Welcome To Derry (HBO Max)
By: Dave Hughes
Stephen King has built an enduring universe of fear and imagination. From the haunted hallways of the Overlook Hotel in The Shining to the unbreakable bond of the kids in Stand by Me, his stories have shaped generations of horror fans. Welcome to Derry is the latest chapter in that legacy, taking the characters and town established in IT (2017) back in time in a prequel setting. Director Andy Muschietti (IT: Part I, IT: Part II) delivers a terrifying, though occasionally uneven, approach to the series, transforming Derry itself into a living, breathing character within its own haunting mythology.
Welcome to Derry takes place thirty years before the events of It, expanding on the origins of King’s most well-known town. As with much of Stephen King’s work, there is an immediate sense of connection between the characters and the setting. Fans will recognize familiar last names, landmarks, and echoes of stories they already know. Muschietti takes creative liberties that diverge from the background that King establishes in IT, but the foundation remains the same. The choices to divert from King’s original story mostly work when translating the story into a television series. The evil that plagues Derry is not limited to the clown in the sewer; it also lies in the town’s corruption, oppression, and the entitlement of its upper class. The story once again follows a group of kids confronting that evil, but this time the execution delivers unexpected turns and heavier thematic depth, making the story fresh while audiences feel a familiar comfort in the world building.
Muschietti connects a few familiar faces to Stephen King’s wider universe throughout the series. The most notable is Dick Halloran (played by Chris Chalk), best known to King fans for his role in The Shining where he teaches Danny Torrance about the hotel and more importantly about his gift. Another familiar name is Leroy Hanlon (played by Jovan Adepo), whose grandson will one day face Pennywise himself. Viewers unfamiliar with King’s world may miss some of these nods, but longtime fans will appreciate the connections that link Welcome to Derry to the larger King mythology.
Visually, Welcome to Derry struggles to capture the town’s nature of the wholesome façade of the small town America contrasted with the deep evil that is lurking in the sewers and within some of its residents. The sweeping large overhead shots of its streets and skyline feel overly CGI-driven, stripping away the authenticity the story demands when it's driven on character connection. In the first episode, when children gaze over the town from a water tower, the moment feels artificial rather than foreboding of what is to come. The disjointed visuals when it comes to scenery and some moments of terror undermine both the believability and the dread that the setting should evoke.
The fear, however, remains potent. This is where Welcome to Derry truly finds its footing. The violence and imagery are more graphic than in Muschietti’s previous IT films, with moments that push well beyond jump scares into sustained uncomfortable terror. Several scenes stand out for their sharp execution and unexpected impact. Other moments fall into the CGI trap which strips away any dread that viewers feel. Pennywise’s physical absence early in the series doesn’t diminish his presence; his malevolence seeps through every frame with the audience anticipating his arrival. The series channels his cruelty through implication and atmosphere long before he appears, reminding viewers that Derry itself may be the scariest monster of all.
Target Score: 7/10 Welcome to Derry may stumble in its visual execution, but its story and atmosphere remind us why King’s small towns never feel safe for long. Even with its flaws, this trip back to Derry still sends a chill down and through the sewer pipes.