Don't Miss This Legendary Stephen King Film Before the Series' Next Episode
HBO's It: Welcome to Derry is packed with nods to the author's extensive library of stories. Apart from the clear ties to the original story, the series also features an explicit connection to The Shining via the cameo of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the narrative unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is weaving in another beloved King story which merits another look.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as a horror film, particularly in contrast with a lot of King's other writing, it is a haunting tale of a innocently imprisoned man condemned to spend the rest of his life inside a notorious penitentiary. And it's that very penitentiary which is central in this context, as Shawshank State Prison holds significant history throughout King's stories — a tradition that continues within Welcome to Derry.
Among the tales that reference Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these stories, we learn regarding the awful conditions inside the state penitentiary and some of the inmates there, such as the boyfriend of a belonging to Pennywise's early victims, who was convicted for robbery with a weapon.
So far, however, the majority we have discovered about the prison was through the perspective of Andy Dufresne in Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in that 1994 movie. The character Andy winds up in Shawshank after being wrongly convicted, and experiences beaten and abused by other prisoners, and taken advantage of by those in officials in power due to his expertise in finance. It takes him 28 years to dig an escape route of the prison, before making his way "through a river of shit" to take back his liberty.
The Prison's Appearance in Welcome to Derry
Regarding the series, viewers initially discovered about the prison's involvement from an initial preview for the series, where a correctional transport was seen with the name displayed on its side. During the second episode, we learn who is likely destined for the prison.
Although it is known he did not commit 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," shows a guard telling a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what they do to kiddie killers in Shawshank?"
The Implications for the Character and Ronnie
Given that the actual killer in Derry is a primordial entity from another world hunting and killing children, Hank's chances of proving his innocence appear slim. And even if he does go in the prison and the audience don't follow him inside, understanding what we do about that prison indicates that his experience would not be enjoyable.
More importantly, however, this situation would endanger his daughter. He acts as her protector. Terrible events are occurring in the town that nobody, child or adult, comprehends and she just has her recently formed circle of pals to rely on. She will require her father in the coming episodes, but if Shawshank plays a role, she may 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 each Sunday.
