Two of the greatest horror icons are Pennywise and Freddy Krueger. Freddy's first appearance was in A Nightmare on Elm Street, a very famous horror movie released in 1984. Known for his horribly scarred face, wisecracking personality, and bladed gloves, Freddy was a little different from your usual silent slasher monsters.
Pennywise came just two years later when It was published in September of 1986. Of course, the villain has also enjoyed a resurgence in recent years thanks to the two recent It films.
Both are powerhouses. But who would win? These are five reasons that Freddy would win the battle, and five reasons it would be Pennywise.
Freddy: Incorporeal
Pennywise is a very dangerous creature. But as far as we know, he can only affect and kill corporeal forms. Fortunately for Freddy, he is incorporeal. Just how will Pennywise defeat Freddy if Freddy doesn't even exist in a physical form? The only reason he was defeated in A Nightmare on Elm Street was because Nancy dragged him into the real world. If Pennywise can do the same, then OK, we have a battle. But if not? Then Pennywise is out of luck.
Pennywise: Can Change Forms
Pennywise's biggest strategy has to be his ability to change forms. Pennywise uses this ability to scare the children and make them tastier. And luckily for Pennywise, Freddy has one big, debilitating fear - fire. Now, we don't know if Pennywise can turn into fire, but if he can, then Freddy doesn't stand a chance. Pennywise doesn't even need to defeat Freddy! He can just keep turning into fire so often that Freddy quits his bloody pursuit out of frustration and fear.
Freddy: Can Invade Pennywise's Dreams
Even eons-old alien entities have to sleep sometime, no? Freddy is a patient man. He will happily just wait around for you to fall asleep. And you will fall asleep. A major subplot of A Nightmare on Elm Street concerns Nancy popping caffeine pills, downing gallons of coffee, and doing everything she can to stay awake. But sooner or later, the sweet embrace of sleep comes calling. So too would it be for Pennywise. And once he falls asleep, Freddy will be there waiting for him. And we know just how he would defeat him. But more on that in a bit...
Pennywise: The Deadlights
The bad thing about Freddy is that he is just another human once he's taken out of the dream world. In the dream world, he can seemingly manipulate time and space to suit his whims and pursuits. But in the real world, he's just a burned dude with a gloved hand. And Pennywise can take advantage of that by showing him the deadlights.
One simple look at the deadlights would be enough to stop Freddy in his tracks, just like how Richie was stopped mid-throw in It: Chapter Two. After that, Pennywise can do with Freddy what he will...
Freddy: Bladed Gloves
Pennywise has a heart. Literally. It's how the Losers Club is able to defeat it. And, much like all mammals, Pennywise dies without it. And luckily for Freddy, he has just the tool. Freddy uses his iconic bladed gloves to great effect throughout the series, so it's obvious that he relies on them to a great extent. Unlike Pennywise, who can seemingly dispatch his enemies any way he wants, Freddy primarily sticks to the gloves. And he could easily carve out Pennywise's heart in no time at all (provided he keeps them sharp, of course). Heck, one deep chest wound would probably enough to bleed to death...
Pennywise: Is A Massive Spider Thing
The ending of It has always been controversial, as it reveals Pennywise to be nothing more than a giant spider. Yes, that's just the form we see (as it's the closest thing that the human mind can comprehend), but it's the form we as an audience get. And seeing as how Freddy is human, that's the form it would take for him as well. However, that form would be more than enough to dispatch Freddy. Freddy may have the bladed gloves, but one kick from a massive spider leg should be enough to injure, and perhaps even kill, Mr. Krueger.
Freddy: Can Regenerate (In The Dream World)
If the fight took place in the dream world, then Pennywise wouldn't stand a chance. That's because, no matter what he did, Freddy would not be able to die. Yes, you can attack Freddy in the dream, but he will always manipulate it to his advantage.
In A Nightmare on Elm Street, Freddy even cuts his own finger off to taunt Tina, showcasing that such debilitating injuries mean nothing in the dream world. Pennywise can do anything he wants, but if Freddy can't die, then Freddy can't die.
Pennywise: Can Regenerate
The only thing is - Pennywise can regenerate, too. The only way Freddy would be able to kill Pennywise would be to perform the Ritual of Chud and carve out its heart with his bladed gloves. Anything less than that would be useless. That's because Pennywise can quickly regenerate from his wounds, as seen when he instantly healed himself after being shot in the face by Bill and Richie. If he can survive being shot in the face, then he can probably survive a few little scratches...
Freddy: Dream Manipulation
We've touched on it before, but this is also worth its own heading. Even if Pennywise could fight back in the dream, and even if he was able to fatally harm Freddy, he likely couldn't. That's because Freddy has complete control over the dream world. He can teleport, he can regenerate, he can shapeshift, he can turn invisible, he can manipulate the setting itself to his advantage - point is, he can do anything he wants. And that is a very good thing, indeed.
Pennywise: Can Control Freddy's Mind
It's implied throughout It that Pennywise can control the minds and actions of an adult population. This is how he is allowed to hunt the children throughout Derry without the adults' interference. And seeing as how Freddy is a mere adult human, it stands to reason that Pennywise can manipulate his mind as well. If he is able to take control of Freddy, he could make Freddy do whatever he wanted. He could pacify him, force him to flee, or maybe even just walk him off a bridge or something. Once you're under Pennywise's power, it's all over for you.
