IT: WELCOME TO DERRY Elevates Stephen King’s Terrifying Town (Review)

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Andy Muschietti’s film adaptation of Stephen King’s IT, released by Warner Bros. in 2017, quickly became a massive cultural hit – it actually had the biggest opening weekend of any horror movie ever! Many fans consider it one of the best horror films of the 21st century, finally doing King’s 1986 novel justice. After IT: Chapter Two finished the story from the book, people wondered if there was anything left to explore in the world of Pennywise. The answer, as it turns out, is a resounding yes. IT: Welcome to Derry isn’t just another typical prequel; it’s a strong continuation that does what the best sequels do – it develops the characters we already know and introduces new ones we quickly come to care about. The first five episodes of IT: Welcome to Derry are excellent, and we’re hoping the finale delivers a satisfying conclusion.

A significant change in the movie adaptation was shifting the story’s timeline from 1958 to 1989. This was probably to make the characters’ adult lives feel more current, or to tap into the popularity of 1980s culture. Either way, the film lost the mid-20th-century atmosphere of Stephen King’s novel. America in 1989 was very different from 1958, making it hard for the movie to capture the same feeling as the book. Setting events in 1962 would have been much closer to the spirit of the late 1950s. The country was on the cusp of major changes – the assassination of JFK and the arrival of the Beatles would dramatically alter the cultural landscape just a year later. The new series, Welcome to Derry, successfully recaptures the nostalgic feeling of King’s Maine childhood that’s so central to the novel, and it’s a definite improvement.

What really struck me about Welcome to Derry is how it digs into the darker side of small-town America – things the original films only hinted at. It doesn’t shy away from the racism and narrow-mindedness that were sadly common back then. Taylour Paige and Jovan Adepo deliver powerful performances as Charlotte and Leroy Hanlon, the grandparents of Mike from the Loser’s Club. They beautifully portray a Black Air Force officer and a civil rights activist navigating life in 1962 Derry, and their story adds a really compelling layer to the town’s already creepy history.

The residents of this New England town repeatedly point out it’s different from the South, but the newcomers quickly discover that racism is still a problem in Derry – it’s just more subtle. Hank, a movie theater worker played by Stephen Rider, faces racial prejudice and becomes the town’s immediate scapegoat when something terrible happens. This adds depth to Welcome to Derry that the original movies only hinted at.

What really makes these Muschietti films – and Welcome to Derry especially – work is the kids they cast. They’re the heart of the story, and that’s exactly how it should be. Honestly, I think this new group of young actors is even better than the ones in the original movie – they feel so much more developed. TV gives them the space to really show us who these characters are, and that makes all the difference. Blake Cameron James as Will Hanlon, Clara Stack as Lily, who’s dealing with a really tough past, and Amanda Christine as Ronnie, who’s struggling with unfair rumors about her dad, really stand out. But seriously, every single kid in this cast is fantastic and brings something special.

The acting is outstanding across the board, and the show does an incredible job of recreating the look and feel of the original films, showing Derry as it was 27 years prior. Many period pieces get the details wrong, but this show doesn’t. While younger viewers might not notice, the production team clearly understands the subtle differences between years like 1962 and 1968. Each episode looks as polished as a movie, and the overall effect actually enhances the experience of watching the films—with perhaps the exception of It: Chapter Two.

You’re likely wondering if It: Welcome to Derry is actually scary. Let’s just say the very first scene is shockingly disturbing and will likely leave most viewers stunned. It’s not just frightening; it has a uniquely unsettling quality that’s rare in studio horror, especially for a streaming series. Without giving away too much, the show doesn’t shy away from showing innocent children meeting gruesome ends. From the beginning, Welcome to Derry makes it clear that no one is safe. As for Pennywise, we won’t reveal any spoilers. Bill Skarsgård returns to play him, and he’s definitely present in the series. But even when he’s off-screen, his presence is strongly felt.

Often, the scariest horror stories leave things unexplained—do we really want to know the details of Freddy Krueger’s dream invasions or what drives Michael Myers? Usually not. But the series Welcome to Derry surprisingly pulls off a detailed backstory for Pennywise and the town of Derry, and it works incredibly well. The show builds a rich and fascinating world, adding to the already compelling mythology Stephen King created 40 years ago. It even connects to other King novels, featuring a notable character from The Shining in a key supporting role. Welcome to Derry is a genuinely impressive series that horror fans shouldn’t miss.

It: Welcome to Derry premieres on October 26 on HBO Max.

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2025-10-22 19:47