Don't Miss One Classic Stephen King Cinematic Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
The series Welcome to Derry is packed with connections to the author's extensive library of stories. Beyond the clear ties to It, the series also features an explicit link to King's famous novel via the cameo of a young Dick Hallorann. Currently, as the narrative progresses, Welcome to Derry is integrating another classic King story which merits a revisit.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
While Shawshank Redemption may not be considered a horror film, particularly compared to much of the author's additional work, it remains a gripping tale about an innocently imprisoned individual sentenced to live the rest of his life in a infamous prison. And it's that very institution that becomes important here, as Shawshank State Prison holds considerable history across King's stories — a pattern that continues in Welcome to Derry.
Among the tales which mention the prison include Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these stories, we discover regarding the terrible life at the state penitentiary and several of those imprisoned within, including the partner of one of Pennywise's initial victims, who had been found guilty of armed robbery.
Thus far, though, the most we've learned about the prison has been through the perspective of Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, played by Tim Robbins in that 1994 film. Andy ends up in Shawshank after his wrongful conviction, then finds himself assaulted and raped by fellow inmates, and taken advantage of by the authority figures for his financial knowledge. It takes him 28 years to tunnel an escape route from Shawshank, before making his way "through a river of shit" to reclaim his freedom.
Shawshank's Appearance in It: Welcome to Derry
Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, audiences first learned about the prison's involvement from an early trailer for the show, in which a prison bus appeared with the name painted on the side. During the second episode, it is revealed which character is probably destined for the prison.
Though it is known he was not commit the murders of children in the first episode, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for the crimes. A teaser for the next episode, "Now You See It," reveals an officer informing a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what they do to child murderers at that prison?"
The Implications for the Character and Ronnie
Considering that the actual murderer in Derry is a primordial entity from another world hunting and murdering kids, Hank's chances of proving his innocence appear slim. Even should he ends up in the prison and the audience do not see him inside, understanding what we do about that prison makes it clear that his time there would be far from enjoyable.
More importantly, however, this situation could threaten Ronnie. He acts as her protector. Terrible events are occurring in the town that nobody, child or adult, comprehends and she only has her new group of friends to depend on. She will require her dad as the story progresses, but if the prison system has any say, she may be without help.
A single fact seems clear: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to dig his way out.
Welcome to Derry the first two episodes are streaming now via the streaming service. Additional installments air weekly each Sunday.
