Is IT Welcome To Derry Worth Watching? Prequel Balances Social Horror And Cosmic Dread
The challenge for ' IT: Welcome To Derry ' was monumental: how to precede one of the most successful horror film adaptations ever without merely repeating the iconic clown scares. The solution, as demonstrated in the first episode, is a bold narrative pivot. Instead of centering on the "Losers’ Club," the series explores the history and deep-seated evil of the entire cursed town of Derry. The story is set in the winter of 1962 , long before Bill Denbrough and Georgie's tragedy, immediately setting a grim, relentless tone. This isn't just a monster narrative; it is a period piece rooted in societal decay - like Cold War paranoia and rampant racial tensions - that the entity exploits.
A Shocking, Brutal Opening
The pilot episode, titled 'The Pilot,' opens with a sequence of events that firmly establishes the prequel 's willingness to break conventions. We are introduced to young Matty Clements, whose attempt to flee Derry results in one of the most unsettling moments drawn from the Stephen King lore. His car journey with a seemingly ordinary family climaxes in a grotesque scene involving the birth of a mutant baby. While the CGI in this creature reveal might appear "a bit dodgy," the sequence delivers on pure, shocking horror. A strong caution is advised for viewers who are "expecting soon: Watch at your own risk!"
The terror escalates when Matty’s friends - Lilly, Teddy, Phil, and Susie - investigate his disappearance at the Capital Theatre. The episode's brutal climax sees a monstrous entity erupt from the movie screen, massacring nearly everyone and leaving only Lilly and Ronnie alive. This swift, ruthless decision "instantly signals that this prequel has its own wicked rules, throwing the audience off balance. Period." The young cast, particularly Clara Stack as Lilly, is "smashing" in her portrayal of trauma.
Adult Horror: Prejudice and Paranoia
The true emotional and narrative core of the pilot resides with the adults: Air Force Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) and his wife, Charlotte (Taylour Paige). As newcomers to Derry, their arrival coincides with an escalating wave of madness. Leroy, a Black man joining a military base in Maine in the 1960s, is immediately confronted by a systemic, tangible form of horror: institutional paranoia and blatant prejudice.
His struggle against General Shaw and the masked ambush he endures is arguably "more immediately gripping than the supernatural scares." This is where the series truly shines, asserting that the town’s "original sin, its racism and indifference," is the primary amplifier of the cosmic horror .
Connecting the King Universe
A notable and brilliant addition is the appearance of Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk)—the character from 'The Shining' who possesses the 'shine'. His quiet, knowing presence cleverly ties the show into the broader Stephen King universe, hinting that generations of people have been struggling to combat the deep-seated "rot that permeates the town."
What is particularly effective is the restraint shown with Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise . The entity is "barely glimpsed in the first episode, naturally." He is deliberately held back, much like the shark in 'Jaws,' existing mostly as an echoing song in the pipes or a bloody hallucination in Lilly's bathtub. This unusual patience for a modern horror series "pays off by building genuine, sustained dread."
Any minor criticisms, such as the slightly questionable CGI in the creature reveals, are insignificant when considering the strength of the adult performances and the expert blending of social commentary with cosmic terror. This is far from a simple origin story; it is "a deep dive into the historical wounds of a cursed place." 'IT: Welcome To Derry' is "darkly atmospheric, surprisingly smart, a fitting watch on Halloween."
The review is based on the first episode. New episodes of 'IT: Welcome To Derry' will be released every Monday.
A Shocking, Brutal Opening
The pilot episode, titled 'The Pilot,' opens with a sequence of events that firmly establishes the prequel 's willingness to break conventions. We are introduced to young Matty Clements, whose attempt to flee Derry results in one of the most unsettling moments drawn from the Stephen King lore. His car journey with a seemingly ordinary family climaxes in a grotesque scene involving the birth of a mutant baby. While the CGI in this creature reveal might appear "a bit dodgy," the sequence delivers on pure, shocking horror. A strong caution is advised for viewers who are "expecting soon: Watch at your own risk!"
The terror escalates when Matty’s friends - Lilly, Teddy, Phil, and Susie - investigate his disappearance at the Capital Theatre. The episode's brutal climax sees a monstrous entity erupt from the movie screen, massacring nearly everyone and leaving only Lilly and Ronnie alive. This swift, ruthless decision "instantly signals that this prequel has its own wicked rules, throwing the audience off balance. Period." The young cast, particularly Clara Stack as Lilly, is "smashing" in her portrayal of trauma.
Adult Horror: Prejudice and Paranoia
The true emotional and narrative core of the pilot resides with the adults: Air Force Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) and his wife, Charlotte (Taylour Paige). As newcomers to Derry, their arrival coincides with an escalating wave of madness. Leroy, a Black man joining a military base in Maine in the 1960s, is immediately confronted by a systemic, tangible form of horror: institutional paranoia and blatant prejudice.
His struggle against General Shaw and the masked ambush he endures is arguably "more immediately gripping than the supernatural scares." This is where the series truly shines, asserting that the town’s "original sin, its racism and indifference," is the primary amplifier of the cosmic horror .
Connecting the King Universe
A notable and brilliant addition is the appearance of Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk)—the character from 'The Shining' who possesses the 'shine'. His quiet, knowing presence cleverly ties the show into the broader Stephen King universe, hinting that generations of people have been struggling to combat the deep-seated "rot that permeates the town."
The Power of Dread
What is particularly effective is the restraint shown with Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise . The entity is "barely glimpsed in the first episode, naturally." He is deliberately held back, much like the shark in 'Jaws,' existing mostly as an echoing song in the pipes or a bloody hallucination in Lilly's bathtub. This unusual patience for a modern horror series "pays off by building genuine, sustained dread."
Final Verdict
Any minor criticisms, such as the slightly questionable CGI in the creature reveals, are insignificant when considering the strength of the adult performances and the expert blending of social commentary with cosmic terror. This is far from a simple origin story; it is "a deep dive into the historical wounds of a cursed place." 'IT: Welcome To Derry' is "darkly atmospheric, surprisingly smart, a fitting watch on Halloween."
The review is based on the first episode. New episodes of 'IT: Welcome To Derry' will be released every Monday.
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