FROM

From would be nominated for the ultimate mind-fuck Oscar if it existed. I’m 2 seasons in with more questions than I began with… and it keeps getting more confusing… but rest assured, I’ll be here for season 3 because it’s excellent!!

Takes place in a small mysterious town somewhere in America in which anyone who enters is trapped and can’t leave. We follow a bunch of characters that strive to stay alive and scout for ways out. Some residents have been stuck for 20+ years and that’s the least of the problems here. At night the town is plagued with the most nocturnal and petrifying creatures disguised as humans. As they find ways to avoid the surrounding threats, secrets unfold, new hazards arise and worse of all more folks keep strolling into town. It’s the most bizarre show… and I’m here for it!!

Harold Perrineau is outstanding! As the lead he takes us on the most peculiar and eccentric journey with his performance. He plays the self-appointed sheriff, mayor of the town and Vice President 2nd to Samuel L user of the word “motherfucker”, Boyd. His display of stress, bravery, frustration, fear, courage, leadership, the list can go on is amazing. The range is here. It’s a stellar presentation that buries any memories of him in the Matrix, The Best Man and all. Next to him on the big stage is Scott McCord. Playing Victor, an estranged resident who at this point has lived there the longest. With little knowledge of the outside world, he plays this 50-year-old trapped in an adolescent state. Carries his lunch box around and enjoys colouring. He’s exceptional. Then you have the hero type jocks in Ricky He as Kenny and Corteon Moore as Ellis. The young and brave who in the midst of all these traumatic experiences just want to be loved. Simon Webster the child actor does well to hold his own as Ethan with his displays. Whenever we needed that calm reset from the shocks on screen, he brought the innocent peace break. Now this guy’s performance had minimal lines, hardly any dialogue but what he did have was presence. In the simplest of outfits and his country style haircut… but coupled with one of the most sinister looking smiles I’ve ever seen on TV, his name is Jamie McGuire! He needs to audition for the Joker asap. All round the cast sell their roles well. They all deliver a level of depth that helps promote the terror on display.

The production does well to manifest the eerie, suspenseful horror feel. They make use of this bizarre style camera angle which I haven’t seen used as much. It’s when the person speaking is in shot but to the side of the lens leaving a big space to their side as to prompt someone or something else is due to enter into the shot. This technique had me on edge! I spent more time staring into that space trying to anticipate the alleged jump scare but, in some scenes, nothing happens, you just breathe a sigh of relief LOL.

The setting is a cold, ghostly and uncanny town that has the ability to feel homely when it’s day time but switch to a more sinister feel soon as the sun goes down.

The buildings, locations, the woods all add to the terrifying atmosphere. The special effects are at a high level. The transformations of the creatures go for an instant change instead of a long-extended procedure and that is a good choice in my eyes. It brings the instant terror. Their designs are spine chilling as they take various forms. There’s a lot of gore and blood, they do well to utilise both special and practical. Costume design is simple but effective. Clean, presentable clothed folk with pale white skin, projecting their voices in an echo type soft, gentle and welcoming manner. It screams terror aka RUN! The musical scores are other-worldly. They really draw in the mystery and abnormal notions. It’s very well put together.

The show is a conspiracy haven. Questions on questions on questions. We are 2 seasons in and all I really know is… stay indoors at night… and I WANT MORE! The bulk of the show is a showcase of different characters going insane and how they manage it all. Some head towards insanity faster than others. Seeing how individuals handle desperation, hallucinations and apparent visions which can translate to positive or negative clues. For me personally anybody that utilises children as tools in horror needs help, creeps me out too much. As the show progresses, we learn more about this strange place whilst at the same time we ask more questions. There are some big satisfying revelations. As some characters are killed off, they somehow return in psyche form and as the audience you ask yourself are these just thoughts of the character or is the town playing mind tricks. The mystery is the selling point and it is great selling point. 

Overall, it’s a magnificent show. I can’t recommend it enough. Fans of horror or not you need to get involved. It’s a clever show which doesn’t just focus on the horror. There is character development and character depth. Excellent storytelling and intriguing characters keep the show fresh and on-going. The mix of fantasy and suspense works well. Season 1 I feel was better than season 2 though for me. The latter season just raised way too many questions which is good for production but frustrating for me. I am looking forward to season 3.

Where do the monsters come from? Is there a way out of the town? What does the tree mean? What would you do if you were in this town? Where do the stones come from? What is your theory? React and comment below…