You Should Watch This Legendary Stephen King Movie Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
HBO's Welcome to Derry is filled with connections to the author's wide-ranging universe of narratives. Beyond the obvious links to It, the show includes a direct connection to The Shining via the appearance of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Currently, as the narrative unfolds, Welcome to Derry is weaving in one more beloved King story which merits another look.
The Powerful Story of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as a horror film, especially compared to a lot of the author's additional writing, it remains a haunting story of a innocently imprisoned individual sentenced to spend his remaining years in a infamous prison. It is that very institution which is important here, as Shawshank State Prison possesses significant lore across King's stories — a tradition that continues in It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these stories, we discover regarding the terrible life at Shawshank State Prison and several of those imprisoned within, including the partner of a belonging to Pennywise's early victims, who had been convicted for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, though, the most we've learned about the prison was via the eyes of Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. The character Andy winds up in Shawshank following being wrongly convicted, then experiences assaulted and raped by fellow inmates, and exploited by the officials in power due to his financial knowledge. It takes him 28 years to dig his way out of the prison, prior to making his way "through sewage" to take back his freedom.
The Prison's Role in It: Welcome to Derry
Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, audiences first learned of Shawshank's involvement via an early trailer for the series, where a prison bus was seen bearing the title displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed who is likely destined for Shawshank.
Though we know he was not commit the child deaths in the first episode, the character Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. A teaser for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," shows a guard telling Hank in his cell, "Do you know what they do to child murderers at that prison?"
The Implications for Hank and Ronnie
Considering that the real killer in Derry is a primordial entity from another world preying on and killing children, Hank's prospects of clearing his name do not look good. And even if he ends up in the prison and viewers don't follow him inside, understanding what is known regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his experience would not be enjoyable.
More importantly, though, this situation would endanger his daughter. Hank is her protector. Terrible events are happening in the town that nobody, young or old, understands and Ronnie just has her recently formed of friends to depend on. She will require her father in the coming episodes, however should Shawshank has any say, she could be out of luck.
A single fact seems clear: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to dig to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments air weekly each Sunday.
