iffy for ages 11: STRONG BLOOD AND VIOLENCE AND MODERATE LANGUAGE
It (1990)
-
Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings -
Is it any good?
-
Common Sense says
Stephen King pits kids vs. killer clown from hell.
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 13–15
What to watch out for
-
Violence:
-
Sex:
-
Language:
-
Consumerism:
-
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
What Parents Need to Know
This review of It (1990) was written by Charles Cassady Jr.
Parents need to know that the plot of this made-for-TV Stephen King adaptation centers on a long series of unsolved child murders, and while the worst of the nasty stuff is kept offscreen, there are still apparitions of semi-decayed juvenile ghosts, a werewolf, a fanged clown, and other monsters. Blood is shown frequently, gurgling out of drains and splashed around the community, but it's "supernatural" blood, only visible to the terrorized heroes and not other people.
Families Can Talk About
Talk to your kids about the media in their life. We have more tools and tips that can help
- Families can talk about the theme of friendship among the outcast kids in the movie and how it creates a secret world for them, one which (unlike the town's mainstream society of adults) allows them to perceive more clearly the menace of Pennywise and devise a plan to fight him. The plot continually hops across a 30-year timespan, seeing these characters both as grown ups and children. Parents can talk about reunions with their own old friends and the importance of staying in touch (whether to defend against evil demons or for slightly more sentimental reasons).
Have you seen it? Review It!
More on It (1990)
What’s the Story?
Based on Stephen King's novel, IT is set in the fictional town of Derry, Maine, where a supernatural curse has caused waves of violence, murders, and disappearances -- mostly of children -- since colonial times. Now, town librarian Mike Hanlon (Tim Reid) is calling a widely scattered group of adults who were once tight-knit friends as kids. Hanlon wants them to honor the promise they made back in 1958 to reunite and fight It once again, if It ever resurfaced. And It has -- children are disappearing or being horribly mutilated. Flashbacks show the difficult childhoods of the group, which includes successful architect Ben (John Ritter), and prominent fashion designer Beverly (Annette O'Toole). Once known as "The Losers," they were constantly tormented by town bully Henry (Michael Cole) and his creepy gang. But a worse threat soon materializes, a demonic clown called Pennywise (Tim Curry), who first kills the little brother of future successful novelist-scriptwriter George (Richard Thomas). Both in 1958 and in the present, Pennywise taunts the various Losers and assumes the shapes of their worst fears.
Is It Any Good?
Director Tommy Lee Wallace makes some of the shocks work, and it's interesting seeing young actors (like Seth Green) matched against the adult ones (like Harry Anderson) playing the same part. But the ponderous nature of the twin-timelined material makes this a long trip (originally a TV miniseries, it's over three hours long). And, besides being a metaphor for the adversities of youth, what exactly is Pennywise, anyway? Once must read the 1,000 page Stephen King book to find out.
The flashbacks are often repetitious, to keep the TV viewer up on the story over successive nights and commercial breaks of the miniseries. And too bad It was made before computer graphics came into wide use. Instead, stiff puppetry and stop-motion depict such hallucinatory horrors as Pennywise squeezing out of tiny drains and turning into monsters.
Movie Details
Studio: Warner Home Video, Director: Tommy Lee Wallace
Run time: 193 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/18/1990, DVD release: 10/1/2002
MPAA Rating: NR
Run time: 193 minutes
Theatrical release: 11/18/1990, DVD release: 10/1/2002
MPAA Rating: NR
Our Members Say
See 11 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
-
I rate this title iffy for age 11 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
it
-
I rate this title iffy for age 9 and give it
The movie is extremely tame compared to the novel. All the disturbing adult elements of the novel were taken out of the movie. It's still a decent horror film. TIm Curry's preformance is brilliant. There is some mild violence and profanity. It was rated TV-14 on ABC. It is probably scary for younger kids though.
-
I rate this title iffy for age 15 and give it
- My concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate language
- Drinking, smoking, or drug use
Definitey worth watchin'.
Parents need to know this movie contains content that, if it was rated, it would get an "R" rating, but not severely. There are obscene racist remarks that are very offending (2 of them) and occasional somewhat colorful language. Extreme bullying and grotesque images. Very terrifying, even without the gore. Some drinking.
-
I rate this title off for age 17 and give it
yeah
blah
-
I rate this title iffy for age 10 and give it
Parents, just check once more...
In 1990 when this "Horror" movie was released, it must of been scary with Pennywise's "Hungry (Scary) Look" and "blood erupted balloons" but parents, horror movies were SO old-fashioned back then! Just watch it once more and I guarantee you that your children aged 10+ will be fine under parental guidence. Yes, there are jumpy parts but - come on! I thought parents were more than that. This film is not scary -- I don't care how old Commonsense says I am -- I'm not 11, i'm 10 and when I watched this on YouTube, belive it or not...I LAUGHED!
Give Recommendations, Get Them, Too!
Become a member and get recommendations from other parents based on your child's age.Tell us your child's age:
Already a member? Log inOur Members Rate It
Have you seen it?
For Your Family
Get age-based recommendations for your kids:
Customize based on your child's age
MamaFitz recommends:
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
for kids age 3
See more from MamaFitz
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
for kids age 3
See more from MamaFitz
