Make Time For One Iconic Stephen King Cinematic Prior to the Series' Upcoming Installment
HBO's Welcome to Derry is packed with nods to Stephen King's vast collection of tales. Beyond the clear ties to It, the show also features a direct connection to The Shining through the cameo of a young Dick Hallorann. Now, as the story progresses, Welcome to Derry is integrating another beloved tale from King that deserves a revisit.
The Haunting Story of The Shawshank Redemption
Although Shawshank Redemption may not be classified as a horror film, particularly compared to a lot of the author's additional work, it remains a gripping story of a innocently imprisoned individual sentenced to live the rest of his life inside a notorious prison. And it's that very penitentiary which is central here, as Shawshank State Prison holds significant history across King's stories — a tradition that continues in It: Welcome to Derry.
Among the stories that reference the prison are Dolores Claiborne, Needful Things, Apt Pupil, 11/22/63, as well as It. Via these narratives, we learn regarding the terrible life inside Shawshank State Prison plus several of those imprisoned within, including the partner of a of Pennywise's early targets, who had been convicted of armed robbery.
So far, though, the most we've learned about the prison was via the eyes of the protagonist in The Shawshank Redemption, portrayed by Tim Robbins in the 1994 film. The character Andy winds up at the prison following being wrongly convicted, and finds himself beaten and raped by fellow inmates, while exploited by the officials in power due to his financial knowledge. It takes him 28 years to tunnel his way out from Shawshank, prior to making his way "through a river of shit" to reclaim his liberty.
The Prison's Appearance in Welcome to Derry
In relation to the series, audiences initially discovered about the prison's involvement from an early trailer for the show, in which a correctional transport appeared with the name displayed on its side. In episode 2, it is revealed which character is likely destined for Shawshank.
Though we know he did not commit the murders of children initially, Hank Grogan (Stephen Rider), father of Ronnie (Amanda Christine), is arrested for the crimes. The preview for episode 3, "Now You See It," reveals an officer informing a jailed Hank, "Are you aware what they do to child murderers in Shawshank?"
The Consequences for Hank and His Daughter
Considering that the real murderer in the town is a primordial entity from another world hunting and murdering kids, Hank's prospects of clearing his name appear slim. And even if he ends up in the prison and viewers do not see him there, understanding what we do about that prison indicates that his experience would be far from pleasant.
More importantly, though, this situation would endanger his daughter. Hank is her guardian. Terrible events are occurring around Derry that nobody, child or adult, comprehends and Ronnie just has her new group circle of pals to depend on. She's going to need her dad as the story progresses, but if the prison system plays a role, she could be without help.
One thing seems clear: Hank doesn’t have 28 years to tunnel his way out.
Welcome to Derry episodes 1 and 2 are currently available on HBO Max. Additional installments are released each week each Sunday.
