IT: Welcome to Derry Review: What scares me isn’t spiders, ghosts, or even Pennywise’s creepy smile. It’s wasting hours on another overhyped show that promises horror and delivers boredom. So when IT: Welcome to Derry finally dropped on HBO, I had one big question: Does it really dig into our fears, or is it just another cash grab riding on nostalgia?
Turns out… It’s a little bit of both.
My Rating: 3.0/5
| Title | IT: Welcome to Derry |
|---|---|
| Type | TV Series (HBO Original) |
| Genre | Horror, Drama, Mystery |
| Based On | Stephen King’s IT (Novel, 1986) |
| Created By | Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, Jason Fuchs |
| Country of Origin | United States |
| Language | English |
| Release Year | 2025 |
| Number of Episodes | 8 (first 5 screened for critics) |
| Episode Runtime | Approx. 55–60 minutes |
| Main Cast | Chris Chalk, Taylour Paige, Jovan Adepo, James Remar, Madeleine Stowe |
| Prequel To | IT (2017) and IT Chapter Two (2019) |
| Network / Platform | HBO / Max |
A Quick Setup Of IT: Welcome to Derry
Set in 1962, the story follows a couple and their son who move to Derry, Maine, the same cursed town we all know too well. Not long after they arrive, a local boy vanishes, and the small-town weirdness kicks in fast.
This show isn’t a retelling of Stephen King’s IT; it’s more of a prequel expansion, built on the world Andy Muschietti created in his IT films. So, if you loved those movies, you’ll feel right at home here. But if you’re a die-hard King reader who craves the deep mythology of the novel… this might not scratch that itch.
How It Feels to Watch IT: Welcome to Derry
The first episode hooked me right away. The opening sequence is weird in the best way; it feels like vintage King horror: strange, dark, and just a little absurd.
We jump between two main storylines:
- One follows a group of kids dealing with missing friends (classic Derry chaos).
- The other involves Air Force members on a top-secret mission, which I wasn’t expecting at all.
At first, it’s choppy. The show throws you into scenes that are wild and intense, but sometimes they lack context. It’s like the writers assume you already know everything about Derry, but even longtime fans might feel lost for a bit.
The Good Stuff in IT: Welcome to Derry
When this show is good, it’s really good.
The atmosphere drips with dread. The monsters look nasty and imaginative, blending classic IT designs with new nightmare fuel. Even though not all the effects were finalized in the screener I saw, they were still disgustingly impressive.
And yes, kids are once again the main targets of terror, which always hits harder. There’s something deeply unsettling about watching innocent kids face unspeakable evil while the adults brush it off. It captures that helplessness and fear that King built his legacy on.
The child actors? Surprisingly strong. Some scenes made me squirm just from how real their fear looked. And Chris Chalk, playing a character with psychic abilities connected to the military, adds real emotional weight to his role; he’s torn between fear and duty, and it shows.
Where It Slips
Now, here’s what didn’t land for me.
The military subplot feels like filler. Knowing where the IT films end up, this entire arc seems pointless; we already know it won’t change anything major in the lore. It’s interesting at first, but ultimately… kind of hollow.
There’s also an awkward scene in Episode 3 that turns unintentionally funny when it’s supposed to be terrifying. Think “Scooby-Doo panic” instead of pure horror. And Episode 4 drops a clunky exposition dump that kills all tension, mostly because of the line delivery from one of the kids.
Lastly, for a show literally named Welcome to Derry, there’s shockingly little exploration of Derry itself. You’d think they’d use this chance to dig into the town’s cursed history, but so far, it’s mostly surface-level.
Also Read: Jay Kelly Review — George Clooney’s Rawest Performance and Noah Baumbach’s Most Honest Film Yet
Good & Bad in IT: Welcome to Derry
| The Good | The Bad |
|---|---|
| Creepy, well-designed monsters and visuals | The military subplot feels pointless |
| Great child performances that sell the fear | A few awkward tone shifts (comedy in horror scenes) |
| Classic King-style atmosphere and tension | Some choppy storytelling and missing context |
| Strong setup that builds curiosity | Not enough exploration of Derry’s deep lore |
| Gruesome, imaginative horror sequences | Uneven pacing and weak exposition moments |
Final Thoughts on IT: Welcome to Derry
By Episode 5, I was definitely invested, not obsessed, but curious enough to keep watching. The show builds some real emotional stakes and creative horror, but it still feels like a side quest in the IT universe instead of a full story that stands on its own.
If you’re into creepy visuals, childhood horror, and that slow-burn dread King does so well, you’ll probably enjoy this. But if you’re expecting new answers about IT’s mythology or a truly fresh take on Derry’s curse, you might walk away thinking, “Did we really need this?”
For me, IT: Welcome to Derry earns a 3 out of 5.
Creepy? Definitely.
Essential? Not really.
Still, it’s worth a casual binge, just don’t expect it to haunt you the way Pennywise once did.
