Make Time For This Classic Stephen King Film Before It: Welcome to Derry's Upcoming Installment
The series Welcome to Derry is packed with nods to the author's extensive library of stories. Beyond the clear links to It, the series includes a direct link to King's famous novel through the appearance of a young future chef of the Overlook Hotel. Currently, as the story progresses, Welcome to Derry is weaving in one more classic tale from King which merits a revisit.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
While Shawshank Redemption isn't typically considered a horror film, particularly compared to a lot of King's other writing, it remains a gripping story about an innocently imprisoned man sentenced to spend the rest of his life inside a notorious prison. And it's that very institution that becomes important in this context, as the Shawshank facility holds significant history across King's stories — a tradition that continues in Welcome to Derry.
Some of the stories that reference Shawshank are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, and It. Through these stories, we learn regarding the terrible conditions at Shawshank State Prison and several of the inmates there, including the partner of a belonging to Pennywise's initial victims, who was found guilty for robbery with a weapon.
Thus far, though, the most we've learned about the prison has been via the perspective of the protagonist from Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by the actor Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. Andy winds up at the prison after being wrongly convicted, and experiences beaten and raped by fellow inmates, while taken advantage of by the officials in power for his expertise in finance. He requires nearly three decades to tunnel his way out of the prison, prior to making his way "through a river of shit" to reclaim his liberty.
Shawshank's Appearance in It: Welcome to Derry
Regarding It: Welcome to Derry, viewers first learned about the prison's involvement via an early trailer for the series, where a prison bus appeared with the name displayed on its side. During the second episode, it is revealed which character is likely headed to the prison.
Though it is known he was not commit the child deaths initially, the character Hank Grogan (played by Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), gets taken into custody for those offenses. The preview for the next episode, "Now You See It," shows an officer telling Hank in his cell, "Do you know what happens to child murderers in Shawshank?"
The Implications for Hank and Ronnie
Considering that the real murderer in the town is an ancient power from another world preying on and murdering children, Hank's chances of proving his innocence appear slim. Even should he does go in the prison and viewers don't follow him there, understanding what is known regarding Shawshank indicates that his experience would not be enjoyable.
More importantly, however, this situation could threaten his daughter. Hank is her guardian. Horrible things are occurring around Derry that nobody, young or old, comprehends and she just has her new group of friends to depend on. She will require her dad as the story progresses, however should Shawshank has any say, she may be out of luck.
One thing seems clear: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to tunnel to freedom.
Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available via the streaming service. Additional installments air weekly each Sunday.
