Monday Bloody Monday: ‘Belch’s Death’ From ‘Stephen King’s IT’ (1990)

Have you heard the news?  There’s some movie called IT coming out this week.  Yeah, you probably haven’t read or seen much about it, but apparently it’s a reboot/remake of the 1990 mini-series of the same name and a potentially much more faithful adaptation of the Stephen King novel.  Oh, I’m pulling your leg – you’d have to be living in a sewer to not know about this movie, since news of IT has been floating around everywhere.

So on this week’s Monday Bloody Monday, I felt it only right to go back to the original movie (which hasn’t aged well in spots unfortunately) and revisit one of my favorite scenes:  Belch’s death.  This scene always creeped me out as a kid, the way his body bends in half when he gets pulled in by the ‘deadlights’.  Make sure to keep watching and check out Henry Bowers’ wicked white Elvis hairdo too.  And make sure not to be a loser and go check out the new version of IT in theaters this week!

Captain Obvious: The Market For ‘IT’ Has Been Amazing!

Yeah yeah – not the most shocking and groundbreaking headline, I know.  But color me very impressed with the way that Warner Brothers and the folks behind the new IT movie have marketed it’s upcoming September 8th release.  Having seen the original 1990 mini-series and recently finishing the original Stephen King novel for the first time, I am more than ready to see this new incarnation of Pennywise ‘The Dancing Clown’ on the big screen.  And luckily for all of you as excited as me, there is more than enough fanfare to go around to keep the IT anticipation train rolling.

I was lucky enough to hop aboard the IT: Float cinematic virtual reality school bus a few weeks back at the ScareLA convention in Los Angeles.  After boarding the bus and standing in a mock sewer (with creepy audio surrounding you in addition to a jump scare or two), you’re taken to your VR chair where you put on the corresponding headgear and headphones and begin your IT journey through the streets of the town Derry where IT lives.  You can actually experience this for yourself HERE if you have the proper equipment.  It (no puns) was pretty cool and started to get me more and more onboard with the upcoming movie.  As did the recently released 8-bit video game that you can either play on your computer or phone.  Check that out HERE.

But by far the best promotional move for IT has come in the form of the actual Neibolt house from the book (this wasn’t really shown or referenced in the 1990 movie).  If you’re lucky enough to live or be in the vicinity of Hollywood, then you can experience the IT Experience: Neibolt House on the corner of Hollywood and Vine.  It’s pretty amazing that they got this up as fast as they did, and not so amazing is that reservations quickly sold out.  Luckily I had some, but if you’re not as fortunate then there is a standby line (with a wait time between 1-3 hours).

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You’re guided into the house by Georgie (complete with yellow raincoat and all) and taken up some spiral stairs where you then go from room to room, experiencing some pretty cool animatronics and creepy live actors as well.  This limited haunted house runs through the weekend of September 10th.  And make sure you snatch up your tickets for the actual IT movie coming out that same weekend on September 8th!  All in all, this movie is on track to do in the area of $50 million on opening weekend, which is pretty amazing for any movie in September, let alone an ‘R’ rated horror one.  Kudos to anyone involved with the promotion and marketing for IT, because that has really helped spread the word, especially to people not even familiar with the book or original 1990 mini-series.  Now who’s ready to float with me?

Beware Of ‘Pennywise The Dancing Clown’ And His………………Wig!!!!!!!!

I for one, am very excited about the upcoming revamped movie version of Stephen King’s IT.  I’ve been reading the novel to better prepare myself, and luckily there has been tons of new merchandise popping up to give the anticipation a little boost.  Case in point, the brand new Funko Pop! figures that were announced and revealed this week.  There will be 4 in total as of right now:  A regular orange-haired Pennywise that holds a paper boat, one that holds a balloon (Hot Topic Exclusive), a special ‘Chase’ version with a more sepia color tone, and then the Walmart Exclusive of Pennywise……….in a wig!

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Oh my shit.  Now at first glance, I would expect some My Chemical Romance or Fall Out Boy to be playing while I look at this figure.  Emo Pennywise is pretty rad.  I guess. But anyway, this is indeed a big scene from the trailer (and movie) for IT where Pennywise is wearing a wig – masking himself until he reveals his true self to The Loser’s Club.  Did it need it’s own figure?  Ehhhhh – maybe not.  It does make me want to go buy some Pantene shampoo or something though.  Regardless of my feelings for this particular Funko Pop!, I am digging the other ones and succumbed to the pressure and bought a ‘Chase’ version on eBay yesterday.  I wouldn’t mind a figure based on The Leper from the book btw.  Now get ready for IT, as it floats into theaters on September 8th!  That bad pun was free of charge.

Give Me The Creeps: ‘Tea Time’ From ‘Stephen King’s IT’ (1990)

With the newly rebooted and remade version of Stephen King’s IT coming to the big screen in a two-parter, I recently started to think more about the original TV mini-series from 1990.  Clearly most of the praise from that goes to Tim Curry giving a memorably creepy (and charming) performance as Pennywise The Clown.  But there are enough little bits and pieces sprinkled throughout that are just as creepy and never fail to give me the creeps.  Case in point:  Beverly’s visit back home for some tea time.

Granted this scene is much different than how it plays out in the book (this was regular TV after all), but goddammit if I still don’t get the shakes when the old lady starts slurping her tea.  And then when she turns into an old and rotten version of Beverly’s Dad?  Phew. Check please!  We shall see how the big screen treats this when the new version of IT comes out later this year, but suffice to say that I still to this day get the creeps from the TV version.  Beep Beep!