Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment, out 3 October

The behind-the-scenes story of the 1990 TV mini-series based on Stephen King’s IT.

At over two hours in length, directors John Campopiano and Chris Griffiths’ documentary leaves no stone unturned in its forensic examination of Tommy Lee Wallace’s cult favourite, and the collection of talking heads gathered for this project is most impressive.

At every stage of this movie, the success of the mini-series is laid at the feet of Tim Curry, who played evil clown Pennywise. It’s a performance that still resonates today, even up against the recent two-part movie series, and it’s a delight that Curry appears to share his stories. Alongside Curry, adult leads Richard Thomas, Dennis Christopher, Richard Masur and Tim Reid recall their time on set, as well some of the kids, notably Seth Green and Emily Perkins.

The interviews are interspersed with behind-the-scenes footage and archive material of Stephen King. Every aspect is covered, from the screenplay adaptation of the novel, to finding a director, recruiting its cast and filming location. The elephant (or rather, unconvincing spider) in the room is addressed, as well as the challenges of getting the show signed off by ABC’s Broadcast Standards.

Verdict: While rabid Stephen King fans (myself included) have probably heard many of the stories before, they’ve never been previously been presented in such a detailed way, delivered right from the horses’ mouths. Highly recommended. 9/10

Nick Joy