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The clown's influence on the children of the Derry series molds them throughout their adult lives, transforming them into the exact individuals who perpetuate the community's cycle of animosity ongoing. The creature preys most easily on kids from broken households — children who frequently grow up to replicate the identical behaviors as their guardians. But, the Hanlon household stands apart as one of the few households that remains intact, which may explain why Mike Hanlon, even after choosing to stay in the town, persists as the sole member who doesn't completely succumb under the clown's influence.

The Hanlon Family's Distinctive Resilience

In the fourth installment of Welcome to Derry, Leroy at last grows more aware of the paranormal entities surrounding the neighborhood, especially when It starts haunting his son, Will Hanlon, during their angling excursion. The Hanlon clan consists of a small number of grown-ups who are aware that things are not right with the town, especially the father, who was shown to be sensitive to the Shining when he was able to detect Dick Hallorann's use of it in the third episode. Later, Leroy sees one of Pennywise's signature balloons outside his house. The ability, alongside his failure to feel fear, combined with the foundation of his household, could be why he's able to see Pennywise's hauntings. However, consider if that shining is generational, and a key factor Mike Hanlon is among the few adults in Derry who didn't lose themselves to its cruelty?

The boy is part of the collective of children at his school being terrorized by the clown. His classmates come from broken homes, with parents who refuse to accept they're being targeted. The reason Will is being pursued is because of the cruelty of the town, paired with his likely receptiveness to shine, which renders him vulnerable. This family are fundamentally outsiders in the town during 1962, which contributes towards the family feeling anomalies exist about the town from the beginning. They also have a solid base that remains unbroken, unlike the folks who come from the area, with bonds that have deteriorated within.

Historical Context

Based on the It novel, we know the juvenile Will will find himself at the Black Spot, where Hallorann will save him from a fire that the local KKK members of Derry will cause. In the recent movie, we see that Will has a son named Mike and that the father ultimately dies in a configration, with his father outliving his own child and adopting his grandchild. The public account in the film is that Mike's parents were on drugs, but given our current view of him in Welcome to Derry, that's difficult to accept. Perhaps the shy boy, once he became an adult, turned to alcohol to rid himself of the hauntings, or maybe the rotten town affected him initially, with the KKK ultimately finishing the task it started years ago. Be it via the terror of Pennywise or via the cruelty of the community, seeded by It, It in the end gets the final victory on Will.

Leroy's Transformation

These occurrences would explain how the elder Hanlon changes so radically from what we witness in It: Chapter 1 and the prequel. In his older age, he appears resentful and much stricter with his discipline. Since he outlived his own son, it's comprehensible to observe such a drastic change. Nonetheless, his statements hold greater significance since we are aware he's witnessed Pennywise's hauntings and the effects they wrought upon his son. In the opening scene of the movie, we see the boy pause to use a stunning device on a animal at the family property. Leroy reprimands him for delaying and provides an analogy that results in a kill-or-be-killed situation.

“There are two places you can be in this world. You can be in the open like we are, or you can be in there,” he states as he gestures to the creature. “You waste time indecisive, and another is going to make that choice. Except you won't know it until you experience that projectile between your eyes.”

In hindsight, this could be a piece of prediction, something he wishes he had told his own son. Perhaps he wishes he had acted differently in his past, but for some reason, he was unable to avoid the repellent attraction of Derry.