Column: "IT" returns

When I was growing up, I would read just about everything I could get my hands on.

I would go to the library, prefer to get a book for a gift, and when I was in the bathroom would always have a newspaper or at least read the back of the shampoo bottle. That last part probably sounds weird, but I guarantee I am not the only person who reads this that has done the same thing.

We had a bookcase in our house that I grabbed a few books out of from time to time, but there were several hardback books that frightened me. There was an extensive Stephen King collection and I wanted nothing to do with them. The covers alone would freak me out and truth be told I would get a little bit scared just walking by the bookcase. I would often times run by them as fast as I could.

When I was around 10 years old, I decided it was time to face my fears and I would pick up book from the King collection and give it a shot. I had a three day weekend and the weather was bad, so I had plenty of time to read one his books that all appeared to have about 20,000 pages.

I went and picked a book at random. The book ended up being "IT". For three straight days I don't think I put the book down for more than a few minutes. I would take a break to go read the shampoo bottle and eat, but that was about it. I was mesmerized by the novel. After just a few pages I was hooked and did not want to put it down for anything. I also didn't sleep very much because it was honestly one of the most frightening novels I think has ever been written, and this is intensified when you are 10. The story of a clown raising havoc on a bunch of kids is something I will never forget.

A few years later they decided to make the book into a TV movie. I'm sure many people still remember Tim Curry's iconic version of Pennywise the Dancing Clown. He was frightening, but the movie wasn't very good at all. The film left out many of the best and most scary parts of the book. The special effects were horrible and the movie aged about as well as a loaf of bread during the summer.

I had always hoped that Hollywood would give the movie another chance. The story was so well written, so original, so scary, and so bizarre -- it needed another chance. I figured if they were about on the 50th Fast and Furious movie and the 200th Spiderman remake, they could probably give "IT" a chance.

It turns out that Hollywood would tackle the movie, this time using the novel as a guide to spellbind audiences with pure terror. The type of terror that makes a kid not want to sleep for three days, but also not want to put the book down.

The teaser trailer was released for the movie a few weeks ago and "IT" was downright scary. I have no idea how the movie will be, but the trailer was a step in the right direction. If anything, it took me back to being 10-years-old and truly scared to move and any noise I heard in the house.

It's probably not the brightest idea, but I have downloaded the book and am going to read "IT" again. Might just have to sleep with the light on.