Spooky Movie Month Day #10 – IT (1990)

October 10th 

“You’ve traumatized me, mother. Look upon me and see what you have done.” -Lion, as we watched the credits roll after part 1 of IT, the tv miniseries from 1990.

The miniseries, directed by Tommy Lee Wallace based on Stephen King’s 1986 novel ,“IT”, boasted an all star cast for its day. Staring everyone’s favorite bad guy, Tim Curry, Harry Anderson, Annette O’Toole, John Ritter, Seth Green, Jonathan Brandis, Emily Perkins, Jerred Blanchard and so many other names I came to be familiar with and love as I grew up! 

So, what’s the story with this? Well, the youngest, Lion, has been begging me to watch Stephen King’s IT since they first heard about a possible connection between the IT universe and Stranger Things. 

I agreed, but only if we watched the made-for-TV release from 1990, as it’s not nearly as terrifying or gross as the newer version. I also made sure we watched it in the middle of the day on an afternoon between several other tasks and appointments, so there would be almost instant distractions to pull them out of the universe faster afterwards. 

I remember seeing IT when it was on tv as a miniseries. I was a kid, probably the same ages they were in the story. I remember watching the first half one night and not feeling any sort of resolution.  Because it begins when they’re adults and you know the thing is back and whatever they did as kids didn’t work, when it ends, you already know there’s more terror to come. 

I remember being totally traumatized by Beverly’s father and his abusive behaviors toward her, followed by the “sink incident”. That scene literally gave me nightmares for years and still to this day, I have issues with tiled bathrooms and little pedestal sinks. 

I remember being no older than the kids in the movie. I remember the anticipation and being fully, utterly preoccupied for that few days between part 1 and part 2… agonizing over what would happen to them and if anyone would survive. 

I remember the terrifying house with the staircase and the mummy. (I think that mummy scared me more than the clown, to be honest.) 

Most of all, I remember feeling like I’d hit a new level of maturity by the time it was over. I wasn’t afraid anymore.

When they killed the monster at the end, I remember feeling even a little disappointed. All that for a giant, prehistoric-looking insect? It was so bizarre and completely unbelievable, I wasn’t scared at all. That was the one an only time I saw it. 

Watching it again as an adult was a very different perspective. Like walking into a house that seemed massive and incredible as a kid only to discover it was really quite small and not nearly as grand as you remembered.

Still, it had its moments and a few clever creepy moments. Overall, I had fun revisiting the Derry of 1990.

How did my kids do? 

Dragon bailed as Georgie followed his boat down the gutter. They knew what was coming and had zero desire to see it. Dragon spent the rest of the movie in the next room with headphones on, occasionally checking in to see what was happening. I was very proud they knew their limits and stood their ground with their comfort levels. I didn’t force them to watch it and they knew if it was too much they could leave without judgement. When they were done, they left. Some may call this a disappointment or a “fail”, but to me, it’s a proud mama moment. 

Lion stayed, watched the whole thing and loved it. We stopped after every scary scene to chat and give them time to process and decide if they wanted to continue. They handled it SO much better than I did at their age!! The scene with the old woman at Bev’s house – not even a big deal. The mummy in the old house – their comment was; “that’s what you get for walking into someone’s house without asking”. The ghost of the father calling his child into the sewer water then turning into a skeleton – Psshh… sure it’s creepy, but whateves. Easy. The bloody bathroom scene that scared me to death as a kid; “That scared you mom? I’m just angry for her that she has to clean that bathroom!” Of course it did scare them but in exactly the way they’d hoped and they were very happy. Their overall review;  

“It was terrifying, I’m deeply traumatized and I loved it. Heh.. I loved IT. Get it?? Get IT???”

We rejoined Dragon after and filled him in on what happened. He said “oh cool. Glad you liked it”. 

This years’s spooky movie season is teaching some pretty powerful lessons in autonomy, knowing ones’ limits and setting personal boundaries. I hadn’t expected that, but I’m LOVING it as a side effect. 

Tomorrow is up for grabs and I have NO idea what we’re watching. Stay tuned to the Mothership’s frequencies to find out!