Spooky Season is full of surprises, and at midnight on October 31st, 2026 HBO Max released a 30-minute Halloween special based on the “IT: Welcome to Derry” series, titled “A Story of Derry.” Anyone familiar with the iconic dancing clown knows that his terrifying quest to feed on the fear of Derry’s citizens follows a 27-year cycle. While it is arguable that his hunting cycle lasts for a full year before he goes back into hibernation, he still has enough time to wreak havoc on the small town, causing the disappearance and death rates to soar to six times the national average. And those are just grown ups. Kids are worse. Way, way worse (as Ben puts it in the 2017 film directed by Andy Muschietti).
“A Story of Derry” begins with the indigenous Shokopiwah people. Resources are scarce due to ecosystem depletion—caused both by the evil’s mere presence driving wildlife away and the arrival of European colonists overhunting the land. Driven by desperation, the young and arrogant look toward the Western Woods for salvation, despite warnings and the tribe’s rule to respect the creature’s hunting grounds. In many ways, the special shares the tone of Dan Trachtenberg’s “Prey”: a young warrior, wanders into uncharted territory and comes across something she doesn’t quite understand.
The biggest difference is that bravery and determination was the driving force for the lead in “Prey,” whereas here it feels like teenage ignorance leading to fatal errors. Because the origin story is set hundreds of years before the events of Season 1—long before the town had any infrastructure, and certainly before the world’s first circus or clown—a cameo from Bill Skarsgård was highly unlikely to begin with. However, given how fast and viciously things take off, you don’t even miss him.
Aligning With the Lore as King Intended
As wonderful as the cinematography, wardrobe, and the Shokopiwah tribe may be, with only 30 minutes in this episode, things kick into gear right away. Haunted by ghosts of the past, terror consumes every inch of the woods, turning them into a freakish nightmare where the only logical thing left to do is run—a swift lesson for our young hunters that straying from the pack and disregarding the laws of the land is a deadly fool’s errand.
Those deep into the lore of the Stephen King universe—which spans numerous novels and short stories—may already have heard of the Macroverse and the Deadlights. But to help bridge the gap for casual viewers, a broken and marooned warrior bound to the Western Woods introduces a spiritual element: a hallucinogenic experience that brings clarity to what hunts this forbidden land. Without skipping a beat of horror, the story shifts to an ominous campfire ghost story that glues you to the screen.
It isn’t an undead creature or even a demon, but a god that’s been banished here after a cosmic battle. In his exile lies, if not a way to stop him completely, at least a way to tame him. To some, this explanation may feel like too much or raise more questions than it answers; however, it aligns well with the lore as King intended.
The Addition Feels Both Necessary and Natural
No good deed goes unpunished. As madness takes over, “A Story of Derry” really shines: the shapeshifting and reality-bending antics escalate with every encounter, terrorizing those foolish enough to venture into the Woods. Armed with this newfound knowledge, a new cage is formed around what will eventually become the town of Derry. There is a poignantly written moment addressing how the world around the Shokopiwah people is changing, making their guarding of the area hopeless as more and more colonists arrive. In what feels like an unspoken arrangement within the tribe, they are fully aware of the dangers and travesties that will occur—but these are treated as acceptable measures. As long as the 13 pillars hold, nothing else matters.
No one can deny the severity of these events, and this special provides a complete visual payoff to what was briefly mentioned in Episode 4, explaining how and why the ordinary townsfolk of Derry got stuck with this otherworldly creature. It’s been nearly a year since the finale of Season 1, and this addition feels both necessary and natural. It delivers on everything fans appreciate about this direction of the franchise—it’s straight to the point with the story it wants to tell, doesn’t overstay its welcome, and packs a punch.
It leaves high anticipation for the arrival of the next season as the show makes another 27-year leap back from the 1962 timeline, showcasing how much this series can accomplish as it expands on the town’s history and its saga of bloodshed, regardless of the era. At only 30 minutes, “A Story of Derry” was a perfect close to the Spooky Holiday Season and I’m here for it.
