Don't Miss One Iconic Stephen King Film Prior to the Series' Next Episode
HBO's It: Welcome to Derry is packed with connections to the author's extensive universe of narratives. Beyond the obvious ties to the original story, the series also features a direct link to The Shining via the cameo of a young Dick Hallorann. Now, as the narrative unfolds, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating another beloved tale from King which merits a revisit.
The Powerful Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically considered a horror film, particularly compared to much of King's other work, it is a haunting tale of a innocently imprisoned individual sentenced to live his remaining years inside a infamous prison. It is this specific penitentiary which is central in this context, since the Shawshank facility holds considerable history across King's stories — a pattern that continues within It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the tales which mention the prison include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these narratives, we discover about the awful conditions at the state penitentiary and some of the inmates there, including the boyfriend of a belonging to Pennywise's initial targets, who had been convicted of armed robbery.
Thus far, though, the most we've learned concerning Shawshank was via the perspective of the protagonist from The Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. Andy winds up at the prison after being wrongly convicted, and experiences beaten and raped by fellow inmates, and taken advantage of by those in officials in power due to his expertise in finance. It takes him 28 years to tunnel his way out from Shawshank, prior to making his way "through a river of shit" to reclaim his freedom.
Shawshank's Appearance in Welcome to Derry
Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, audiences initially discovered about the prison's involvement via an initial preview for the series, where a correctional transport appeared bearing the title painted on the side. During the second episode, it is revealed who is probably headed to the prison.
Though it is known he did not responsible for the murders of children initially, 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," reveals a guard telling Hank in his cell, "Are you aware what they do to child murderers at that prison?"
The Consequences for the Character and Ronnie
Considering that the real killer in the town is a primordial entity from another world hunting and killing kids, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence appear slim. And even if he ends up in the prison and the audience don't follow him there, knowing what is known about that prison makes it clear that his time there would not be pleasant.
More importantly, though, this development could threaten Ronnie. Hank is her guardian. Horrible things are occurring in the town that nobody, young or old, understands and she just has her new group of friends to rely on. She's going to need her dad as the story progresses, but if Shawshank has any say, she could be out of luck.
A single fact is apparent: Hank lacks three decades to tunnel his way out.
Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are streaming now via the streaming service. Additional installments air weekly each Sunday.
