Make Time For One Iconic Stephen King Film Before the Series' Upcoming Installment
HBO's It: Welcome to Derry is filled with connections to Stephen King's wide-ranging collection of tales. Beyond the obvious links to the original story, the series showcases an explicit link to The Shining through the appearance of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the narrative unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating another beloved King story that deserves another look.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as a horror film, especially compared to much of King's other writing, it is a gripping story of a wrongfully convicted individual condemned to live the rest of his life inside a notorious prison. And it's this specific penitentiary that becomes important in this context, since Shawshank State Prison possesses significant history across King's stories — a tradition that continues in Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories that reference the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these narratives, we learn about the awful life inside the state penitentiary and several of the inmates there, such as the partner of a of Pennywise's early targets, who was convicted of armed robbery.
So far, though, the majority we have discovered about the prison has been through the perspective of Andy Dufresne from The Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. Andy ends up in Shawshank after being wrongly convicted, and finds himself beaten and abused by other prisoners, while exploited by the officials in power due to his expertise in finance. He requires nearly three decades 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 It: Welcome to Derry, audiences initially discovered of Shawshank's involvement via an initial preview for the show, in which a correctional transport appeared with the name painted on the side. During the second episode, we learn which character is likely destined for Shawshank.
Although we know he did not commit the child deaths in the first episode, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for those offenses. The preview for the next episode, "the upcoming installment," shows an officer informing a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what happens to child murderers at that prison?"
The Consequences for Hank and Ronnie
Considering that the actual murderer in the town is a primordial entity originating elsewhere hunting and killing kids, Hank's chances of proving his innocence do not look good. And even if he does go to Shawshank and viewers don't follow him inside, knowing what we do regarding Shawshank indicates that his time there would be far from pleasant.
More importantly, though, this situation could threaten his daughter. Hank is her guardian. Terrible events are happening in the town that nobody, child or adult, comprehends 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.
One thing seems clear: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to tunnel his way out.
Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments are released each week each Sunday.
