This is a documentary that I meant to watch last October for a horror movie challenge I do every year, but life and time got away from me. I decided to sign up for Screambox for a year as they have interesting new horror movies and documentaries that I wanted to check out. This was one that I watched while working.

Now I wasn't old enough to remember when the television mini-series hit. When I started to expand my horror film base, Stephen King adaptations and reading his works was where I started. My sister and I rented this from the video store. I believe we also bought the VHS soon after. A slight problem is that I think I watched this out of order the first time. That didn't bother me too much though as I fell in love at that young age with this story.

This is a great documentary. They interview so many people behind the scenes like Tommy Lee Wallace, Lawrence D. Cohen, Bart Mixon and Richard Bellis. That is just scratching the surface. What I like here is that they give trade secrets and the issues they endured getting this made. This gets coupled with the on-screen talent like Tim Curry, Richard Thomas, Seth Green, Dennis Christopher, Richard Masur, Tim Reid and Emily Perkins. Again, that isn't everyone. We learn about how the children became friends and how they bonded with the adults to make this work seamless. It was interesting to hear the casting and the issues that they had with the network to get this to show how Wallace intended.

I would also say that this is a well-made documentary. They do well at splicing in clips, both from what aired and showing behind the scenes footage. It gives you a deeper understanding and for those that loved this mini-series, appreciation. Having checked this out now, I'm even more curious to revisit now that I know. I enjoyed my time with this quite a bit and worth a watch for fans for sure.

My Rating: 8 out of 10.

With someone that's always had an interest in Stephen King's works, IT was always a story that intrigued me the most. This documentary covers everything from interviews with the original cast, Tim Curry's make-up tests and behind the scenes footage. It's a documentary well overdue and surprisingly it took 22 years to make. Highly recommended!!

To some, the 1990 miniseries has been overshadowed by the recent film adaptations, but for many, the IT miniseries is very special, and now has a cult following. Despite the limitation of television at the time, and the smaller budget, this presentation did a good job of capturing the small-town feel and childhood friendship aspect in the novel, and Tim Curry has deservedly received praise for his portrayal of Pennywise. He made many people afraid of clowns.

This documentary was long-awaited (its release was delayed because of COVID-19), and it is a real treat for fans. Many of the actors are interviewed; in addition to stories about the production, there's also a bit of discussion of the history of clowns in popular culture and of course, a discussion about the novel by Stephen King. Composer Richard Bellis won an Emmy for his music, which contributes so much to the atmosphere of the story. The documentary also pays tribute to Jonathan Brandis and John Ritter, both of whom passed away in 2003. It was great to see photos of the child actors having fun and hanging out together, including with the teenage actors who played the bullies, and to see the kids posing with their adult counterparts. There's no denying that there were flaws in the miniseries (particularly in the second half), and it should have been longer, as was originally planned. However, it holds a special place in the hearts of many. A must-see for fans.