Make Time For One Classic Stephen King Movie Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
HBO's It: Welcome to Derry contains numerous connections to Stephen King's vast collection of tales. Beyond the clear links to It, the show showcases an explicit link to King's famous novel through the cameo of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Currently, as the story progresses, Welcome to Derry is integrating another beloved tale from King which merits a revisit.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as horror, especially in contrast with much of King's other writing, it is a haunting story about an innocently imprisoned man condemned to live his remaining years in a infamous prison. It is this specific penitentiary that becomes important in this context, as the Shawshank facility holds significant lore across King's fictional world — a tradition that continues within It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the tales that reference Shawshank include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these stories, we learn about the terrible life inside Shawshank State Prison and some of the inmates within, including the boyfriend of a of Pennywise's initial targets, who was convicted of armed robbery.
Thus far, though, the most we've learned about the prison has been through the eyes of the protagonist in Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. Andy winds up at the prison following his wrongful conviction, and finds himself assaulted and abused by other prisoners, while taken advantage of by those in officials in power due to his financial knowledge. It takes him 28 years to tunnel an escape route of the prison, before crawling "through a river of shit" to reclaim his freedom.
The Prison's Appearance in Welcome to Derry
In relation to It: Welcome to Derry, audiences initially discovered about the prison's inclusion from an initial preview for the series, in which a prison bus appeared with the name painted on the side. During the second episode, it is revealed who is likely destined for the prison.
Though it is known he was not commit the child deaths in the first episode, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. A teaser for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," shows an officer telling a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what happens to kiddie killers in Shawshank?"
The Implications for the Character and His Daughter
Considering that the actual murderer in Derry is a primordial entity originating elsewhere hunting and murdering children, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence appear slim. And even if he does go in the prison and viewers don't follow him there, understanding what we do regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his experience would not be pleasant.
More importantly, though, this development could threaten his daughter. He acts as her guardian. Horrible things are occurring around Derry that nobody, young or old, understands and Ronnie only has her recently formed of friends to rely on. She will require her father as the story progresses, but if the prison system has any say, she may be without help.
A single fact is apparent: Hank doesn’t have three decades to tunnel to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available on HBO Max. New episodes are released each week each Sunday.
