Friday, November 17, 2017

'Six Different Ways' in 'It'


For me, the biggest Cure news while the blog was inactive was the inclusion of 'Six Different Ways' in the new film adaptation of Stephen King's 'It'. Being a huge King fan, and 'It' being my favorite King book, and one of my favorite books overall, I was stunned and so happy when that scene appeared! You have no idea how much restraint it took me to not post the above tweet in the middle of the film. :)

They put together some Spotify playlists for the characters in the film, and of course The Losers' Club have some Cure on their lists. Beverly has 'Just Like Heaven', Bill has 'Pictures of You', and Richie has 'Lovesong' & 'In Between Days'.

Director Andy Muschietti spoke with Film.it, and was asked about the scene:

"Let's talk about The Cure and the song you chose: Six Different Ways. It's funny how one can perfectly relate it to the six guys in the movie ...

Oh yes and they talk about their relationship with Beverly. When I noticed this, we shot a scene where Robert Smith's voice replaced that of our actress Sophia Lillis. I liked it a lot, but we had to give it up because, according to some, the audience was confused."

Some mentions of the scene from various articles and reviews:

"But then, of course, there are the kids. After one scene of nightmare gore that owes a lot to Johnny Depp’s kill in the original “Nightmare on Elm Street” — “It” for sure earns its R-rating — the group is forced to scrub down a bathroom and wash it free of blood. It’s a grisly scene but it’s set to the poppy bounce of the Cure’s “Six Different Ways,” a smart cue that lets you know the filmmakers know and respect the time and the era in which they’re working. It makes the film come alive, and like the best parts of “It,” it has nothing to do with that silly clown." - The Detroit News

"And the restraint allows the two big songs used in the film to have a greater impact. The Cure’s ‘Six Different Ways’ plays when the Losers clean up Beverly’s blood-soaked bathroom, a sight only the group can see thanks to Pennywise. The bond between the Losers forms as they scrub retro-tiled floors and agree that Pennywise is the real deal. And nothing binds outcasts like The Cure." - Junkee

"It even includes a montage set to The Cure’s “Six Different Way” (one of the best uses of the song I’ve seen in a film)." - We Are Movie Geeks

"Placing the film in 1989 is an interesting choice. Those expecting a “Stranger Things” experience where the eccentricities of the decade take center stage will be somewhat disappointed that the references aren’t nearly as overt. They are still there, but more in the background. I’m particularly fond of the way The Cure’s “Six Different Ways” is used for a rather bloody montage. The tone of the song is seemingly inappropriate, but it works because there is a lighter undercurrent at play here. These are kids, no matter how vulgar or inappropriate they come across, it is their collective innocence that defines them."- KUTV

"Still, Muschietti avoids realism so that he can easily shift the tone back toward an observant human comedy. Sometimes the juxtaposition is brazen: the Losers team up to clean Beverly’s bloody bathroom while The Cure’s playful “Six Different Ways” provides the soundtrack." - Washington City Paper

"Muschietti shares King’s love of period-appropriate rock music, though he doesn’t always use it appropriately: One potentially blood-curdling scene is bizarrely neutered by its use of the Cure’s “Six Different Ways.” - Variety

"For the sensitive teens of the '80s, few bands could encapsulate the swirling angst of adolescence more completely than the Cure, and the group's ascension to mainstream status really got going with 1985's The Head on the Door. Boosted by the hit single "In Between Days," which reflected the band's evolving style as well as frontman Robert Smith's growing creative control, the record launched a thousand swooning mixtapes — and while music was probably the furthest thing from Bill and Bev's minds during the bloody aftermath of It's visit to her bathroom, the Door track "Six Different Ways" is still a suitably bittersweet soundtrack for their shared moment." - Diffuser

Sorry for this very long post, but I love the film (saw it 6 times, of course, in theatres!), love that The Cure are now a part of the highest grossing horror film of all time, and that the band (and a Cure song not usually used in films) got so much exposure!

Anyway, if you haven't seen 'It', it is still playing in some theatres, and will be released digitally on Dec. 19th, and on DVD/Blu-Ray on Jan. 9th.
Posted by Craig at 2:32 PM