Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		3.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Pennywise: The Story of IT Blu-ray Movie Review

Beep beep, kiddies...

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown October 20, 2023

Was there anything scarier in the early '90s than the IT television miniseries? If you were old enough to watch real horror movies, the answer is a resounding "yes". But if you, like me, were too young, had yet to push past the boundaries of the PG-13 realm and were stuck watching primetime television and non-R-rated movies, ABC's two-part, three-hour adaptation of Stephen King's 1,100-page horror masterpiece of the same name was the be-all, end-all of terrifying sights and frights. Yet today, nearly thirty-five years later, director Tommy Lee Wallace and screenwriter Lawrence D. Cohen's IT pales in comparison to the horrors my memory conjures when I remember first watching it. Tim Curry's unsettling performance still stands tall but the rest of the film feels dated, hurried and poorly constructed, showing its age and the limitations of network horror at every turn. Where does that leave Pennywise: The Story of IT, Chris Griffiths and John Campopiano's two-hour look-back documentary on the production of the original 1990 miniseries? In good shape actually. The movie itself may not hold up very well (at least by my standards), but this nostalgia-fueled trip back in time is well worth the effort and the price of admission.

'Pennywise: The Story of IT' offers an in-depth look at the 1990 ABC mini-series based on Stephen King's iconic novel. It not only features plenty of previously unseen behind-the-scenes footage, it includes interviews with many of the cult classic's key players, among them director Tommy Lee Wallace, makeup effects supervisor Bart Mixon, composer Richard Bellis and cast members Richard Thomas (Bill Denbrough), Tim Reid (Mike Hanlon), Dennis Christopher (Eddie Kaspbrak), Richard Masur (Stanley Uris), Seth Green (young Richie Tozier), Brandon Crane (young Ben Hanscom), Emily Perkins (young Beverly Marsh), Marlon Taylor (young Mike Hanlon), Ben Heller (young Stanley Uris), Jarred Blancard (young Henry Bowers), Gabe Khouth (bully Patrick), Frank C. Turner (Bev's father Al Marsh) and Tim Curry, who portrayed the notorious otherworldly demon-clown, Pennywise.

Fans can expect to be bombarded by production anecdotes right out of the gate, from both the adult cast and their preteen (now adult) counterparts. The kids were apparently a handful, joking and causing trouble at every turn, but the now-wizened actors have the sweetest, aw- schucks memories of the production. Those who played the adults in IT serve up more interesting tidbits, particularly the filmmakers, combining into a balanced blend of nostalgia and professional recollection that really begins to rekindle the life and chemistry the cast and crew shared on set. A lot of attention is given to the adaptative challenges, budgetary constraints, content restrictions and changes to the source novel, which is very appreciated. But just as much time is devoted to the hands-on experiences of the principals, who were wading into experimental territory in trying to fully realize terror on the small screen at a time when gore, violence and more squeamish visuals were expressly forbidden on network TV.

There are disappointments to be had. Stephen King and Tim Curry don't get nearly enough screentime (although the latter's health struggles most likely are the cause of his limited interviews), scene-stealers John Ritter and Harry Anderson have sadly passed away, and key actors like Annette O'Toole (adult Beverly Marsh) are MIA. There also isn't as much behind-the-scenes footage of the more volatile clashes on set, moments of filmmaker frustrations or shots of the kids misbehaving. Most of the B-roll is what you'd expect from a '90s production: all the good, none of the bad. Thankfully the interviewees are more than happy to recount those aspects of the making of the miniseries, and their openness is certainly welcome. Pennywise: The Story of IT is no mere puff piece or nostalgia train. It's a legitimate hurdle-by-hurdle, scene-by-scene, character-by-character walk through the adaptation and its broadcast airing. If you ever loved IT -- even if you no longer find it as effective or entertaining as you once did -- this documentary is an easy recommendation.

Pennywise: The Story of IT Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

There aren't many surprises to Cinedigm's 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation. 21st century interviews generally look great, archive production footage holds up and miniseries clips are excellent. A handful of interviews struggle (the lighting in Seth Green's segments is problematic and struggles with a hint of softness) but the vast majority of the sit-downs and talking heads feature lifelike colors, striking fine detail, handsome contrast and deep black levels. Some banding and other minor issues creep into the documentary, but it's infrequent and never amounts to much of a distraction. On the whole, Pennywise: The Story of IT's Blu-ray presentation delivers and then some.

Pennywise: The Story of IT Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There isn't much to Cinedigm's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track. Interview voices are clear, natural and nicely prioritized, archive footage and miniseries clips are more inconsistent but deliver the best their original audio mixes can, and dynamics are solid. Otherwise there aren't any real jolts of rear speaker prowess or low-end heft to speak of. There are bits of soundfield wizardry on occasion (mainly when the IT score kicks in or film clips feature Pennywise at his demonic worst) but nothing that pulls the documentary out of the tried-and-true, front-heavy talking head soundscape such productions are known to have. None of it proves distracting, but none of it proves very remarkable either.

Pennywise: The Story of IT Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• The Book Cover - Dive into the original IT manuscript and cover design with artist Bob Giusti.

• A Deeper Look at the Music - An interview with composer Richard Bellis on the inspiration for his score.

• Georgie: A Short Film - A short film featuring the cast from the original miniseries.

• Childhood Phobias - The IT cast and crew discuss their own childhood fears.

• The Extras of 'IT' - Brief interviews with several miniseries extras and additional crew.

• The Legacy Continues - A look at the legacy, longevity and continued popularity of the ITminiseries.

Pennywise: The Story of IT Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

How scary is the IT miniseries? That depends on how much the frights of yesteryear still unsettle your soul. For most of us, the miniseries is a quaint bit of nostalgic horror that offers more good memories than modern day terrors. That said, Pennywise: The Story of IT is well worth watching, regardless of how well you believe IT holds up some thirty-five years after its airing. Cinedigm's Blu-ray release holds its own too, thanks to a solid AV presentation and a small but decent selection of special features.