Featuring exclusive behind the scenes footage and interviews with cast and crew, Pennywise: The Story of It is a fascinating and engrossing deep dive into the 1990 It miniseries and its impact upon a generation of horror fans.  

The release of the It miniseries was a seminal moment in horror. Premiering on US TV screens in November of 1990 over the course of two nights, the Tommy Lee Wallace (Fright Night 2) directed It took Stephen King’s sprawling novel and adapted it into three hours and 20 minutes of terror in which a demonic killer clown terrorises a small town in Middle America, until a group of outcast kids stand up to this eater of souls. Viewers around the world felt the psychological scars of It, with Tim Curry’s now legendary portrayal of Pennywise the Clown, especially, searing itself into the minds of a generation of horror fans young and old.

It is of little surprise then that directors John Campopiano and Chris Griffiths would take their particular set of skills and create the ultimate deep dive into the making and legacy of It. Both filmmakers have a made for themselves with their own respective documentaries into horror classics such as Pet Semetary and Hellraiser, and together they have created a documentary in Pennywise: The Story of It that is informative, engrossing, and very well crafted.

Beginning with Stephen King’s inspiration into the creation of the 1985 It novel, and then spiralling out to topics such as coulrophobia (the fear of clowns) and the universally despised reaction to the series’ “giant spider” conclusion, Pennywise: The Story of It is a treasure trove of riches for fans not only of horror, but the process of filmmaking and all its facets.

The real draw of Pennywise: The Story of It is the excellent behind the scenes archival footage coupled with new interviews with the series’ cast and crew, including the likes of Seth Green, Emily Perkins, and series director Tommy Lee Wallace.

Of most note is the presence of Pennywise himself, Tim Curry. Wheelchair bound and partially paralysed from the result of a stroke suffered in 2012, Curry still cuts a magnetic presence who wows with his recollection of becoming Pennywise and the glee in terrorising his young castmates, as well as the torture of an arduous make-up process that almost led to Curry quitting the role.

At 126 minutes, Pennywise: The Story of It is jam-packed with superbly researched and presented footage, trivia, and little-known-titbits from the mouths of those who made it. In an ever-increasing market of deep-dive documentaries into influential pop culture movies, Pennywise: The Story of It is one of the best yet.