Many out there know the story of Stephen King's It, where a group of friends got together to destroy the malevolent, unearthly clown Pennywise, who terrorized them as children. Brit comedy horror Stitches, written and directed by Conor McMahon, turned the idea on its head by having the rubber-faced entertainer being the one seeking revenge on the teens he held accountable for his demise back when they were kids. The title pie-flinger had to be a memorable presence. McMahon ensured that by casting surreal improvisational comedian Ross Noble. Famous in Britain for his alarmingly authentic ramblings on panel shows like QI and Have I Got News For You, this was his first major movie role, and what a place to start! Viewers in countries where Noble's comedy stylings hadn't travelled probably wondered who the creepy guy with the long face was under all the panstick. His army of fans on the other hand knew exactly who wore the clown trousers and this - together with the outrageous acts of low-budget violence he perpetrated - made the splatterfest a bit more jarring than intended.
I am a journalist and comedian who enjoys American movies of the 70s, Amicus horror compendiums, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, Naomi Watts and sitting down. My short fiction has been published as part of the Iris Wildthyme range from Obverse Books.
