You Should Watch This Iconic Stephen King Film Prior to the Series' Next Episode
HBO's It: Welcome to Derry is filled with nods to the author's extensive collection of tales. Apart from the clear ties to It, the series showcases an explicit link to The Shining via the cameo of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the story progresses, Welcome to Derry is weaving in another classic tale from King that deserves another look.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although The Shawshank Redemption may not be considered a horror film, especially compared to a lot of King's other work, it remains a gripping story of a wrongfully convicted individual condemned to live his remaining years in a infamous penitentiary. It is this specific penitentiary that becomes important here, as the Shawshank facility holds significant lore across King's fictional world — a tradition that continues within Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories which mention the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Via these stories, we learn regarding the awful conditions inside the state penitentiary and some of the inmates within, such as the partner of one belonging to Pennywise's initial targets, who had been convicted for robbery with a weapon.
So far, however, the majority we've learned concerning Shawshank was through the eyes of Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. Andy ends up at the prison following his wrongful conviction, then experiences assaulted and raped by fellow inmates, and exploited by the officials in power due to his financial knowledge. He requires him 28 years to dig his way out of the prison, prior to making his way "through sewage" to reclaim his liberty.
The Prison's Role in It: Welcome to Derry
Regarding the series, audiences initially discovered about the prison's involvement from an early trailer for the show, where a correctional transport appeared with the name displayed on its side. During the second episode, we learn who is probably headed to the prison.
Though it is known he was not responsible for the murders of children in the first episode, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. The preview for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," reveals an officer informing a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what they do to child murderers in Shawshank?"
The Consequences for Hank and His Daughter
Given that the real killer in Derry is an ancient power from another world preying on and killing children, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence do not look good. Even should he does go to Shawshank and the audience do not see him inside, knowing what we do about that prison makes it clear that his experience would be far from pleasant.
Crucially, though, this development could threaten his daughter. Hank is her guardian. Horrible things are happening in the town which no one, young or old, understands and she just has her new group of friends to depend on. She's going to need her dad as the story progresses, however should the prison system plays a role, she could be without help.
A single fact seems clear: Hank lacks three decades to dig his way out.
Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available via the streaming service. Additional installments are released each week on Sundays.
