Pennywise Continues to Terrify in IT: Welcome to Derry Episode 1
- Sania Jameel
- 7 days ago
- 2 min read
The movie franchise 'It', based on Stephen King's acclaimed novel, achieved massive success and became a horror favorite. The prequel series, It: Welcome to Derry, will explore the entity's terrifying backstory while maintaining the chilling atmosphere of the films.
The first episode opened with arguably one of the best opening scenes of the year, immediately setting the tone with a horrifying, gruesome death.
What IT: Welcome to Derry Is About
It: Welcome to Derry is set 27 years before the events of the first film. It is based on Stephen King's fictional town, Derry. The series focuses on the haunting history of the town and the dancing clown itself.
Welcome to Derry explores the origins of Pennywise, providing fans with a rich backstory while offering a darker horror experience.
Episode 1 Breakdown - Setting the Stage for Horror
The show opens with Matty sneaking into the theatre during the screening of “The Music Man”. He gets thrown out after getting caught and wanders around. He gets picked up by a strange family to drop him off. Once in, the two kids in the backseat start acting bizarrely. It became clear to him that something was definitely off when the father did not stop where he was supposed to drop Matty.
The striking opening scene kept the viewers hooked when the mother suddenly went into bloody labor and gave birth to a winged and monstrous baby. The infant attacks Matty, killing him.
Later, Matty is declared missing. His friends Lilly, Teddy, Phil, Ronnie, and Susie team up when Lilly hears Matty’s haunting singing, a song from “The Music Man”. The fragmented signs lead them to the theatre. The group is beyond shocked to see Matty appear on the screen, accusing them of betraying him. He is holding the same baby that killed him in his arms. The episode peaks when Matty releases the creature from the screen and into the real world.
Pennywise’s Shadow - The Fear Factor
The episode portrays Pennywise’s Shadow and influence over the town, Derry, as the primary fear. It does not overuse the clown for horror. The fear is built up by the direct influences of Pennywise in Derry, such as visions and unsettling sounds, before his reveal.
It focuses on the atmosphere, psychological and symbolic fear, making Pennywise more persuasive and unpredictable.
The series's first episode offers an attention-grabbing and graphic start, immediately promising a darker, more grotesque, and more intensely horrific experience that lives up to the standards of the IT movie franchise.
Keep reading The ScreenLight for the latest updates on shows and movies.
