REVIEW: ‘IT: Welcome To Derry’ Is HBO’s Gruesome, Gripping Return To King’s Terrifying Town
- Alex L.
- 6 hours ago
- 3 min read
HBO’s IT: Welcome to Derry is a chilling, masterfully crafted descent into fear and one of the best series of the year. Nexus Point News was given access to the first five episodes, and let’s be clear: this show is insanely good.
A Brutal, Atmospheric Triumph
The first episode wastes no time establishing its reign of terror. The opening fifteen minutes alone deliver the kind of nightmare fuel that will have fans clenching their fists, while the final fifteen guarantee you won’t be sleeping easy. It’s gruesome, it’s gory, and it’s relentlessly unnerving. But beneath all the blood and dread, there’s an unexpected heart — the kind that makes you care deeply about who survives this ordeal.
Unlike many horror series that lean on cheap jump scares, Welcome to Derry thrives on sustained tension. The dread lingers, deliberately stretching moments until they break. The result? You’re just startled, and you feel haunted.
A New Generation of “Losers”
At the emotional core of the show is the young cast, the new (technically old) ‘62 Losers Club. Their chemistry is electric, evoking the warmth and authenticity that made the original IT films so beloved. They bring humor, fear, and vulnerability in equal measure, grounding the chaos with genuine emotion. The 1962 “Losers Club” dynamic feels instantly familiar yet refreshingly new.
Clara Stack shines as Lilly, delivering a deeply affecting performance that balances vulnerability with resilience. Her longing for connection amidst the town’s darkness gives the story its emotional anchor. Amanda Christine is equally captivating — the emotional core of the series, grounding the chaos with empathy and quiet strength. Together, their performances bring warmth to the horror, reminding viewers why IT has always been about more than monsters.
Down with the Clown
Despite the title, Pennywise the Dancing Clown is largely absent in the series and yet, his presence is everywhere. Jason Fuchs’ writing and Andy and Barbara Muschietti’s direction prove the show doesn’t need the clown to terrify. His shadow looms over every scene, every whisper of red balloon-induced panic. When Bill Skarsgård finally makes his return, it’s every bit the unholy spectacle fans could hope for. A horrifying, magnetic performance that reaffirms him as the definitive Pennywise. Tim Curry may have haunted the ‘90s, but Skarsgård owns this era.
Expanding the King Universe
The show smartly weaves in threads from Stephen King’s larger mythology. Chris Chalk’s appearance as Dick Hallorann (of The Shining) is a delightful connective tissue, hinting that the horrors of Derry may be only part of a much wider darkness.
A subplot involving a Cold War-era military operation feels slightly less organic a curious diversion that, while eventually justified, sometimes pulls focus from the town’s more human horrors. Still, it teases a potential bridge to other corners of King’s multiverse, which longtime fans will appreciate.
Technically Flawless Horror
From a production standpoint, Welcome to Derry is an achievement. The 1960s setting is brought vividly to life with striking set design, impeccable lighting, and a lush pastel color palette that eerily contrasts the show’s brutality. Editor Esther Sokolow a longtime collaborator of Andy Mushietti, returns to Derry after her work on IT: Chapter Two, stitches together sequences of pure nightmare with surgical precision, helping the series find its unique rhythm of horror and heartbreak within the first two episodes.
The result is a technically flawless production that marries horror and nostalgia with artistry and care.
Verdict
IT: Welcome to Derry delivers jaw-dropping, shocking moments even before the title card hits. It’s horrifying, heartfelt, and gorgeously crafted, a reminder that great horror isn’t just about monsters, but about the people forced to face them.
Andy Muschietti has once again proven why Warner Bros. continues to trust him as one of its most distinctive storytellers. His ability to blend spectacle with intimacy is unmatched. Welcome to Derry feels unmistakably his. Visually grand, emotionally precise, and tonally balanced between humor and anguish.
Terrifying. Emotional. Unmissable. Derry… you’ve been missed.
Rating: ★★★★★
About IT: Welcome to Derry
Premiere Date: October 26, 2026
Creators: Andy Muschietti, Barbara Muschietti, and Jason Fuchs
Producers: Anna Beben, Lyn Lucibello-Brancatella, Sara Rath, Cherie Dimaline
Cast: Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk, Bill Skarsgård, Taylor Paige, Clara Stack, Amanda Christine, Matolda Lawler, Arian S. Cartaya, Blake Cameron James, Miles Ekhardt, Mikkal Karim-Fidler, Jack Molloy Legault, and Matilda Legault
Production: Double Dream and FiveTen Productions
Distribution: HBO
Synopsis: Set in the world of Stephen King’s “IT” universe, IT: WELCOME TO DERRY is based on King’s “IT” novel and expands the vision established by filmmaker Andy Muschietti in the feature films “IT” and “IT Chapter Two.”