Much of what is commonly known about Derry, Maine, is based on feeling. Yet, beneath Stephen King’s fictional history lies a sharper argument: Derry’s evil, particularly in “It,” serves as a metaphor for how fear and its consequences shape communities — both fictional and real. King’s fans know the town’s lore based on side tours detailed in “Insomnia,” “Dreamcatcher” and “11/22/63,” which deepen the mythos and ground Derry alongside real places like Bangor, Maine, the author’s inspiration.

Getting there, though, requires being in touch with your inner dread. Key events in “It” are extraordinarily fantastical, but they’re fueled by everyday fears. So it goes in “It: Welcome to Derry,” the latest expansion of the town’s canon from Argentine director Andy Muschietti and Barbara Muschietti,

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