In this solo episode of So, You Like Horror?, Jake returns to Derry for a closer look at Andy Muschietti’s IT (2017). Following the recent discussion of IT: Welcome to Derry, this episode explores how the film expands the town’s cycle of fear, violence, and forgotten tragedy.

Jake gives a light breakdown of the movie while examining Bill Denbrough’s grief, the formation of the Losers’ Club, and the personal fears Pennywise uses against each child. The episode also compares Bill Skarsgård’s version of Pennywise with Tim Curry’s performance from the 1990 miniseries.

The discussion also looks at Derry’s passive adults, the human evil surrounding Henry Bowers, and the film’s larger themes of childhood trauma, friendship, isolation, memory, and confronting fear together. Does IT work better as a horror movie or a coming-of-age story? Which Pennywise is more frightening? And does Welcome to Derry make the 2017 film even stronger?

Listen now and return to Derry, where everyone may see the horror, but few are willing to acknowledge it.

In this bonus episode of So, You Like Horror?, Jake is joined by Maryland Phil for a wide-ranging conversation about what is happening across the horror genre in 2026. They discuss the year’s strongest films, biggest disappointments, overhyped releases, and whether 2026 is shaping up to be another memorable year for horror fans.

The conversation also turns to Evil Dead Burn and the continued evolution of one of horror’s most durable franchises. Does Evil Dead work better as horror-comedy or relentless brutality? Can the series succeed without Ash Williams? And are standalone stories the best direction for its future?

Jake and Phil also look ahead to So, You Like Horror? in 2027 and consider possible season themes, including Final Girls and Horror Comic Books.

In this episode of So, You Like Horror?, Jake and Sarah discuss HBO’s IT: Welcome to Derry, the prequel series that expands the terrifying world of Stephen King’s It. Set in 1962, the series takes viewers back to Derry, Maine, decades before the Losers’ Club faced Pennywise, exploring the town’s dark history, the Black Spot, the Hanlon family, Dick Hallorann, and the cycles of fear that allow evil to survive.

Jake and Sarah break down each episode of Welcome to Derry, discussing the major story beats, standout horror moments, recurring themes, and connections to Stephen King’s larger universe, including The Shining, Doctor Sleep, and the Muschietti It films. They also talk about Pennywise’s expanded mythology, the role of grief and memory, Derry’s history of violence, and whether learning more about the creature makes it scarier or takes away some of its mystery.

If you’re a fan of Stephen King, Pennywise, It, HBO horror, or supernatural horror with deeper social themes, this episode is for you.