Top 10 IT Easter Eggs You Missed

Well, we can certainly see that this movie was made with love. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top Ten Easter Eggs From It (2017).

For this list, we’ll be looking at our favorite Easter eggs from 2017’s “It”. These references can be shout-outs to the original novel, the 1990 miniseries, or any of the various works of Stephen King.

#10: The Bradley Gang Mural

Since the novel weighs in at a hefty five thousand or so pages, it spends a lot of time detailing the storied history of Derry, Maine. Since the movie obvi can’t be five hours long, it needed to excise these historical passages; however, keen and dedicated viewers will notice a mural of the infamous Bradley Gang in the alley behind the butcher. The Bradley Gang was a band of criminals who robbed various Derry institutions in the early 20th century before being gunned down by its citizens, Bonnie-and-Clyde style. While it would have been amazing to see this in flashback form, this mural is pretty darnn cool also.

#9: Silver

To be honest, it’s a little disheartening to see the movie remove so much of the character from Silver, as the bike is a very important part of Bill’s childhood and the implicit eighth member of the Losers’ Club. In the novel, Silver plays a big role in Bill’s development, as it’s the only constant in his otherwise dreadful and neglected childhood. He even buys it from a pawn shop when he returns to Derry as an adult, signifying the timeless bond between man and bicycle. But several times, the camera lingers on the name on the bike as a wink to the novel’s fans, and perhaps a sign that it might play a bigger role in a sequel. . . ?

#8: Pennywise’s Werewolf Claws

In the novel, Richie HATES werewolves. Since he is such a big pop culture buff, he does adore the schlocky monster movies with terrible makeup effects, even if they do scare him. The original miniseries adheres to these fears, as It appears to Richie as . . . a schlocky werewolf with terrible makeup effects. The new movie diverges from this and simply references Richie’s fear. In the Neibolt House, Pennywise’s hand turns into a werewolf claw, which he uses to scratch Ben. While this may be just a generic scary image and weapon to use against the kids, it’s also undoubtedly a nod to the novel and Richie’s deeper neurosis regarding fictional creatures.

#7: Ben’s Postcard

Writing an anonymous haiku to your crush is sweet. You know what isn’t sweet? Eagle-eyed viewers will notice that Ben’s poem is indeed written on a postcard of the Standpipe, a very important (and scary) location in the novel. The Standpipe used to have a spiral staircase which led to the top, offering a gorgeous view of the surrounding landscape. However, it was closed after numerous children drowned in its water reservoir. So, you know, perfect for a romantic haiku. It is also the location where the dead children descend upon Stan in the dark, a scene missing from the 2017 version.

#6: Derry’s Paul Bunyan Statue

Throughout various scenes of the movie, a hideous Paul Bunyan statue can be seen towering over the town. It serves as a slightly creepy prop to add character to the town of Derry, but it’s also the source of another attack which was eliminated from the movie. In the novel, this very statue comes to life and chases Richie with its massive axe. The image of a giant statue coming to life and chasing a person down the street would look pretty silly in live action, not to mention it would be terribly expensive to produce, so we suppose its excision is understandable.

#5: The Deadlights

Viewers who haven’t read the book are probably wondering: what was the deal with those orange lights in Pennywise’s face? Once Pennywise opens up his head, three small orange lights are seen by Beverly, which sends her into a comatose trance. These are the Deadlights, It’s true form and an ancient, unimaginable eldritch power from another dimension, which instantly causes insanity for those who see it. While non-readers can get the idea, their appearance is even more meaningful for those who know the background history and power of the Deadlights.

#4: “I Heart Derry” Balloon

Right before Patrick Hockstetter is murdered, a red balloon floats towards him with “I Heart Derry” emblazoned on the rubber. Book readers should immediately recognize this as a reference to the murder of Adrian Mellon. Adrian Mellon was a gay character who was wearing an “I Heart Derry” hat when he was attacked by the town’s dangerous homophobes, who proceeded to throw him over a bridge. He was then attacked and killed by Pennywise while surrounded by thousands of floating balloons. Neither the miniseries nor the movie retained the horrifying Adrian Mellon scene, but at least the 2017 film acknowledges its existence.

#3: Lego Maturin

Like the Deadlights, Maturin is an integral and fanciful aspect of “It” lore which the movie simply didn’t have time for. But at least it recognized the importance of the God-Turtle. Turtles are a recurring theme throughout the 2017 movie – one is seen swimming in the quarry, and Bill finds a Lego turtle in Georgie’s room. These are references to Maturin, an ancient celestial turtle in Stephen King’s bibliography. Maturin is an interdimensional being who vomited the known universe into existence and who serves as one of the guardians of The Dark Tower. He also serves as It’s main rival, and aids the children in their battle against It in 1958.

#2: T-Shirts
Major props to the costume department for this one. Throughout the movie, various characters can be seen wearing t-shirts with numerous references to Stephen King’s works. Eddie wears a shirt with an evil-looking car emblazoned on the front, a clear reference to King’s killer car tale “Christine.” Bill can be seen wearing a green Tracker Brothers shirt, a fictional trucking company whose workshop was located near a beloved Derry baseball diamond. Richie can also be seen wearing a Freese’s shirt, an old department store which was located in King’s hometown of Bangor, Maine.

#1: 1990 Pennywise Doll
Many viewers can agree that the 1990 miniseries is a little… dated, to say the least. Despite this, we also think everyone can agree that Tim Curry’s Pennywise is a classic villain who scared the hell out of many ‘90s kids. Therefore, it’s nice to see the 2017 movie directly reference Tim Curry’s Pennywise and the impact he’s had on the “It” brand throughout the years. A doll which is dressed exactly like the old Pennywise can be seen when Richie stumbles across the myriad clown dolls in the Neibolt House. Now that’s a doll that wouldn’t exactly make a good Christmas present.