Stephen King's “It”: 10 Things The Remake Must Get Right

10. Pennywise Must Be Creepy

Wanting Pennywise the Clown to be extremely creepy may seem like a redundant statement, but clowns in horror can be difficult to get right. In the 1990 version, Tim Curry manages to go from goofy to blindingly terrifying within seconds, and it's one of the film's enduring appeals: it lures viewers in before scaring the crap out of them.

So what is it about Tim Curry's portrayal that works? For a start, the make-up is believable. Curry's Pennywise brilliantly rides the line between realistic and inherently unnerving: it's the kind of clown you'd imagine showing up at a children's party.

As of now, we've only seen a glimpse of the remake's version, staring out of the first promotional poster with a sinister gaze. Honestly, it looks like it's trying a bit too hard to be frightening, but the poster's job is to sell the film, so hopefully it's toned back a bit in the actual movie.