What better way to celebrate Halloween than with an interstellar being that hunts fear and especially loves killing kids? Yeah, we can’t think of one either, so of course the folks over at HBO Max have just released an all-new special episode for the hit series IT: WELCOME TO DERRY!
This is a prequel episode of sorts, as it flashes back hundreds of years before Pennywise became the nightmare haunting the town of Derry, Maine. Before the familiar clown ever terrorized its residents, something ancient and terrifying was already lurking in the woods.
Titled “A Story of Derry,” the 30-minute special takes viewers back to the history of the Shokopiwah, the Indigenous people who lived on the land long before it became Derry. The official synopsis gives us a pretty good idea of what awaits:
“Hundreds of years before Pennywise, three youngsters venture into the Western Wood … where they encounter a terrifying ancient spirit.”
The special expands on the Shokopiwah flashback introduced in the fourth episode of the series, giving viewers a closer look at the events surrounding the youngsters and the ancient evil connected to the land. While Pennywise may not be the focus this time around, fans looking to learn more about the mythology behind Stephen King’s terrifying creation should have plenty to sink their teeth into.
Directed by Tazbah Chavez (Reservation Dogs), the special was written by Cherie Dimaline and Jasmyne Flournoy. The cast includes Kiawentiio, Morningstar Angeline, Zahn McClarnon, Brandon Oakes, Isabel Deroy-Olson, Michael Podemski-Bedard, Jennifer Podemski and Eric Trask.
You can watch a short clip to get you in the mood for some fright, below.