Is there a connection between IT and Ghostbusters?
Is there a connection between the monster from IT and Gozer the Gozerian from Ghostbusters (1984)? Both are inter-dimensional, shape-shifting monsters who take the shape of whatever their prey thinks of.
But is this merely a coincidental similarity between the two stories or are they connected somehow? There are obvious differences sure. But part of me wonders if they were both inspired by the same legend or mythology or lore. If the only similarity were shape-shifting I probably wouldn't have even made the connection, but they also are both from another dimension and they both take the form of whatever is in the mind of their victims. That makes me wonder if there is a deeper connection.
(Also might be significant that Ghostbusters and the novel for IT came out around the same time; 1984 and 1985).
Best Answer
I would go one step further and say both are at least partly inspired by H.P. Lovecraft whose Elder Gods are horrible entities that have true forms the human mind cannot comprehend. Indeed, to gaze upon these beings will sometimes drive humans to insanity.
A point of contrast. Gozer asked the Ghostbusters to choose a form to battle and Ray chose the Stay Puft marshmallow man (but failed to specify scale or size)
IT/Pennywise on the other hand chose a form specifically to entice fear in its victims as this made them tastier when devoured. This combines the physical horror with the psychological terror of being eaten alive.
Both Gozer and Pennywise might be described as one of H.P. Lovecraft's Eldritch Abominations, creatures that do not obey the laws of physics and rather have reality warp around them.
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Answer 2
I've noticed that Stephen King uses pop culture stuff in his stories, but twists it so it's scary. Some examples:
- Christine = Herbie the Love Bug
- Cujo = Old Yeller
- In the trailer for It, Pennywise says "hello" using Winnie the Pooh's sweet and disarming voice.
- In Needful Things, there are two friends named Nettie and Wilma, and they ultimately engage in a gruesome knife fight and kill each other. (Wilma and Nettie ... Wilma and Betty ... The Flintstones! Nobody wants to consider those lovable, wacky cartoon ladies violently trying to murder each other with meat cleavers!)
So I wouldn't be surprised if Stephen King is referencing the fun & relatively innocent Gozer from Ghostbusters. However, I have nothing to support this (except for Mr. King's habit of subtly borrowing from pop culture and twisting it to unsettle his audiences).
Answer 3
In Dark Tower (which is also written by Stephen King) series, a creature from the species which Pennywise belongs to is encountered.
I haven't read or watched IT and came across this fact when I was reading Dark Tower wiki after finishing the books.
Here's the link, has spoilers about Dark Tower series. https://darktower.fandom.com/wiki/Dandelo
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