'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wAARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQG/8QAIRAAAgEEAAcAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIEAAMRExIUISIjQVH/xAAVAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAv/EABcRAQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAhH/2gAMAwEAAhEDEQA/AMvC5ObZLSHl7AvHbCMFVc/R7qa7dj7X8sodx6DGKUqDJKvC/9k='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
IT: Welcome to Derry transports us headfirst into the creepy origins of Pennywise and anchors the supernatural horror firmly in the 1960s! Beyond exploring the origins of Derry's ghastly occurrences, this IT prequel comes to terms with the social and cultural realities of the time.
By combining Stephen King's horror with real-world historical accuracy, the creators provide us with a layered story where the horror is supernatural and rooted in human circumstances. As per CBR, actress Taylour Paige explained,
"I'm just excited that this is coming out. I think it's both important and entertaining. It's historical fiction in the same way that it exists in this genre, and obviously comes from one of the greatest minds of all time, and you have everything."
She continued,
"In 1962, the clothing, the tailoring, the pencil skirts, women were starting to wear pants. It was just starting to feel a little bit contemporary for the time, but also still coming out of a very conservative America. That kind of informed my choices."
It is here that there is mention of the two functions of IT: Welcome to Derry: to be a faithful tribute to King's supernatural horror and appreciation of the social conditions of the day.
Vintage 1960s atmosphere in IT: Welcome to Derry: Costumes and sets
Welcome to Derry is something that can be enjoyed in the careful re-creation of Derry in the 1960s. The shooting was largely carried out in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and was done with great attention paid to period detail. From the era-appropriate street layouts and billboards to the era-specific uniforms and cars, attention was paid with a careful effort to invite audiences into the existence of small towns at that moment.
The contrast between this bourgeois-ness and the horror of Pennywise allows the horror to be more effective and visually credible.
Finding the social context of the 1960s
IT: Welcome to Derry incorporates social issues of the 1960s into the narrative. Racial tensions, gender roles, and class are integrated into the relationships of characters and plotlines, presenting the factuality of the time.
Their integration serves to emphasize that terror in Derry is not supernatural but also the result of societal forces, adding texture and richness to the narrative.
Characters and dialogue reflect the era
Movement and dialogue throughout the series are representative of 1960s mores. Characters are using era slang, commenting on social stratification, and acting in accordance with the family and community dynamics of the time. All these contribute to a sense of how the town itself is complicit in creating the tension, so the horror in IT: Welcome to Derry does feel grounded and nuanced.
Viewers can see that Pennywise's terror is maintained by a world already shaped with human prejudices and fears.
Psychological horror and supernatural menace
One of the most basic things about IT: Welcome to Derry is its psychological horror orientation. Social ostracism, childhood tragedy, and personal phobias are blended with the supernatural events created by Pennywise.
The blending of human and supernatural fear achieves maximum suspense and is Stephen King's early credo, in which horror is so much interested in that which is within as it is in that which is without.
Release and viewing details
IT: Welcome to Derry premieres October 26, 2025, on HBO/HBO Max with each episode premiering weekly. Pennywise is back with Bill Skarsgård, while Taylour Paige and the rest of the cast delve into the town's rich history and where its supernatural horrors originate.
Weekly premiere schedule allows for fans to have time to let the complex storytelling absorb over a week, having time to weigh the historical and supernatural elements of the story.
Hence, IT: Welcome to Derry is more than a horror series; it's a historically informed prequel that blends Stephen King's supernatural horror with social and cultural conditions of the 1960s. Realistic locations, period attire, historically accurate speech, and tackling social concerns all add up to a well-rounded story.
Trending
By situating Pennywise's fear in this context, the series is basically stating that horror is just as much societal fear and human history as it is a supernatural monster.
Also read: It: Welcome to Derry - Release window, plot, and more about HBO horrifying prequel series
Reply
