Don't Miss This Legendary Stephen King Film Prior to the Series' Next Episode
The series It: Welcome to Derry contains numerous connections to the author's vast universe of narratives. Beyond the obvious ties to the original story, the show showcases an explicit link to King's famous novel through the appearance of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Currently, as the story unfolds, Welcome to Derry is weaving in another classic tale from King which merits another look.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
Although The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as a horror film, particularly in contrast with much of King's other work, it remains a haunting tale of a innocently imprisoned man condemned to spend the rest of his life inside a notorious prison. And it's this specific institution that becomes important in this context, since the Shawshank facility possesses considerable lore across King's fictional world — a tradition which persists in Welcome to Derry.
Some of the tales which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these narratives, we learn regarding the terrible life inside Shawshank State Prison plus some of those imprisoned there, such as the partner of a belonging to Pennywise's early targets, who was found guilty for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, though, the majority we've learned concerning Shawshank was via the eyes of Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. Andy ends up in Shawshank following being wrongly convicted, and experiences assaulted and abused by fellow inmates, while taken advantage of by those in authority figures due to his expertise in finance. It takes nearly three decades to dig an escape route of the prison, before crawling "through sewage" to take back his freedom.
The Prison's Role in Welcome to Derry
In relation to It: Welcome to Derry, viewers initially discovered about the prison's inclusion via an early trailer for the series, where a prison bus was seen with the name painted on the side. In episode 2, it is revealed who is probably headed to the prison.
Although it is known he was not commit the child deaths initially, the character Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. A teaser for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," reveals an officer telling a jailed Hank, "Do you know what happens to child murderers at that prison?"
The Implications for Hank and His Daughter
Given that the actual killer in Derry is a primordial entity originating elsewhere preying on and killing kids, Hank's chances of clearing his name do not look good. And even if he ends up in the prison and the audience do not see him there, knowing what is known regarding Shawshank indicates that his experience would not be pleasant.
More importantly, though, this situation would endanger Ronnie. He acts as her guardian. Terrible events are happening around Derry that nobody, young or old, comprehends and Ronnie only has her new group of friends to rely on. She's going to need her father in the coming episodes, however should Shawshank plays a role, she could be without help.
One thing is apparent: Hank lacks three decades to tunnel his way out.
Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now via the streaming service. New episodes air weekly on Sundays.
