Summary
- Pennywise is an ancient cosmic being, not just a killer clown- operates on a Lovecraftian level of horror.
- Misconceptions about Pennywise dilute his psych-horror undertones in popular culture- his power extends beyond violence.
- Pennywise is a cosmic horror villain, originating in the Macroverse- thrives on fear and preys on misery of Derry.
Pennywise the Clown from Stephen King’s It isn’t just some frightening slasher in clown makeup on a murderous spree. When discussing the character’s penchant for terror, fans overlook the fact that he is an ancient, cosmic being and, more importantly, the physical manifestation of fear.
In both the It films and the novels, this otherworldly creature makes one of the best (or worst) uses of shape-shifting powers, literally becoming what his victims fear the most. Pennywise operates on a Lovecraftian level of horror rather than sheer bloodthirst, as he toys with his victims’ anxieties and feeds on their dread.
It's Monster Is Not A Killer Clown
The reason Pennywise often gets reduced to a mere killer clown is the universal popularity of the two It remakes. The marketing of these movies became a double-edged sword for the character. Pennywise became instantly recognizable, but people who have never read the books or watched the films assumed he is simply a person in a clown costume going around killing people. This misconception dilutes the character's psych-horror undertones in popular culture. As terrifying as the clown looks or as violent as his actions may be, his true power extends far beyond these surface-level traits.
Stephen King created Pennywise as a primal, cosmic force of evil, with physical harm being just a means to an end. The clown breaks its victims mentally and targets their emotional weak points to create a larger sense of existential dread. This feels more real and spine-chilling than other horror tropes, such as a ghost needing to be exorcised or events occurring in a haunted house. While Pennywise does have a backstory of sorts, it’s not really straightforward, which aligns with something the It author wrote in a 2008 piece for Entertainment Weekly.
Nightmares exist outside of logic, and there’s little fun to be had in explanations; they’re antithetical to the poetry of fear.
The hit survival video game Alan Wake borrows this quote to begin the game, explaining how, in a horror story, the victim keeps asking "why," yet there can be no explanation – and there shouldn’t be one. The voice-over concludes that an unanswered mystery is what stays the longest in a person's mind and what they’ll remember in the end. This holds especially true for Pennywise the Clown from It. Understanding the character’s “killer” motives like revenge or bloodlust would provide readers or viewers with a sense of comfort or safety in human logic.
Pennywise Is A Cosmic Horror Villain
Stephen King showcases his cosmic horror genius by keeping It’s origins in the Macroverse or the Void, a dimension beyond our reality. After crash-landing on Earth centuries ago, it took quite some time for the creature to assume the form of Pennywise the Clown – a guise that easily lures children while simultaneously preying on their fears. In the key events that follow in both the novel and the films, the members of the Losers’ Club are able to defeat the monster only when they realize how it feeds on fear. Once they stop fearing It, the creature loses its grip on them, and the kids manage to beat it all the way back into slumber.
In the novel, the creature’s physical form is closest to that of a large spider, particularly during the climax. It takes on a genderless, alien form that can render anyone who looks at it directly catatonic. However, representing this shape-shifting being in its true Lovecraftian style might feel incomprehensible. This is why the clown is also remembered for the other forms it takes, such as a werewolf, a mummy, or dead drowned children.
How Stephen King Physically Manifests Fear
On the surface, the clown appears to be a supernatural phenomenon or a serial killer preying on human children every 27 years. The reason it creates fear before consuming its victims is supposedly to “salt the meat,” as frightened flesh is said to taste better to the creature. However, the clown truly thrives on the misery of the town, Derry, Maine. The townspeople lead terrible lives, and Pennywise is simply their worst nightmare come true – a physical manifestation of their suffering. This is more evident in King’s original novel, where the most scary parts have little to do with the clown itself.
It’s unfair to compare Pennywise to more conventional killer clowns, like Art the Clown from the Terrifier franchise. King doesn’t rely on violence and gore to scare his readers. If Pennywise were simply a psychopath with bloodlust, the situation would be entirely different. Instead, the creature casts its victims into an endless void and doesn’t let them die in peace. The feeling of eternal suffering and the gradual loss of sanity seem far scarier than the most gruesome murder imaginable, and that’s what makes Pennywise terrifying in Stephen King's It.
It Chapter Two
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- September 6, 2019
WHERE TO WATCH
Join the Losers' Club as they return to Derry in It Chapter Two to confront the terrifying Pennywise once and for all. Packed with spine-chilling scares, compelling characters, and immersive visuals, this Blu-ray edition brings the chilling conclusion to Stephen King's epic tale right into your living room. This set is packed with extra features, including multiple documentaries, director commentary, and featurettes.
