Nine years after terrorising audiences with his adaptation of Stephen King’s IT, Andy Muschietti returns to welcome us to Derry. Set in 1962, Welcome to Derry follows the new and existing residents of Derry who fall victim to a supernatural force that awakens every 27 years.
Andy Muschietti’s adaptation of IT became an instant horror masterpiece, elevated by Bill Skarsgård’s phenomenal Pennywise performance and the wonderful blend of horror, sci-fi and comedy. So having both Muschietti and Skarsgård on board with this series is what really sold me on it, and boy does it deliver. Despite the gap in time, Muschietti still has his finger on the pulse of what makes the town of Derry so brutally terrifying and unsettling. This series gives him the runtime to be able to greatly flesh out his characters and spend even more time teasing and building up the looming threat of Pennywise. While he does opt for the slow burn approach when it comes to showing IT’s iconic form, he doesn’t waste a single second getting to the thick of the horror. The pilot episode on its own is utterly exceptional. It’s a fantastic introduction to the characters and the world, it kickstarts some of the key plots that will guide the season forward, and it also sweeps the rug out from under every viewer with one of the most shocking and ballsy creative decisions I’ve seen in a pilot.
While devoid of Pennywise the Dancing Clown, the first episode is one of the most gore, blood and terror-filled episodes in the season. It nails the tone of the films, bringing it back to a (largely) kid-focused narrative, while also focusing on going more extreme with its violence thanks to Muschietti’s obvious creative freedom. The best part is; that pilot was no fluke. That level of quality, from the rich character arcs and multiple subplots to the blood-soaked and disgustingly gory horror sequences, is unbelievably maintained right through to the finale. If anything, it only gets deeper and more intense as time progresses; we become more attached to the characters and at the same time, Pennywise gradually comes out of his shell. It’s one of the most consistently wonderful shows of the year, with not a single dud episode to overcome along the way. As the tension rises and terror builds, it culminates in a finale which is by far the strongest episode of the season. Muschietti’s slow burn approach proves to be a winner, as all that edging leads to a payoff that just wouldn’t have been the same if we had eight full episodes of the dancing clown.
What I love about the supernatural horror of the IT franchise is that its whole identity revolves around not holding back. Pennywise feeds on your greatest fears, which makes way for some truly grotesque and horrific nightmare sequences in this series. The horror sequences in here are very in your face and overwhelming, pulling out the occasional jumpscare but predominantly relying on gruesome imagery and confronting sound design to keep you unsettled at all times. Aside from one horror sequence in a graveyard which is for some reason shot awfully and hard to watch, every other terror-filled sequence hits the spot. There’s a solid variety of horror in the first half, which is great because in the back end of the season it’s almost entirely Pennywise doing the terrifying (sorry Art the Clown). When Pennywise finally appears in all his glory, it’s absolutely spectacular. Every scene featuring Pennywise is an absolute blast, and it’s all thanks to Skarsgård, without whom this series just would not work.
Bill Skarsgård is so incredible as Pennywise that it would be almost impossible for anyone else to do the character justice (aside from you Tim Curry). His appearance alone, with the way he moves and carries himself, is utterly terrifying. Even when he’s not doing anything scary or enhanced by CGI he’s still the stuff of nightmares. Skarsgård is like a rabid dog that Muschietti is keeping on a leash, and whenever he lets go just a little bit, Skarsgård instils absolute fear into the kids and even the audience. Speaking of the kids, this series is packed with great young performances that make up what is essentially this adventure’s Loser’s Club. Clara Stack debuts as Lilly, the group’s clear protagonist, and does a fantastic job with what is a rough role to pull off. Lilly is a damaged character, and Stack manages to convey that through some demanding sequences. She also exhibits a great amount of chemistry with those around her, including Blake Cameron James (Will Hanlon) and Matilda Lawler, who has her own rollercoaster of an arc to push through as Marge.
The kid-centric story really is the heart and soul of this series. It’s the one thing about the IT franchise that has always been a constant, while the adult-focused narratives have typically lacked the same level of magic and horror. In this series however, it’s the most balanced it’s ever been… while still skewed in favour of the kids’ adventures. The journey the kids are going on is so full of danger and horror that I would have honestly been entirely satisfied had there not been adult arcs at all. There are some elements of the kids’ journey that’s not as compelling, but overall it’s a fun ride. The adult content is still intriguing, but a little slower and convoluted. There’s a whole mystery/thriller angle rooted in secret government operations and your classic US corruption. It’s certainly not a bad corner of the story, but it is very much made up of elements you’ve seen before. The best thing to come of those sequences is the presence of Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk), who spent time in Derry before ending up at the Overlook Hotel. His arc is potentially the most unique in the show, bringing something to the world that hasn’t otherwise been explored.
In the end, IT: Welcome to Derry is nothing short of a terrifying return to form for Andy Muschietti. He’s delivered a continuation of his franchise that nails the tone, even doubling down on the horror in many instances with truly shocking and disturbing content. It balances character development with horror in a way that leads to every episode packing in enough content to be satisfying and thrilling on its own. Some subplots meander a little and don’t have as great a payoff, but the majority are thoroughly engaging. As much as the performances are great and the horror is stellar, it’s Bill Skarsgård who completely steals the show. His performance as Pennywise is one of the greatest and most iconic in the horror genre, and he’s the main reason to check this series out.
9.4/10
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