Make Time For This Classic Stephen King Film Prior to It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
The series It: Welcome to Derry is filled with nods to Stephen King's wide-ranging library of stories. Apart from the clear ties to the original story, the show also features a direct link to King's famous novel through the appearance of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Currently, as the narrative unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating another beloved King story that deserves a revisit.
The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as a horror film, particularly compared to much of the author's additional writing, it remains a gripping story about an innocently imprisoned individual sentenced to live the rest of his life in a notorious penitentiary. And it's this specific institution which is important here, since Shawshank State Prison holds significant history throughout King's fictional world — a pattern which persists within Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Via these stories, we discover regarding the terrible life at the state penitentiary plus several of the inmates there, including the partner of a of Pennywise's initial victims, who had been convicted for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, however, the most we have discovered concerning Shawshank has been via the perspective of the protagonist in Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. The character Andy ends up at the prison following being wrongly convicted, and experiences beaten and abused by other prisoners, while exploited by the officials in power due to his expertise in finance. It takes nearly three decades to dig an escape route from Shawshank, prior to making his way "through a river of shit" to take back his freedom.
Shawshank's Appearance in It: Welcome to Derry
Regarding the series, audiences first learned of Shawshank's involvement via an initial preview for the series, in which a correctional transport was seen with the name painted on the side. During the second episode, we learn which character is likely headed to Shawshank.
Although 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 the crimes. The preview for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," shows an officer informing Hank in his cell, "Do you know what they do to child murderers in Shawshank?"
The Implications for the Character and His Daughter
Considering that the actual killer in the town is an ancient power originating elsewhere preying on and killing kids, Hank's chances of proving his innocence appear slim. Even should he ends up to Shawshank and the audience don't follow him inside, knowing what is known about that prison indicates that his experience would not be pleasant.
More importantly, though, this situation would endanger his daughter. Hank is her protector. Terrible events are happening in the town which no one, young or old, understands and she only has her new group circle of pals to depend on. She's going to need her dad in the coming episodes, but if Shawshank has any say, she could be without help.
A single fact seems clear: Hank lacks 28 years to dig to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now via the streaming service. New episodes air weekly on Sundays.