‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Review: The Horror Icon Returns in Full Force

Halloween is almost here, and HBO has given audiences everywhere a new horror series to sink their teeth into with It: Welcome To Derry. The series heads back to the beautiful but eerie Derry, Maine.

Andy Muschietti has brought the clown-fueled terror to the small screen with the help of his sister and long-time creative partner, Barbara Muschietti and Jason Fuchs. Fuchs was responsible for penning one of the only critically acclaimed DCEU (DC Extended Universe) projects — Wonder Woman. In an age where every studio milks intellectual property for all its worth, does this entry in the acclaimed franchise tell a story that’s worthwhile? Check out our It: Welcome to Derry review to find out.

What is ‘It: Welcome to Derry’ About?

It: Welcome to Derry is a prequel to the films It and It Chapter Two, taking place mostly in 1962. However, certain events in Derry that occurred in 1935 and 1908 also play a significant role in this story. If you are familiar with the franchise in the slightest, you can guess that all of these years correspond with the 27-year cycles. These cycles are when Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård), or It, emerges from hibernation. He feeds on the children’s fear in this small New England town.

Much like the first film, the catalyst for this story is the disappearance of a child. This prompts a group of kids to band together to get to the bottom of the mystery of this small town. As the mystery unfolds, so does the carnage. This entry does a lot of word-building, not only for Pennywise, but for Derry as a whole.

While the kids are on the hunt to get answers, Major Leroy Hanlon (Jovan Adepo) arrives at Derry Air Force Base. Their main directive is to conduct an array of digs across the town in search of a powerful weapon. The base is led by General Shaw (James Remar), whose search for power is connected to his past. Remember, once someone leaves Derry, their memories of Derry fade the farther away they get. While this military-based subplot might seem out of left field at first, as the story unfolds and secrets are revealed, it weaves a thread. It stitches beautifully together with the central plot of It: Welcome to Derry, in more ways than one.

‘It: Welcome to Derry’ Utilizes the True Powers of Pennywise

Of course, Pennywise is the main draw of any entry in the It franchise. It: Welcome to Derry uses its clown appearances very sparingly, making it all the more effective when he does appear. You have to remember the creature is a shapeshifter — it can take any form. While the movies showcased that a bit, the long-form nature of an HBO show lets the entity spread its shapeshifting wings.

The series gets really creative with that ability, digging deep into the characters’ darkest fears. It blends practical effects and CGI, producing some truly grotesque imagery that will have fans fighting to keep their eyes on the screen.

The series is deeply rooted in the supernatural. Yet, It: Welcome to Derry utilizes the time period in which it is set to explore the real-life effects of racism, colonization, and the lengths the military will go to end a war. Not only is this central to the characters, but it also moves the plot forward. The Indigenous people of Derry play a key role in the secrets of Pennywise and his blood-filled thirst for the town. The series could dive a little deeper into these issues, but it’s important they are addressed, and there are three episodes left to do so.

‘It: Welcome to Derry’ is Another Win for TV in 2025

Each hour-long episode operates as a slow burn, with effective scares mixed in. This gives the story room to breathe and grow in a satisfying way that could not be accomplished in a typical 2-hour movie runtime. In a time when most series are plagued by 6-episode seasons rushing to wrap things up as they near the finale, It: Welcome to Derry is extremely well-paced through 5 episodes. Time will tell whether it sticks the landing, but if the quality is consistent with its first half, there’s no doubt it will.

The series subverts expectations in nearly every episode. The series goes from witty fake-outs when the show could fall into typical horror tropes, to broader connections to the Stephen King-crafted mythos, to even amping up the horror itself. It: Welcome to Derry, at least in its first 5 episodes, has earned its spot in the lengthy conversation as another solid addition to a landmark year for television. The adults carry a lot more weight than their movie counterparts, but the young cast of characters are the glue that holds all of these plot threads together.

It: Welcome to Derry is the scariest series of the year, bringing horror to primetime prestige HBO TV with one of the most shocking pilots in recent memory. Pennywise will certainly have viewers’ skin crawling with its nightmare-fueled visions, but what’s truly gripping is its ability to build its mythos from the sewer up. The series explains why Derry is the way it is, with rich characters and satisfying lore — it truly enriches the It franchise as a whole.

It: Welcome to Derry debuts on Crave in Canada, as well as on HBO and HBO Max in the U.S., on October 26, with new episodes every Sunday. Follow the Agents of Fandom socials for the latest entertainment news and reviews.