Professional clowns have slammed the movie trailer for Stephen King's It, with one describing it as "sensational rubbish" and "disgusting".

Based on the 1986 novel of the same name, the story is about a violent being who terrorises a group of children in the form of a creepy clown called Pennywise, played by Bill Skarsgard.

In the trailer there are small glimpses of Pennywise, accompanied by a tension-raising soundtrack and terrified children.

Image: Pennywise is initially seen peeping out from a drain. Pic: Warner Bros.

Matthew Faint, aka Mattie the clown, said: "We fight our corner as proper clowns.

"It's a horrible movie and we'd like to distance ourselves from the subject of scary clowns.


"There's just so many horrible movies out there ... clowns that eat people or whatever. It takes people's minds in the wrong direction. We don't need it. It's bad, it's disgusting.

"It's sensational rubbish," he added.

"I don't know why people want to see these horrible things. What's the point? I don't understand people's mentalities."

Celine Harland, who has performed as Tickles for 17 years, said it had come at an unfortunate time, noting that the industry had only just got over a number of clown attacks in the US and UK last year.

Image: In the movie, Pennywise terrorises a group of children. Pic: Warner Bros.

"It's a horror movie and it affects people's thoughts and opinions on what a clown is," she said.

"Unfortunately it's not like Jaws, which is unrealistic. We do have clowns in society, and yes it will affect business, of course it will.

"I have parents and teachers phoning me ... they're scared to hire you for 35 kids in case they've got one child who will be upset."

Back in 1990, the novel was made into a TV miniseries with Tim Curry playing the supernatural villain.