Monday night I had the absolute thrill of attending the one-night-only ‘Split Scream’ immersive screening at the Orpheum in Cremorne, celebrating the arrival of the HBO® Original Series IT: Welcome to Derry.
They promised “jump scares, eerie performances and spine-tingling surprises for the bravest horror fans” and wow, did they deliver.
From the queue snaking around the block in the gentle Sydney rain to the scream room, roving actors, and those divine deep-fried roast pickles, every detail was spot on. I adored the creepy organist serenading us while we mingled, the photo wall, the décor, and the clever phone bags that let us snap a few pics before going fully offline.
The premiere episode was a masterclass in horror storytelling: set in 1962, it follows young Matty Clements as he escapes abuse only to meet a grotesque fate, while his friend Lilly and a group of misfits uncover Derry’s chilling legacy of missing children. Their search leads to a terrifying showdown at the local theatre, and the arrival of Air Force officers Hanlon and Russo hints at even deeper secrets. The horror is layered, the tension relentless, and the atmosphere unforgettable and I can’t wait for the next episode.
Horror fans, bookmark this one. IT: Welcome to Derry streams weekly on Mondays on HBO Max. #ITWelcomeToDerry #hbomaxau #whatsonsydney
All photos by Nancy Hillary
Reviewed by: Nancy Hillary
Episode 1 dropped on October 26 at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET, which is 11 a.m. AEDT on Monday, October 27.
Episode 2 was released early for Halloween on Friday, October 31 at 3 a.m. ET (which was 6 p.m. AEDT on Friday, October 31).
From Episode 3 onward, new episodes will stream weekly on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET, which is Mondays at 1 p.m. AEDT for Sydney viewers.
The season consists of eight episodes, with the finale scheduled for Sunday, December 14 (Monday, December 15 AEDT).