A suspenseful and visually striking prequel that expands the terrifying mythology of Pennywise
It: Welcome to Derry revisits Stephen King's terrifying world with a suspenseful prequel that delivers strong performances, unsettling horror, and impressive technical presentation.
It's been forty years since Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård; Nosferatu), the clown, first terrorized the young children of Derry, Maine. As the antagonist in Stephen King's 22nd novel (the 17th written under his own name), Pennywise lived in the sewer system, snatching children once every twenty-seven years, feeding on their fear, and killing them. Four years after the book, It, was published, a made-for-television mini-series of the same name was produced. Fast forward 27 years (ironically) and a two-part, major motion picture directed by Andy Muschiette (The Flash) was released worldwide to critical and box office success. Last October, a prequel, limited series called It: Welcome to Derry was released on HBO. It again garnered critical praise when it aired, and it has just been released on 4K for purchase at retailers nationwide.
It: Welcome to Derry begins in 1962 when a boy named Matty (Miles Ekhardt; Turtles All the Way Down) attempts to leave town to get away from his abusive father. Hitchhiking, he gets a ride with a seemingly normal family, but things suddenly turn strange, and Matty disappears. Four months later, Lilly (Clara Stack; Hawkeye) thinks she hears Matty singing to her from her bathtub drain. At the same time, Major Hanlon (Jovan Adepo; Babylon) arrives at the Derry military base for a top-secret mission. Over the next few weeks, more children go missing, and things in Derry become stranger and more dangerous until the 27-year cycle ends and Pennywise becomes dormant once again.
Three things make this limited series so good. First, there is the writing. Besides the first episode, which is a little slow and drags at times, the rest of the season moves at a regular pace and offers plenty in the way of suspense and drama. Second is the cast. The young actors are excellent, and the adults are made up of a group of veterans who bring their best to the show. Finally, the effects are superb. With a show such as this, the demon and the gore need to be believable, and the effects team does an especially good job of doing just that.
The video and audio technical aspects are a highlight of this release. The Dolby Vision, HDR10 gives everything sharp relief with detailed lines and angles. The color palette, whether the dark moments of the sewer or the bright hues of daylight, is rich and deep.
The Dolby Atmos audio highlights the score, which boasts robust orchestration. The dialogue is sharp and clean, and even the screaming seems layered. The combo pack comes with three discs that not only house the 8 episodes but also the behind-the-scenes of each episode. Three other extras offer a little more insight into the series, but none of the extras go too in-depth, which is a shame.
The extras include:
- Disc One: Inside Derry Extended - Episode 101, Inside Derry - Episode 102, and Inside Derry - Episode 103
- Disc Two: Inside Derry - Episode 104; Inside Derry Extended - Episode 105, and Inside Derry - Episode 106
- Disc Three: Inside Derry - Episode 107, Inside Derry Extended- Episode 108, Welcome to Derry, Becoming Pennywise, and Fear the Other
The story of Pennywise has been around for four decades, and in that time, there has been a television miniseries, two feature films, a limited series that serves as a prequel to Stephen King's novel, and possibly another one in the works. Obviously, there is something about King's vision that resonates with audiences, and the recent successes of both films, and this series leave an enduring impression on all who encounter the story. Hopefully, this won't be the last we see of this evil entity that disguises itself as a clown.
The 4K set is available now for purchase.
Grade: B
