HBO Max’s prequel series IT: Welcome to Derry has quickly established itself as one of the most unsettling horror offerings of the year, and its second episode, “The Thing in the Dark,” pushes that reputation further. The series, co-created by Andy and Barbara Muschietti (the filmmakers behind the recent IT adaptations), revisits the Stephen King universe to explore the origins of Pennywise, the shapeshifting entity that terrorizes the town of Derry, Maine, every 27 years.
A Breakdown of the Disturbing Scene
The episode centers on Lilly Bainbridge, a young girl grappling with the recent death of her father. Her trip to the local supermarket devolves into a psychological horror experience as Pennywise manipulates her reality, turning a familiar space into a terrifying maze. The scene is notable for its overt and disturbing imagery: murdered children’s faces appear on cereal boxes, and Pennywise manifests as Lilly’s deceased father within jars of pickles, attacking her in a visceral display.
The Psychological Weight
This sequence isn’t just jump-scare horror; it taps into deep-seated anxieties about childhood safety and the corruption of innocence. The series intentionally weaponizes nostalgia, using familiar cultural touchstones like cereal mascots (specifically Krinkles the Clown) to subvert feelings of comfort. The bright, public setting of the supermarket further amplifies the terror, as a place normally associated with sustenance and safety is twisted into a nightmare.
A Modern Take on Classic Horror
The scene draws clear parallels to iconic horror villains like Freddy Krueger, who also preyed on victims in their most vulnerable spaces (in Krueger’s case, sleep). Like Krueger, Pennywise revels in psychological torture, delivering taunts alongside physical violence. The series’ willingness to show graphic horror, rather than relying on suggestion, feels especially jarring in the context of a prequel set in the 1960s, where mental health struggles were often dismissed.
The Underlying Themes
IT: Welcome to Derry explores the darker side of the American Dream, exposing the sinister undercurrents beneath seemingly idyllic communities. The supermarket sequence embodies this theme perfectly, dismantling the illusion of safety and stability. The episode makes no concessions, delivering a raw, disturbing experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
A Chilling Success
While the series may have pacing issues in other areas, this scene is a masterclass in unsettling horror. It proves that the most effective scares aren’t always about gore, but about exploiting psychological vulnerabilities and subverting expectations. The five minutes are well spent for those seeking a genuinely disturbing experience.
