In the scene where Robbie is being strangled by the clown, the puppet's arms became unexpectedly tight, causing Robins to start choking.
As he shouted, "I can't breathe!", Steven Spielberg and Tobe Hooper initially thought the boy was improvising or exaggerating. They simply told him to look at the camera and continue. However, when Spielberg noticed Robbins's face turning purple from lack of air, he quickly rushed over and pulled the clown’s arms away from Robbins’s neck to ensure his safety.
This real-life moment of danger highlighted how unpredictable and intense filming can be, especially with practical effects that sometimes go awry.
