How many other kids in Derry know about Pennywise? Is he really dead? Does anyone remember being
terrorized by a cosmic entity masquerading as a clown? The "It" novel goes deeper into
Pennywise's lore, but we're looking at the film franchise – and we have questions.
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In both "It: Chapter 1" and "It: Chapter 2," director Andy Muschietti grounds Pennywise's
hold over the town of Derry, Maine considerably better than Tommy Lee Wallace did in 1990
with the made-for-TV miniseries. Its presence is an oil slick of evil that coats everything,
and you feel it.
When young Ben Hanscom is attacked and knifed by Henry Bowers and his crew, a a car with
a couple inside rolls right on by, ignoring the assault. The red balloon that appears
in the backseat is enough indication that evil flourishes in Derry because Pennywise
lets it, with none of the adults strong or resolved enough to fight back. Pharmacists,
parents, and even law enforcement are steadfastly held by Pennywise's chokehold. Derry's been
in It's grip since the town's formation.
"Everyone just thought it was a plague or something. But it's like one day everybody
just woke up and left."
It begs the question — does Derry ever come to terms with Pennywise's influence? A lot
of people saw a lot of messed up stuff. Do any of those repressed memories among the
townsfolk come back now that Pennywise is gone? Do the adults return to normal with
reasonable cognizance of the tragedies that played out? The Losers get their happy ending,
but the fate of the rest of a town that's been locked in the stranglehold of evil for
centuries is left incredibly vague. It's sort of frustrating, especially considering how
central an element it was, especially in "Part 1."
With a prequel series in development at HBO Max, it's clear the creative team behind both
"It: Chapter 1" and "2" have no intention of letting Pennywise die. While a prequel
series makes sense, it compounds the nagging question several audience members had after
finishing "It: Chapter 2." Is Pennywise really dead?
While the novel goes deeper into the more cosmic elements, the movie series is considerably
less clear. While the happy ending of "Chapter 2" certainly suggests Pennywise's evil is
contained, the sheer magnitude of his influence and power is hard to reconcile with his ultimate
demise. In effect, the surviving members of the Losers Club bully Pennywise into submission
before crushing his heart. It's symbolic, sure, but just 27 years prior, the Losers
were fairly confident they'd defeated Pennywise.
"Now you're the one who's afraid, because you're gonna starve."
Who's to say, like before, Pennywise isn't simply biding his time for another 27 years?
As a cosmic entity, it's hard to believe that a very human death would be enough to stop
him.
Less a question posed specifically by the movies and one that nags on the periphery,
audiences might be left wondering whether Pennywise is the only entity of his kind on
earth – or anywhere else. Pennywise found himself in Derry, Maine for the most part,
it's hard not to wonder whether Pennywise, or another version of him, has shown up anywhere
else.
Stephen King has included other entities that are similar to Pennywise in his books, so
we know there are more out there. "It: Chapter 2" alludes to Pennywise's arrival while Mike
is describing the Ritual of Chüd where Pennywise is seen crashing to earth where Derry would
eventually be. But have other entities fallen out of the Macroverse and set up shop in little
towns around the world? There could be Its everywhere. With both the films and the books
centered squarely on Derry, we may never know what else is out there.
A core component of both "It: Chapter 1" and "It: Chapter 2" is the power and efficacy
of memory. The collective Losers make a blood oath at the conclusion of "Chapter 1," promising
to finish the job in 27 years if they need to.
"If It isn't dead, if It ever comes back, we'll come back too."
Everyone agrees, though by the time "Chapter 2" rolls around and Mike Hanlon is calling
the requisite Losers up, everyone has forgotten all about defeating a murderous alien as children.
While that's well explained in the movie, and works to ground the horrifying nature
of their experience and the curative properties of leaving trauma behind, what doesn't work
quite so well is the arbitrary memory at the end of "Chapter 2."
"Why do you think we're not forgetting like, you know, like last time?"
"Maybe 'cause it's dead."
If the Losers were incapable of remembering the events of "Chapter 1," it follows that,
in time, the events of "Chapter 2" should be forgotten too. Only, they're not. Several
characters assume that they can remember because the evil is finally destroyed. Additionally,
Mike contends that because the conclusion is a "good" memory, they'll be capable of
remembering. But the film positions all of these explanations as guesses – leaving
the audience to do the same. It might seem nitpicky, but with memory core to the inciting
incidents of "Chapter 2," it's fair for audiences to question how, exactly, it all works.
Audiences might be left wondering whether anyone else remembers Pennywise within the
boundaries of Derry itself. "It: Chapter 2" features not just one, but two distinct adolescent
deaths. Much like the Losers, you have to wonder whether any of these kids had some
sort of club of their own where they could get together and talk about the literal werewolves,
or whatever they might have seen.
If the Losers remember, it follows that other survivors would as well – like the boy in
Chapter 2, whom Pennywise had clearly been taunting for a while.
"What kind of voices?"
"Kids, and other times, like a…"
"Like a clown?"
That boy ultimately didn't make it, but how many other kids in Derry were being salted
with fear before the Losers took care of Pennywise? Would they even know he's been defeated, or
would they spend the rest of their lives in Derry thinking about creepy voices in the
plumbing? "It: Chapter 2" went to great lengths to expand the reach of Pennywise's threat,
though in its concluding moments, it all but ignores the full impact on Derry as a whole.
"It: Chapter 1" doesn't especially paint Bill Denbrough's parents in the best light. Instead
of rallying to care for their remaining son, they live in a shadow of grief for Georgie
that leaves Bill emotionally neglected.
"But if the storm swept Georgie in we should've gone—"
"He's gone. He's dead. He's dead."
In fact, his own parents' coldness towards him is part of what drives Bill to kill Pennywise.
Given how thematically crucial their presence in the first film was, though, it's strange
that they're absent in "Chapter 2." There is no concluding arc for them, they don't
appear in flashbacks, and their fate is never mentioned. While it is the Losers Club's story,
no doubt, it's odd that Bill has conceptualized Georgie as his brother and his brother alone.
Not a son or friend, but simply a person who exists exclusively in relation to him. The
novel gives some closure for the elder Denbroughs, but "It: Chapter 2" leaves their fate an open
question. Leaving Derry and forgetting his hometown no doubt estranged Bill from his
parents even more, and it sort of feels like the same thing happened to the film's writers.
"You uh, want me to sign it for you?"
"Nah, I didn't like the ending."
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