Make Time For This Legendary Stephen King Movie Prior to the Series' Next Episode

The series Welcome to Derry is packed with nods to Stephen King's wide-ranging library of stories. Apart from the obvious links to It, the show also features an explicit link to King's famous novel through the cameo of the youthful future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Now, as the story progresses, It: Welcome to Derry is integrating another classic King story which merits another look.

The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption

While Shawshank Redemption isn't typically considered a horror film, particularly in contrast with a lot of King's other writing, it is a haunting story of a wrongfully convicted man sentenced to live his remaining years inside a infamous prison. And it's that very penitentiary that becomes central here, since the Shawshank facility holds significant history throughout King's fictional world — a pattern that continues within Welcome to Derry.

Among the tales that reference the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Via these narratives, we learn regarding the terrible life inside the state penitentiary and several of those imprisoned there, such as the partner of a of Pennywise's early victims, who was found guilty of armed robbery.

So far, however, the most we've learned about the prison was via the perspective of the protagonist in Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. The character Andy winds up at the prison after being wrongly convicted, then experiences beaten and raped by other prisoners, and taken advantage of by those in officials in power due to his expertise in finance. It takes him 28 years to dig his way out from Shawshank, prior to making his way "through a river of shit" to take back his liberty.

The Prison's Role in Welcome to Derry

In relation to It: Welcome to Derry, audiences first learned of Shawshank's involvement from an initial preview for the show, in which a prison bus appeared with the name painted on the side. In episode 2, it is revealed who is probably headed to Shawshank.

Though we know he was not responsible for the child deaths initially, the character Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for the crimes. The preview for episode 3, "Now You See It," shows a guard telling a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what they do to child murderers at that prison?"

The Implications for Hank and Ronnie

Given that the actual murderer in Derry is a primordial entity from another world hunting and killing kids, Hank's prospects of proving his innocence appear slim. Even should he does go to Shawshank and viewers don't follow him inside, knowing what is known regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his experience would be far from enjoyable.

More importantly, however, this situation would endanger his daughter. He acts as her guardian. Terrible events are happening around Derry which no one, child or adult, understands and Ronnie only has her recently formed circle of pals to depend on. She's going to need her father as the story progresses, but if Shawshank has any say, she could be without help.

One thing seems clear: Hank doesn’t have three decades to dig his way out.

It: Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are streaming now on HBO Max. Additional installments air weekly each Sunday.