Make Time For One Classic Stephen King Film Before the Series' Next Episode
HBO's It: Welcome to Derry contains numerous connections to Stephen King's wide-ranging collection of tales. Apart from the clear links to the original story, the show includes an explicit link to King's famous novel through the cameo of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Now, as the narrative unfolds, Welcome to Derry is integrating another beloved King story which merits a revisit.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as a horror film, especially compared to a lot of the author's additional work, it remains a gripping story about an wrongfully convicted man sentenced to spend the rest of his life inside a notorious penitentiary. And it's this specific penitentiary that becomes central here, since Shawshank State Prison holds significant lore across King's stories — a tradition that continues in Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories that reference the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Via these stories, we discover about the awful life at Shawshank State Prison and several of the inmates there, including the partner of one of Pennywise's initial victims, who was found guilty for robbery with a weapon.
So far, though, the most we have discovered about the prison has been via the perspective of Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. Andy ends up at the prison after being wrongly convicted, then experiences beaten and raped by other prisoners, while exploited by those in authority figures for his financial knowledge. It takes him 28 years to tunnel his way out from Shawshank, prior to making his way "through sewage" to reclaim his liberty.
The Prison's Appearance in It: Welcome to Derry
Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, audiences first learned of Shawshank's involvement via an early trailer for the series, in which a prison bus appeared with the name painted on the side. During the second episode, we learn who is probably destined for the prison.
Though we know he was not commit the murders of children in the first episode, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for the crimes. The preview for episode 3, "Now You See It," reveals a guard informing Hank in his cell, "Do you know what happens to child murderers at that prison?"
The Implications for Hank and His Daughter
Given that the real killer in the town is an ancient power from another world hunting and killing children, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence do not look good. Even should he does go to Shawshank and viewers don't follow him there, understanding what is known about that prison makes it clear that his experience would be far from enjoyable.
More importantly, however, this situation would endanger his daughter. Hank is her guardian. Horrible things are occurring in the town which no one, child or adult, comprehends and she just has her recently formed circle of pals to rely on. She will require her father as the story progresses, however should the prison system plays a role, she could be without help.
A single fact is apparent: Hank lacks three decades to dig his way out.
It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available via the streaming service. Additional installments air weekly each Sunday.
