If you’ve read Stephen King’s IT, or more recently watched the 2017 film adaptation of the same name (or ever wanted to but have been rightfully too scared to do so), you probably have a few questions. Let us answer your burning questions about IT, then watch this classic horror icon come to life on screen in IT Chapter One (and now, IT Chapter Two!) on *Xfinity on Demand.
Stephen King’s ‘IT’— what is “it”, anyway?
First of all, most of you have probably wondered, “are Pennywise and IT the same thing?”
Well, yes and no. “IT” refers to an ancient evil lurking under King’s fictional town of Derry, Maine, which just happens to most frequently show itself to humans (notably, to children) as Pennywise, the Dancing Clown. As if an ancient evil isn’t creepy enough, King kicks it up a notch by making “it” most often appear as a creepy clown. Yep, that’s some great nightmare fuel.
How did Pennywise come to be, and can Pennywise die?
To avoid spoilers for those who haven’t actually seen the film, we’re going to answer these queries very carefully. For one, Pennywise seems to have come to earth originally in the form of an ancient evil— a being not meant for this world, probably from outer space or another dimension. So, can something like that “die”? That is the question our young heroes attempt to answer throughout the course of IT, and you’ll have to watch to find out.
What actor plays Pennywise?
Well, in the 2017 adaptation, it’s none other than actor Bill Skarsgård. Coming from a household of famous (and very, very good) actors, Skarsgård shows off his acting chops as Pennywise— because, trust us, you won’t want to sleep with the lights off for quite some time after hearing him say, “We all float down here!” (Honorable mention to Tim Curry, who plays Pennywise in the 1990 miniseries, and is also fantastically creepy.)
Can Pennywise leave Derry, and who is Pennywise, really?
Once again— these are some pretty complicated (and spoiler-rich) questions, but good ones, nonetheless. In a sense, all we know about Pennywise is that they’re actually a malevolent force of ancient evil (referred to as “it”, generally) and they are, for whatever reason, tethered to the town of Derry, Maine. Some interpretations suggest that it’s everyday evil that keeps them tied there, or at least keeps them coming back from their deep sleep every 27 years, but other viewers aren’t so sure. Either way, 27 years is the cadence with which this monstrous, creepy clown comes back to haunt and taunt the children of Derry, and it’s beyond scary whether on the page or the screen.
So, think you’re ready to watch IT? You can catch IT Chapter One and IT Chapter Two on Xfinity on Demand. Just say “IT” into your Xfinity Voice Remote to get started.
*IT Chapter One available to rent or own on Xfinity on Demand. IT Chapter Two available to own on Xfinity on Demand.
