Welcome to Derry Review and Cast

The terrifying town of Derry, Maine, is back on television with the new HBO prequel series, "Welcome to Derry." The show is set in 1962 and provides information on the origins of the clown known as Pennywise. The series is a chilling and visually impressive journey. In addition to its traditional horror elements, the series also effectively addresses many of the real-world issues of the early 1960s.

The new HBO series is made up of eight episodes and premiered on October 26. The show transports the audience back to the now-familiar, terrifying small town of Derry and attempts to provide additional history from Stephen King's novel, It. The producers sought to not only showcase the history of Pennywise, but also to make the town of Derry one of the central elements of the story. In the TV series, it is portrayed as a dark place haunted by fear.

Why Reason Fans Are Excited About the Show

One reason fans of the franchise are excited is the return of Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise. However, he initially hesitated returning to the role. As previously indicated by Director Andy Muschietti, Skarsgård was reluctant to return due to the mental toll of portraying the Pennywise character. What ultimately influenced Skarsgård's decision was the opportunity to portray a different side of the entity, specifically the backstory of Bob Gray, the character on which Pennywise's form is based.

Although Skarsgård is returning, the show does not immediately reveal Pennywise in the first few episodes. The creators intentionally took this approach to generate suspense. Rather than immediately reveal Pennywise, the first few episodes introduce other frightening forms of the monster, such as a demonic baby designed to represent the era's widespread fear of nuclear mutations. The use of these frightening manifestations illustrates that the series wishes to honor the original story and find new ways to frighten the audience.

New Characters Face Old Horrors

Welcome to Derry introduces audiences to a new group of characters who become entangled in the town's evil cycle. The cast features Taylour Paige as Charlotte Hanlon and Jovan Adepo as Leroy Hanlon, a black couple that moves to Derry in the 1960s during a time of extreme racial tension. Their storyline allows the series to explore real-world horrors alongside the supernatural, a hallmark of Stephen King's work. Adepo has spoken about how the real-life anxieties of being black in America provided a foundation for his character's fear, making the on-screen terror feel all the more palpable. The creative team provided a story that filled in many of the gaps from King's original book. Stephen King, the author of the original novel, has been very supportive of the creators, allowing them the freedom to come up with new concepts while providing feedback when necessary.

Another notable aspect of the series is a surprising connection to another well-known story by Stephen King, The Shining. A younger version of Dick Hallorann, the cook with psychic abilities from The Shining, appears in the series. Played by Chris Chalk, this inclusion helps to link King's various stories into one bigger tale.

A Violent Beginning and a Frightening Atmosphere

The first episode begins with a violent and graphic sequence. The shocking opening immediately establishes that anything can happen and no one is safe in Derry. Director Andy Muschietti is known to be playful and even used a trumpet to indicate whether he liked or disliked a particular take. The creative freedom likely created a unique environment where the actors and director could discover new ideas while filming.

Ultimately, Welcome to Derry is more than just a horror series. It examines fear. Both the fear that is real and the fear that we imagine. By connecting its supernatural monster to the real social problems of the 1960s, the show creates a story that is both frightening and thought-provoking. With its talented cast and the support of Stephen King, the series creates a chilling and unforgettable new chapter in the history of Pennywise and the town that can never truly let you go.

Rating: 8/10