Stephen King's It

A horror sci-fi miniseries these days is as rare as moon rocks, as far and few between as known inhabited planets. And make no mistake, It is a humdinger, one big kicky ride thanks to the charismatic acting of Curry as savage, sneering malevolence. Moreover, the work of Reid, Anderson, Christopher, Ritter, Thomas, O'Toole and Masur make It a sensational horror show.

A true horror story, possibly the most successful horror story ever made for television, a medium hostile to sustaining belief in the unbelievable. The four-hour miniseries is a bit too long, and the ending doesn't live up to what has gone before, but this Stephen King story is gripping, fascinating, well-acted and superbly produced. [18 Nov 1990, p.5]

The four-hour package makes an eerie supernatural tale, spiced with substantial good-versus-evil subtext and musings on the power of friendship. Screenwriters Lawrence D. Cohen and Tommy Lee Wallace are true to the book`s spirit, and Wallace`s direction is snappy. They treat King`s gifts with respect. One of the best is his way of transforming the most ordinary items into images and instruments of terror.

Pennywise is no sweetheart. Yet this is a story that’s icky, not scary. And when you finally do get a look at the evil force in its natural state, well c’mon! Now, the monster in “Alien” was a load. But this clanky klutz? Please! The performances here, especially Thomas as the stuttering horror novelist Bill, are very good. And director Tommy Lee Wallace nicely mixes realities, artfully using his flashbacks to establish Pennywise and repeatedly return “It” to its 1960 roots.

Offers some deliciously shocking moments, several sequences when you may want to remind yourself: "This is not real. [17 Nov 1990, p.C-9]

In addition to It‘s slow pace, I found the ending a big letdown — unimaginative special effects animate the monster in its final incarnation. But the cast is terrific, Curry’s cackle is chilling, and King’s usual buried theme — about the pain adults inflict on children without even realizing it (It?) — is always worth pondering.

If Twin Peaks is a midnight movie for prime-time, then Stephen King's It is the miniseries equivalent of those Saturday-matinee shockers that merrily warped a generation before Freddie and Jason began staking their more graphic turf...None of the big moments, especially the limp climax, are as nerve-wracking as the plentiful incidental spooks along the way. Accept It on its own popcorn-munching terms, and keep the lights on high. [16 Nov 1990, p.1D]

Many flaws, and far too long. It is kind of boring at times. But as an adaptation it isn't too bad. Tim Curry is great as pennywise also.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

Tim Curry knocks it out the Park as Pennywise Tim was the perfect choice for pennywise he brought more to the character then you would expect from this adaption but overall the story direction has its flows not every faith to the voice of king but part two was a little more true to the story but the finale was kinda a let down but back then you where are very limited to what you could show but in ways this is better than the motion picture film were Andy muschietti was more focused on the first director C.J Funkaga Goonies meets a Horror Film and using Jump-scares over Suspense Tension and Dread but just putting them in one scene after another and the more it goes on not only is the pacing slow but slower than the pacing in the Mini series but director Tommy Lee Wallace relys on suspense tension and Dread as well as Hitchcock Surprise over suspense I give 6 out of 10 for trying

Tim Curry knocks it out the Park as Pennywise Tim was the perfect choice for pennywise he brought more to the character then you would expect from this adaption but overall the story direction has its flows not every faith to the voice of king but part two was a little more true to the story but the finale was kinda a let down but back then you where are very limited to what you could show but in ways this is better than the motion picture film were Andy muschietti was more focused on the first director C.J Funkaga Goonies meets a Horror Film and using Jump-scares over Suspense Tension and Dread but just putting them in one scene after another and the more it goes on not only is the pacing slow but slower than the pacing in the Mini series but director Tommy Lee Wallace relys on suspense tension and Dread as well as Hitchcock Surprise over suspense I give 6 out of 10 for trying