HBO's It Prequel Delivers Year's Most Terrifying Scene
The Black Spot fire sequence in It: Welcome to Derry's seventh episode combines supernatural horror with devastating human cruelty, creating an unforgettable nightmare that goes beyond Pennywise's terror.
A few weeks ago, I sent a frantic message to a friend after watching the first half of It: Welcome to Derry's seventh episode. The caps lock was on, the crying emojis were flowing, and I was genuinely shaken. Now that the first season has wrapped up, I can confidently say that HBO's prequel series delivered the most bone-chilling sequence of 2024 with its depiction of The Black Spot fire.
When Human Evil Surpasses Supernatural Terror
Director Andy Muschietti had warned audiences that this pivotal moment from Stephen King's novel would be central to the prequel series. Even having read the book recently, nothing could have prepared viewers for the gut-wrenching reality of watching Chief Bowers and his racist gang descend on Hallorann's club wearing Universal Monsters masks, armed with guns and hatred.
The series makes a bold departure from King's original text by stripping away any supernatural excuses for human cruelty. While the novel suggests that It amplifies people's existing prejudices, the show makes it crystal clear that Bowers and his cronies need no demonic influence to commit their atrocities. They're hunting for wrongly accused fugitive Hank Grogan, and when the club's patrons refuse to hand him over, the supremacists barricade the doors and start hurling Molotov cocktails through the windows.
A Technical Marvel That Puts You in the Flames
The attack unfolds through a breathtaking three-minute continuous shot that weaves between panicked characters as they scramble to escape the rapidly spreading fire. The camera work is a stunning technical achievement, navigating between multiple actors, intense action sequences, and a constantly changing set engulfed in flames and smoke.
"It was about showing these kids and the audience that the ultimate terror of Derry might just be the humans who live there," explains showrunner Jason Fuchs. "They're not brainwashed. They're not hypnotized. Those are people making the cruelest choices imaginable, and I don't think there is an aspect of horror more horrifying in season 1 than what they do in the context of that attack."
Childhood Innocence Lost in Flames
The most devastating aspect of the sequence involves the death of Rich, played by Arian S. Cartaya. In a heartbreaking act of sacrifice, the young boy helps his crush Marge hide inside a cooler, then seals himself on top to keep her safe as burning debris crashes down around him. His final moments, remembering when he first saw Marge before kissing the cooler's lid, create a lasting impact far more terrifying than any supernatural gore.
The decision to place children at the center of this tragedy was a deliberate creative choice that amplifies the horror. Unlike King's novel, where Will Hanlon was an adult during the 1930 fire, the series places him as a child during the retconned 1962 events.
"There's something even more tragic about seeing the worst of humanity through young characters who are all about what's best about humanity," Fuchs notes. "These kids really represent the best of us; they're hopeful, they're determined. So to have that hopefulness challenged by the stark evil that they see there felt the most interesting dramatically."