trust me, there are scenes that can't be unseen, including one head banger in Hereditary. Unlike some people, I quite enjoy sleeping peacefully, so that scene was enough for the year. No, the horror film I quite enjoy watching, is the 2017 IT: Chapter One.  

Why IT Chapter One?

I'm not about the heart racing traumatizing films, such as the “Turn it off, turn on the lights and put on Caillou” type horror. I'm all about the story, the spectacle, being entertained… which is why when it comes to Horror films, I'm drawn to movies such as Alien (all of them including the tv series), The Shining and Doctor Sleep. When I watch them, specifically IT Part One, it's no different from watching Jurassic Park, or Godzilla (Not horrors, I know). Respectfully, The Shining and Alien were scary movies for their time and still holds to this day as classic horror films, even though many people have been desensitized by modern movies.

So, what is the first thing that draws me into IT?

We'll get the first thing out of the way and say the intro's music and it's tone was top notch in my eyes… ears. But from there, the story starts with an introduction of one of the main characters, Bill, and his little brother Georgie in his yellow rain coat (Don't worry, the yellow coated Georgie doesn't die, WINK WINK). 

The part that draws you in, is when Billy's brother runs outside in the rain, and chases a paper boat down towards a sewer drain. Its ironic that water is usually used as a symbol of a fresh start, new beginnings, resurrection, and such. Or, it can be used romantically… but I think we both know Pennywise isn't the romantic type. That's a different movie. Anyways, it isn't a fresh start for Georgie. In fact, its a fresh start for Pennywise, the dancing clown!

He loves hiding in the background, using trickery and controlling your attention with red balloons. But most of all, he feeds on your fear, and will do anything to intensify it. Wherever the red balloon is, Pennywise is there. 

So when Billy's brother loses his paper boat down the sewer drain, up POPS Pennywise with “Hiya Georgie!”. The rain, the puddles and yellow coat, really sets the scene for the monster in the shadows to rise up and snatch you.

He will make your life go POP like a balloon. 

Pennywise for me is a unique monster (Entity). With the clown suit and makeup, choosing to live in the sewer system, and using children as food instead of sending eviction notices and electricity bills to adults before feasting on them. You want to produce fear and feast? Adulting and more flesh would be more substantial, would it not?

Sorry, not the point.

So, we learn a bit about Pennywise and his hunger. His manipulation. And, we get to see the first death of a child who may or may not be Georgie. And throughout the film, we see the lives of Bill, Beverly, Richie, Eddie, Mike, Ben, and Stanley. Each one is picked by Pennywise as a walking feast as they all had something they feared. Only together, did they stand a chance. And by all means, they had a lot of people stacked against them.

Like who?

You have Henry Bowers and his crew constantly trying to bully, slice up, and even end their lives. Then you have Alvin Marsh towards Beverly (its worse in the novel), and Butch Bowers in a few ways towards Henry making him who is he today. And, we can include Eddie's mother, Sonia for her dominating and manipulating behavior towards Eddie. The couple in the car that see's Henry slicing into Ben, and just driving on (Pennywise did have a hand in that one for sure). I Believe there are more, but lets sum it up as “Most of the adults are problematic” in the way of: they are either abusive, pervy, looks the other way, or just useless at protecting the kids. Pennywise did cause alot of people to be warped, but not all the adults were warped by him, including Beverly's boyfriend in Part Two as they were outside of Derry.

With the abundance of antagonists and conflicts going on within the story, it never has a dull moment. And while we get different “Monsters” that chase after the “Losers Club”, its always Pennywise in disguise using his shapeshifting abilities which makes him very unique and terrifying. It shows us that evil comes in different shapes and sizes.

When you have so much stacked against you, with someone who can look like anyone and be anywhere at any time, they really didn't have much chance to survive. But, as a team, as friends, they were able to help each other even though friendship between them are messy at times. Though, crushing and love is messy on its own to add to the bundle of things. That being Ben crushing on Beverly, and Beverly crushing on Bill. 

But for all of that, it made this “Horror” a drama and coming of age as well. With a love triangle, overcoming bullies, and standing up to your parents. Things that really help with dramas and coming of age. But for a film not labeled as comedy, it sure is funny to watch. Especially for the things that come out of Richie's mouth. But for Richie being the funny kid, one of the best comedic lines was said by Eddie. 

“My sickness? Okay, what sickness, Ma? You know what these are? They're gazebos! They're bullshit!” 

- Eddie.

That line was supposed to say "They're placebo!", but the actor Jack Grazer messed up his line with “Gazebos” instead. The director loved it so much, and it fit the character so well, that they kept it in the film. 

Even behind the scenes, when they were filming Bill Skarsgard with the kids, he would try to comfort the kids when filming together. Jack Grazer being the one who got a front row seat to Pennywise screaming and drooling in Jack's face. During which, Jack would cry during the scene. Only when the scene was done, did Bill try to comfort Jack. And you know what Jack's response was? 

"Love what you're doing with the character!"

- Jack Grazer (AkA, Eddie)

So not only does the film itself draw me in with its conflicts, the humor, the music, its characters, but also the actors themselves who worked really hard, and worked so well with each other. A horror film made for multiple rewatches. 

As it turns out, IT Part Two is not the last of Pennywise. A new series will be coming out soon, called Welcome to Derry. So for all those Pennywise fans out there, you'll be seeing his drooling smile real soon.

What are some of your favorite Horror films that are both not scary at all, but you'll watch it over and over again as comfort?