HBO’s Welcome to Derry Season 1 offers a disturbing look into the world of Stephen King's It, revealing the dark history of 1962 Derry in an unsettling eight-episode story that serves as a prequel. The show’s creators, Andy Muschietti and Tommy Brennan, move away from focusing on the familiar group of kids to instead highlight the lives of the town’s residents—including mothers who bake pies, officers struggling with alcohol, and children standing precariously close to Pennywise's influence. It feels like folk horror in its purest form: not about big scares, but a deep sense of unease that grows from quiet hints to a dramatic conclusion. The series earns an A-. Jovan Adepo brings intensity as Leroy Hanlon, a Black veteran confronting racism while also dealing with the presence of red balloons. Cynthia Erivo portrays Martha Marsh, conveying maternal fear through everyday routines, and the younger actors who represent the future Losers manage to evoke genuine sadness despite their age. Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise is presented more as an insidious force than a performer—appearing in unexpected places like snowmen and mirrors. The episodes unfold gradually, much like a severe storm: initial scenes combine monotonous work with mysterious disappearances, while later episodes involve unsettling memory loss that leads to feelings of guilt. The story slows down during a scene focused on backstory, but Chung-hoon Chung’s bleak cinematography—using pale colors punctuated by flashes of red—helps pull it back on track. The series explores the consequences of past actions: prejudice, abandonment, and shared responsibility, all set against the backdrop of the 1960s civil rights movement. The horror is deeply personal; scenes reminiscent of Alien create a sense of dread in underground spaces, while carnivals become tainted by blood-soaked treats. The soundtrack distorts music into unsettling sounds that get under your skin. Some smaller storylines aren't as well developed, but "Winter Fire" delivers shocking discoveries that foreshadow the fate of the Losers. It’s a fresh take on King’s expansive narrative—refined, heartbreaking, and genuinely frightening. Derry is beckoning; proceed with caution if you choose to watch.

Source on TMDB