There's been some big news since my last IT Spot blog: first, Stephen King himself has praised the picture. Though I'm not sure I can trust the director of Maximum Overdrive to know what makes a good horror movie.
The other is that the young cast of IT part one met their Pennywise, and was afraid of him. The director seems to think this is a big deal, but I'm less impressed. There's something to be said for your actors actually being afraid of the villain, but there's also an element of unprofessionalism there. I'm not sure if I'd rather have real fear verses capable actors who are comfortable enough to act afraid.
The original cast was afraid of Tim Curry, and it worked beautifully. The boy in Insidious was specially instructed that Lipstick Face wasn't real, and wasn't afraid. Both films are great, and both sets of child actors do fine.
Some of the greatest performances in horror were born of real discomfort. Shelly Duvall in The Shining was basically tortured by Stanley Kubrick. The skeletons in the Poltergeist pool scene were real. And lets not get started on what Hitchcock did to Tippi Hedron in The Birds.
But real fear isn't necessary to a good performance. Miko Hughes in Pet Semetary played with his doll stand-in. Robert Englund's co-stars are jovial and relaxed with him on Nightmare on Elm Street commentaries, recalling fun times on set. So it swings both ways.
I'm trying to remain optimistic, but with keeping the timeline linear as to "not confuse" the audience, and Pennywise's look, it's getting tough. I just have the hope the trailer looks good, since we should be seeing it soon.
Hint: nothing in this.
The other is that the young cast of IT part one met their Pennywise, and was afraid of him. The director seems to think this is a big deal, but I'm less impressed. There's something to be said for your actors actually being afraid of the villain, but there's also an element of unprofessionalism there. I'm not sure if I'd rather have real fear verses capable actors who are comfortable enough to act afraid.
The original cast was afraid of Tim Curry, and it worked beautifully. The boy in Insidious was specially instructed that Lipstick Face wasn't real, and wasn't afraid. Both films are great, and both sets of child actors do fine.
Not that Lin Shaye seemed thrilled either.
Some of the greatest performances in horror were born of real discomfort. Shelly Duvall in The Shining was basically tortured by Stanley Kubrick. The skeletons in the Poltergeist pool scene were real. And lets not get started on what Hitchcock did to Tippi Hedron in The Birds.
But real fear isn't necessary to a good performance. Miko Hughes in Pet Semetary played with his doll stand-in. Robert Englund's co-stars are jovial and relaxed with him on Nightmare on Elm Street commentaries, recalling fun times on set. So it swings both ways.
I'm trying to remain optimistic, but with keeping the timeline linear as to "not confuse" the audience, and Pennywise's look, it's getting tough. I just have the hope the trailer looks good, since we should be seeing it soon.
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