It: Chapter 2 is now playing in theaters (
you can find our review by clicking here), and while fans appear to be split over whether the sequel lives up to the greatness of the first instalment and Stephen King's novel, it's still a movie that leaves us with a lot to discuss.
Today, we're taking a look at all the best Easter Eggs, references, and cameos you need to see.
From throwbacks to
Chapter 1 and King's previous movies and novels, there are loads of hidden details and secrets to delve into. We also dive into nods to other horror movies and some amazing (and sometimes unusual) cameos from people you definitely won't be expecting to appear.
So, to check out this list of Easter Eggs from
It: Chapter 2, simply hit the "View List" button below!
Adrian Mellon's Blink And You'll Miss It Return
One clever change this movie makes to the book is heavily implying that Richie had romantic feelings for Eddie as a teenager, and is now scared of being outed as a gay man.
When the adult Richie is confronted by Pennywise, the villain alludes to him having a secret he doesn't want exposed, but what you may not have noticed is that it's actually Adrian Mellon (the young man attacked by a group of homophobes at the start of the movie before being killed by the clown) who hands Richie that "In Memoriam" flyer.
Needless to say, Pennywise really pulled out all the stops to mess with Richie in this sequence.
Stan's Puzzle
Stan only has a very minor role in
It: Chapter 2 as the movie kicks off with him killing himself in order to avoid facing Pennywise again (bizarrely, it's later explained that he also did it in the hope of bringing the Losers' Club back together again).
However, look closely and you'll notice that the puzzle he's putting together at the beginning is a collage of birds. This must be a not to the fact that his counterpart in the novel had a keen interest in birdwatching, something which didn't make it into the first movie but was part of the popular 90s TV series.
"Gazebos"
When it becomes clear that the Losers' plan to stop Pennywise isn't going to work, the demonic clown teases the group of adults and talks about the botched ritual's "placebo" effect. However, he actually refers to that as, "What was it? Gazebos?"
This is a reference to the first movie when an incensed Eddie berates his mother upon learning that the pills she's been making him take are actually just placebos or, as he mistakenly calls them, "gazebos." The terrifying thing about this is that Pennywise was clearly watching and listening, and more than likely influencing the actions of his deranged mother.
The Ritual Of Chüd
Those of you who haven't read the
It novel may be wondering where the idea for the Ritual of Chüd actually came from, but it is indeed something that was dreamed up by Stephen King.
However, the big screen version is totally different, as everything from that ceremonial jar to the Losers' having to go and find tokens from their past was made up for the movie. In the book, the ritual involved Bill travelling to a different dimension and a God known as Maturin the Turtle, so it's easy to see why that was changed. There were at least still some similarities, though.
Some Telling Movie Posters
Look closely in the underground clubhouse that once belonged to the Losers' Club and you'll notice that there's a poster for 1987 cult classic
The Lost Boys in the background. If you've never seen that movie, it revolved around a group of teenagers battling vampires who attacked their hometown, and the similarities between that adventure and
It are pretty obvious.
Talking of movies, the theater Richie revisits has a tattered poster for Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan rom-com
You've Got Mail in the background which points to it having closed down in 1998. That probably doesn't have any real significance, but let us know below if it's actually a Stephen King Easter Egg that's passed us by.
Stephen King's (Awkward?) Cameo
For reasons which aren't entirely clear, author Stephen King makes an overlong and slightly awkward cameo in
It: Chapter 2 as the owner of an antiques shop who sells Bill's bike back to him at a massive mark up. Seeing as Bill is also an author in the movie, it's possible that this could be an inside joke, and something similar once happened to King in his home state of Maine.
Those jokes about Bill's books always having a disappointing ending are clearly a tongue in cheek jab at what people say about King's work, but it's ironic that this movie's ending isn't
that great!
The Thing
Stan's head grows spider legs and starts to pursue the adult Losers' Club through Neibolt House in one of the sequel's scariest sequences, and this is obviously a nod to John Carpenter's
The Thing.
As you should recall, the same thing happened to Vance Norris' head in John Carpenter's horror classic and just like Palmer declared "You've gotta be f**king kidding!", so too does Richie when he sees this transformation.
It's a little on the nose, but fans of
The Thing are bound to appreciate this reference.
Some More Meta Cameos
Stephen King's cameo is obviously a big one, but it's not the only noteworthy appearance you'll find here. When the adult Eddie revisits the pharmacy he spent so much of his youth in, one of the customers hovering in the background is, in fact,
It: Chapter 2 director Andy Muschietti!
Before Bill arrives in Derry, we spend some time with him on a film set and the director who berates him is played by real-life filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich, seemingly playing himself.
My favourite cameo, however, comes when the grown-up Ben is holding that meeting via Skype. One of the men in that boardroom presenting their ideas is played by Brandon Crane, the actor who starred as the young Ben in the 90s TV series which featured Tim Curry as Pennywise the Clown.
"Fast Enough To Beat The Devil"
In the novel, Bill's bike "Silver" plays a crucial role in healing his catatonic wife (her and Beverley's husband were completely cut from the movie aside from their brief cameos at the beginning).
In
It: Chapter 2, though, there is still a nod to the source material when Bill points out that his childhood ride is "fast enough to beat the devil." That's a line lifted directly from the book.
The Career Paths Of The Losers' Club
For the most part, the jobs the Losers' Club have as adults remain unchanged from the book. Minor alterations are made, but Bill remains a writer, Bev is a fashion designer, Ben is an Architect, and Mike stayed behind in Derry to keep watch over the town.
However, Eddie has been upgraded from the owner of a limousine company to a risk insurance analyst (which definitely feels fitting) and Richie is now a stand up comic rather than a radio DJ. Interestingly, the version in the 90s TV series was also changed that way.
"Here's Johnny!"
During the lengthy final battle between the Losers' Club and Pennywise, Bev finds herself trapped in a toilet stall and is terrorised by a number of familiar faces from her past. Among them is Henry Bowers (another character whose role is greatly cut down in the movie) who reels off a line which should definitely be familiar to Stephen King fans.
As Henry smashes his way through the door, he shouts "Here's Johnny!" It should go without saying that this is a reference to The Shining, and the line that was made iconic by Jack Nicholson.
Eddie's Mom/Wife
Here's a weird one for you.
The actress who plays Eddie's wife in
It: Chapter 2 is played by the same actress who played his mother in the first movie, Molly Atkinson. You might think that's pretty f**ked up, but the novel actually described her as a reflection of his mom and that probably says a lot about the impact Eddie's childhood had on him by the time he reached adulthood.
The Overlook Hotel
One recurring theme throughout this sequel is Bill's attempts to save a young kid from Pennywise. Ultimately, his mission fails, but look closely when they meet near the drain where Georgie was dragged to his death and you'll notice that his skateboard features a familiar pattern.
While it's extremely faded, it's the same, iconic design that adorned the carpet from the Overlook Hotel in Stanley Kubrick's big screen adaptation of
The Shining.
The Giant Spider
Just like in the novel, the final battle features Pennywise transforming into a gigantic spider. The difference here, however, is that he remains part-clown, and that obviously makes him less threatening.
The biggest difference is that the book version of Pennywise fully becomes a spider, and his lair is full of eggs that are ultimately destroyed. It's also heavily implied that he is a she, and is actually pregnant again - something which makes the battle between the forces of good and evil even more vital as there's a risk that more demonic monsters like It could invade our world.
Christine
There are a fair few nods to Stephen King's work in
It: Chapter 2, but two of the most noteworthy pay homage to Christine. For starters, the demonic car's license plate (CQB 241) can be seeing hanging above the counter of the antiques shop owned by Stephen King's character.
Then, in a flashback to the Losers' Club youth, Eddie is shown wearing a t-shirt with an evil car on it.
Did you notice any Easter Eggs in It: Chapter 2 that we missed? As always, be sure to let us know your thoughts on that in the comments section down below!