It was way back in 1986 when horror maestro Stephen King — author of awesome and disturbing books such as The Shining, Misery, Pet Semetary, and Carrie to name a few — wrote the now iconic novel, IT. The book was #22 in his bibliography and the story follows the experiences of seven children as they are terrorized by an evil entity that exploits the fears of its victims to disguise itself while hunting its prey. In this case, the monster transforms itself into Pennywise the Dancing Clown in order to lure its favorite prey — young children. That’s some sick, twisted imagination, Mr. King!
The novel was first adapted in 1990 in the form of a television mini-series starring the great Tim Curry as Pennywise. With the book being such a lengthy doorstop, a TV series was a great way to encompass it all for the small screen, even if the resulting production was a mixed bag. However, much like most of King’s other works, the big screen beckoned for Pennywise along with the Losers Club. In 2017, Argentine filmmaker, Andy Muschietti, whose 2013 directorial debut, Mama, was a suitably spooky hit for Universal, signed on as director of a new film adaptation of the book, split into two sections with It: Chapter One focusing on the children of the Losers Club and It: Chapter Two revisiting the little poppets as adults. Both movies proved to be smash hits, cemented Bill Skarsgard as a force to be reckoned with, and each feature scenes that are now carved in the minds of gorehounds the world over.
However, which movie floats as high as one of Pennywise’s red balloons, and which should have its arm bitten off in a sewer? There’s only one way to find out… FACE OFF!
This episode of Face Off is written by Adam Walton, narrated by Shawn Knippelberg, and edited by John Nguyen. But don’t let us have the final word — tell us in the comments which Stephen King flick is your pick — 2017’s It: Chapter One or It: Chapter Two?