Make Time For One Iconic Stephen King Film Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
The series It: Welcome to Derry contains numerous nods to Stephen King's extensive library of stories. Beyond the clear links to the original story, the series also features an explicit connection to The Shining via the cameo of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Now, as the narrative progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating another classic King story that deserves another look.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption may not be considered a horror film, particularly in contrast with a lot of the author's additional writing, it is a gripping tale of a innocently imprisoned man sentenced to live his remaining years in a notorious penitentiary. And it's this specific penitentiary that becomes central in this context, as the Shawshank facility possesses considerable history throughout King's fictional world — a tradition which persists within It: Welcome to Derry.
Some of the tales which mention Shawshank include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these narratives, we discover regarding the terrible life at Shawshank State Prison and several of the inmates 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 most we have discovered about the prison was through the eyes of Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. Andy winds up at the prison after being wrongly convicted, and finds himself beaten and raped by other prisoners, while taken advantage of by those in officials in power due to his financial knowledge. He requires him 28 years to tunnel an escape route from Shawshank, prior to crawling "through sewage" to reclaim his freedom.
The Prison's Role in It: Welcome to Derry
Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, audiences initially discovered about the prison's involvement from an initial preview for the series, in which a prison bus was seen bearing the title displayed on its side. In episode 2, we learn who is likely destined for the prison.
Though we know he was not responsible for the child deaths 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 the next episode, "the upcoming installment," reveals a guard telling a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what they do to kiddie killers at that prison?"
The Consequences for Hank and Ronnie
Considering that the real killer in Derry is an ancient power from another world preying on and murdering 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 there, understanding what is known about that prison makes it clear that his experience would be far from pleasant.
Crucially, though, this situation would endanger Ronnie. Hank is her protector. Terrible events are happening in the town which no one, child or adult, comprehends and she only has her recently formed circle of pals to depend on. She's going to need her father in the coming episodes, but if Shawshank plays a role, she could be out of luck.
A single fact seems clear: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to dig to freedom.
Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available on HBO Max. Additional installments are released each week on Sundays.
