Make Time For This Classic Stephen King Movie Prior to the Series' Upcoming Installment
The series It: Welcome to Derry is filled with nods to the author's wide-ranging collection of tales. Apart from the obvious ties to It, the series showcases an explicit connection to The Shining via the cameo of the youthful Dick Hallorann. Currently, as the narrative unfolds, Welcome to Derry is integrating another beloved tale from King that deserves a revisit.
The Haunting Tale of The Shawshank Redemption
Although The Shawshank Redemption isn't typically considered a horror film, especially in contrast with a lot of the author's additional writing, it is a haunting story about an wrongfully convicted individual condemned to live the rest of his life in a notorious prison. It is that very penitentiary that becomes important in this context, since Shawshank State Prison possesses significant lore throughout King's stories — a tradition which persists in It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories which mention Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Through these narratives, we discover regarding the awful life inside the state penitentiary and some of those imprisoned there, such as the boyfriend of one of Pennywise's initial victims, who was convicted of armed robbery.
So far, however, the majority we have discovered concerning Shawshank was via the perspective of the protagonist from The Shawshank Redemption, played by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 movie. Andy ends up at the prison following being wrongly convicted, and finds himself assaulted and raped by other prisoners, while taken advantage of by the officials in power due to his financial knowledge. He requires him 28 years to dig his way out of the prison, prior to crawling "through a river of shit" to take back his freedom.
Shawshank's Appearance in Welcome to Derry
Regarding the series, viewers initially discovered of Shawshank's involvement via an initial preview for the show, in which a correctional transport appeared with the name displayed on its side. During the second episode, we learn which character is likely headed to the prison.
Though it is known he was not commit the child deaths initially, Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), dad to Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. A teaser for episode 3, "the upcoming installment," shows a guard telling Hank in his cell, "Do you know what they do to child murderers at that prison?"
The Implications for the Character and His Daughter
Given that the real killer in Derry is a primordial entity from another world preying on and murdering children, Hank's prospects of clearing his name do not look good. Even should he does go to Shawshank and the audience do not see him inside, knowing what we do regarding Shawshank makes it clear that his time there would not be pleasant.
Crucially, however, this development could threaten his daughter. He acts as her protector. Horrible things are happening in the town which no one, young or old, comprehends and she just has her recently formed circle of pals to rely on. She's going to need her father as the story progresses, however should Shawshank has any say, she may be out of luck.
A single fact is apparent: Hank lacks 28 years to dig his way out.
Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are streaming now on HBO Max. New episodes are released each week each Sunday.
