It: Welcome to Derry review – Blood-soaked prequel has its frights, and its flaws

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A star rating of 3 out of 5.

This review is based on the first five episodes of It: Welcome to Derry.

I’ve been a huge Stephen King fan my whole life – I own over 30 of his books and have seen almost every movie made from them. So, when I found out HBO was making a prequel to the ‘It’ movies, I was thrilled! The idea of learning how Pennywise the Dancing Clown came to be, especially with Bill Skarsgård reprising his role, was incredibly exciting.

I always had a fondness for the ‘It’ movies from the 2010s, even though they weren’t flawless. The cast was fantastic – with talented young actors like Sophia Lillis, Jaeden Martell, and Finn Wolfhard, and later, incredible performers like Jessica Chastain, James McAvoy, and Bill Hader. They really captured the creepy and unsettling atmosphere of Stephen King’s original story, from terrifying scenes in bathrooms to exploring the monster-filled sewers.

I was really looking forward to reading ‘It: Welcome to Derry,’ and while I didn’t think it was bad, it wasn’t as good as the previous books in the series.

Okay, so this series definitely gives off major vibes from the original movies, but with a cool retro twist – it’s set way back in the 1960s! The story kicks off when a young boy vanishes, and his friends start digging for answers. What they uncover is seriously creepy: it turns out a really old alien – and I’m talking ancient – is responsible, and it usually shows up disguised as… a dancing clown. Yeah, you read that right. It’s a classic creepy clown scenario, but with a sci-fi edge.

What sets this series apart is how it handles the adults. Many are parents of the children terrorized in Derry, and become caught up in the horror alongside them. Others, like a team of marines, are determined to finally destroy Pennywise. It’s a really compelling premise.

Let me tell you, there’s a lot to love about this series. The opening sequence, in particular, really grabbed me. I don’t want to give anything away, but it’s genuinely unsettling, incredibly atmospheric, and honestly one of the strongest scenes in the first five episodes. It immediately throws you back into that truly terrifying, monster-driven horror that made the original story about Derry so effective.

The show is visually striking. Its 1960s setting is beautifully realized through the set and costumes, which cleverly contrast the idyllic, pastel-colored suburban homes with the terrifying secrets hidden beneath the town of Derry. Even the opening credits are incredibly unsettling, featuring a haunting lullaby that immediately creates a creepy atmosphere before the story even begins.

The biggest weakness of the show lies with its characters. While a few, like Lilly and Will, are well-developed and engaging, many others feel flat and underdeveloped. They aren’t given enough screen time or depth, making it hard to care about what happens to them, or even remember who they are. Considering the ‘It’ movies successfully made us care about the Losers Club in just two films, it’s surprising that ‘Welcome to Derry’ struggles to achieve this over an entire season.

The story feels somewhat messy. It juggles a lot of different threads – the children, the marines, the psychic Dick Hallorann, the parents, and how Pennywise started – making it hard to follow at times. It’s unclear which story is the main focus, and they don’t always connect well. Hopefully, the remaining episodes will resolve this issue.

Welcome to Derry delivers classic horror elements – plenty of gore, shadowy settings, and disturbing childhood experiences. It’s genuinely frightening and will often startle you. The most effective scares come when the show focuses on unsettling, realistic situations – like being followed in a store or noticing something subtly wrong with someone you know – creating a truly creepy and unnerving atmosphere.

Sometimes, though, the show reveals too much of the alien creature, which actually makes it less scary. It’s hard to feel truly frightened by a computer-generated monster, especially one with multiple heads. The show works best when it’s subtle – the more we see of the creature, the less frightening it becomes.

One of the show’s best qualities is how it ties into the larger world of Stephen King’s stories. It includes clever references – from mentions of Shawshank to a surprise appearance by Dick Hallorann (the telepath from The Shining, now played by Chris Chalk) – that don’t feel forced or just thrown in for fans. Instead, these connections feel natural to the plot, and I’m eager to see if even more references will appear. While it would be amazing to see nods to stories like Rose Madder or Desperation, that might be hoping for too much.

Bill Skarsgård delivers a chillingly inhuman performance as Pennywise, complete with his signature grin and unsettling voice. While he doesn’t appear constantly, his presence looms large, always building anticipation for his next scene. Even when he’s off-screen, Skarsgård remains the scariest part of the show.

Taylour Paige truly shines as Charlotte Hanlon, the fiercely protective mother. Known for her powerful performance in ‘Zola,’ Paige makes Charlotte a fascinating character, even though she doesn’t have a huge amount of screen time at the beginning. Her scenes are captivating, and I’m excited to see where the show takes her story.

While “Welcome to Derry” isn’t quite the terrifying experience I’d hoped for, it’s still enjoyable. Horror fans, especially those who are dedicated Stephen King readers, will likely find something to appreciate, particularly with Halloween approaching. However, if you’re expecting a direct continuation of the story and tone from the previous “It” films, you might be disappointed.

The chilling miniseries It: Welcome to Derry will premiere on Sky Atlantic and NOW on October 27th, 2025. Consider subscribing to Sky TV to watch!

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2025-10-22 20:18