Horror fans, brace yourselves. The sinister clown is back, or at least, his shadow looms large once again. HBO’s new prequel series It: Welcome to Derry has finally premiered, taking audiences back to the cursed town that has haunted Stephen King readers and film lovers for decades.
But this isn’t just another retelling of Pennywise’s blood-chilling reign. The first episode itself proves that this show means business, with shocking deaths, surreal illusions, and a philosophical twist that blurs the line between fear and belief.
Let’s dive deep into what made the premiere so gripping, and what fans can expect from this new horror spectacle.
The Premise: Back to the Town That Started It All
It: Welcome to Derry is set long before the events of the It films. The show revisits the infamous town of Derry, Maine, a place where evil doesn’t just lurk in the shadows but seeps into the very soil.
The series introduces a new group of young friends, seemingly destined to face the horrors hidden beneath their town. The first episode cleverly sets them up as the central “Losers Club” of this timeline, bright, curious, and full of the kind of innocence that horror stories love to destroy.
But before viewers can even get attached, the show does something bold.
A Premiere That Pulled No Punches
In a shocking twist that few saw coming, several of these young characters are seemingly killed in a chaotic movie theater sequence at the end of the episode. Teddy, Phil, Susie, names we just learned, are gone in an instant.
This isn’t your average horror cliché. It’s a creative gamble by the show’s directors, Andy and Barbara Muschietti, the same duo behind the It films. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Andy Muschietti explained that the decision was deliberate:
“You want to create an event that gives the audience a sense that if these kids were smoked at the end of the first episode, nothing is sacred. In this world, no one will be safe.”
This approach immediately sets a darker, more unpredictable tone. Unlike most horror shows that slowly build up to the first big death, It: Welcome to Derry chooses chaos right out of the gate.
The Opening Scene Everyone’s Talking About
The episode begins with a haunting sequence involving a young boy named Matty trapped in a car, only to be lured to his doom by something unseen. It’s a nod to the chilling opening of the 2017 It movie, but with an added layer of mystery.
When asked what exactly happens in that scene, since Pennywise is known to create illusions, Andy Muschietti gave an intriguingly cryptic answer:
“Answering that question would somehow kill the magic. It exists because the kids believe what they see. It’s about the feedback between belief and reality.”
This explanation ties directly into Stephen King’s original novel, where the true horror isn’t just the monster itself, but how fear gives it power. In other words, It is as real as you believe it to be, a metaphor that hits differently in a world still haunted by unseen fears and collective anxieties.
Where Is Pennywise?
One question that immediately arose after the premiere: Where is the clown?
To the surprise of many, Pennywise doesn’t make a full appearance in the first episode. But according to Andy Muschietti, that’s entirely by design.
“We did ‘less is more’ for half the show, but then we did ‘more is more.’ The idea behind the delayed appearance is the buildup of expectation,” he explained.
This approach mirrors the technique used in the first It film, where tension simmered before the clown finally revealed himself. The absence of Pennywise only heightens the sense of dread, viewers can feel his presence without needing to see him.
Why Welcome to Derry Feels Different
What sets this series apart isn’t just the scares, it’s the atmosphere. The show expands the mythology of Derry, exploring the town’s cursed history and the idea that evil here is cyclical, feeding off fear across generations.
The cinematography is moody, the music unsettling, and the performances, particularly by the young cast, are disarmingly real. The horror feels grounded, almost psychological, making it resonate even with those who may not be die-hard horror fans.
Final Thoughts
It: Welcome to Derry is not for the faint of heart. It’s a reminder that true horror lies not only in what’s seen but in what’s believed. By killing off characters early, withholding its main villain, and questioning the nature of fear itself, the series stands out as one of HBO’s most daring new releases.
Whether you’re a longtime Stephen King reader or someone just dipping into Derry’s cursed waters, this show promises a haunting journey worth taking.
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