You Should Watch One Classic Stephen King Film Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
The series It: Welcome to Derry is packed with references to the author's extensive collection of tales. Apart from the clear ties to the original story, the series showcases an explicit link to The Shining through the cameo of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Currently, as the story progresses, Welcome to Derry is integrating another classic tale from King that deserves another look.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption may not be considered horror, particularly in contrast with a lot of the author's additional writing, it remains a gripping story of a wrongfully convicted individual sentenced to live the rest of his life in a infamous prison. It is this specific institution which is important here, since the Shawshank facility holds considerable lore throughout King's stories — a pattern that continues within Welcome to Derry.
Some of the stories that reference Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these stories, we discover about the awful conditions at Shawshank State Prison and several of those imprisoned there, such as the partner of one of Pennywise's initial victims, who was found guilty of armed robbery.
Thus far, though, the majority we have discovered concerning Shawshank was via the perspective of the protagonist from Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. Andy winds up in Shawshank after being wrongly convicted, then experiences assaulted and raped by fellow inmates, while taken advantage of by the officials in power due to his expertise in finance. It takes nearly three decades to tunnel his way out of the prison, prior to making his way "through sewage" to take back his liberty.
The Prison's Role in Welcome to Derry
In relation to the series, viewers first learned of Shawshank's involvement from an initial preview for the show, in which a prison bus was seen with the name painted on the side. In episode 2, we learn who is probably destined for Shawshank.
Although we know he did not responsible for the murders of children in the first episode, the character Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. The preview for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," shows an officer informing Hank in his cell, "Do you know what they do to kiddie killers in Shawshank?"
The Consequences for the Character and Ronnie
Considering that the real killer in Derry is a primordial entity originating elsewhere hunting and murdering kids, Hank's chances of proving his innocence do not look good. And even if he does go to Shawshank and viewers do not see him inside, knowing what is known about that prison makes it clear that his experience would be far from pleasant.
Crucially, though, this development could threaten Ronnie. He acts as her guardian. Terrible events are happening in the town which no one, young or old, comprehends and she just has her recently formed circle of pals to rely on. She will require her dad as the story progresses, however should the prison system plays a role, she may be without help.
A single fact is apparent: Hank lacks 28 years to dig his way out.
It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments are released each week each Sunday.
