Make Time For One Classic Stephen King Movie Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
The series Welcome to Derry is filled with references to the author's wide-ranging universe of narratives. Apart from the clear ties to the original story, the series also features an explicit link to King's famous novel through the appearance of a young Dick Hallorann. Currently, as the story unfolds, Welcome to Derry is integrating one more classic tale from King that deserves a revisit.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption isn't typically classified as horror, especially in contrast with a lot of the author's additional work, it is a haunting story of a wrongfully convicted man sentenced to spend his remaining years inside a notorious penitentiary. And it's this specific institution which is important here, as Shawshank State Prison possesses considerable history throughout King's stories — a pattern which persists within It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories which mention the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these stories, we learn regarding the terrible conditions at Shawshank State Prison plus several of the inmates there, such as the boyfriend of a belonging to Pennywise's early targets, who had been found guilty of armed robbery.
Thus far, though, the most we've learned about the prison has been via the perspective of Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. The character Andy winds up at the prison following his wrongful conviction, and experiences assaulted and raped by fellow inmates, and taken advantage of by the authority figures due to his financial knowledge. It takes nearly three decades to tunnel an escape route from Shawshank, before crawling "through sewage" to take back his freedom.
The Prison's Appearance in Welcome to Derry
Regarding the series, viewers initially discovered of Shawshank's involvement from an early trailer for the series, in which a correctional transport was seen bearing the title displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed who is likely headed to the prison.
Although it is known he did not commit the child deaths initially, the character Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. The preview for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," shows a guard informing Hank in his cell, "Do you know what they do to child murderers at that prison?"
The Implications for the Character and Ronnie
Given that the actual murderer in the town is a primordial entity from another world preying on and killing kids, Hank's chances of clearing his name appear slim. Even should he ends up to Shawshank and the audience do not see him inside, understanding what we do regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his time there would be far from pleasant.
Crucially, though, this situation could threaten Ronnie. He acts as her guardian. Horrible things are occurring in the town which no one, young or old, understands and Ronnie only has her new group of friends to rely on. She's going to need her dad in the coming episodes, but if Shawshank has any say, she could be out of luck.
A single fact is apparent: Hank lacks three decades to dig to freedom.
It: Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments air weekly each Sunday.
