Netflix

The End of the F*****ing world (Channel 4/Netflix, 2017-)

Posted on by deathbyapril

People are going wild over the new addition to Netflix or the show that has been on Channel 4 for about a year. I don’t usually review older shows but since many people have only just been introduced to this brilliant programme due to its move over to Netflix, it is new for a lot of potential viewers. This great mini drama has created a lot of buzz from its interesting style and bold topics. I mean the title alone suggest its crazy nature so it would be a sin of me, if I didn’t talk about The End of the F*****ing  world.

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Plot:  James (Alex Lawther) the 17 year old potential psychopath and Alyssa (Jessica Barden) embark on a mad adventure to escape their crap lives and find Alyssa’s real dad. However, as excepted things go very wrong and they end up on the run from the police. This is not your usual road trip.

Trailer:

Review:  The world of television has recently been outdoing Hollywood, in terms of unique plot and brilliant entertainment. Channel 4’s and now Netflix’s brilliant show The End of the F*****ing  world, is no exception. The different and brave plot is fairly typical for the creativity of some of Channel 4’s productions. The show brings dark humour mixed with a narrative not seen in any other TV media. The story takes its time to build upon teen angst and a very strange relationship but develops into a full blown wild ride, a beautiful romance and shit hitting the fan. The opening seemed dark and taboo enough but if you wait 40 minutes, you would think that episodes 1-2 where a kids show. I say 40 minutes for the first 2 eps because each part is only around 20 minutes long. The short episodes means not enough screen time for this amazing plot but could also imply how much crap happens to these characters in a short period of time, plus makes the show easy to binge watch.  In addition to a plot that doesn’t stop, the style and filming/editing techniques are something not usually explored within many dramas. We are supplied with internal monologues with several characters, rather than just one, providing the audience with more insight and several points of views. Flashbacks, created through a range of mediums is also used to relay information and reinforce the tragic backstory of James and Alyssa. This gives us a break from the usual modes of storytelling within TV. Bravo!

The-End-of-the-Fing-World-Season-1-Episode-8-Season-Finale-James-and-Alyssa

With a show this dark, it only makes sense that controversial and brave themes for television are covered, both through drama and comedy. Discourses around sexual assault, suicide and sexuality are explored. I believe that the best programmes should always at least brush up on these ideas, to give audiences a safe place to explore these issues and learn about what to do if this happens to themselves or people they know. Despite this, the show does push the boundaries with a lot of animals getting brutally killed so just watch out for that. A show always loses points when a dog dies. ALWAYS!

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After covering plot, style and ideologies, it is always important to discuss actors and characters. To start, James and Alyssa have been created and adapted to be two very difficult people to portray and get into the mid set of. I have yet to come across two characters so different and yet perfect for each other. They are crazy yet sane, horrid yet charming. I did start off hating the characters because of how unrealistic they are but I did grow to love both them and their relationship. Despite the challenge, Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden pull it off spectacularly. I expect awards for these two. As these actors are fairly unknown beforehand, it proves how hidden talent is sometimes the best. Hopefully their work in The End of the F*****ing  world will bag them some more acting jobs higher up in the industry.

end of the

Overall, I did love the show after I got used to the style and the characterisation of James and Alysaa. The themes are beautifully portrayed and truly adds to the drama of the programme. However, the ending is rather unexpected and ended abruptly. I do pray that season 2 comes out soon.

 

 

The Good Place (NBC/Netflix 2017-present)

Posted on by deathbyapril

Netflix has brought us some fantastic original shows, I mean who hasn’t heard of Stranger Things (2016-) or Orange is the New Black(2013-). I often find myself writing reviews on many of the productions that Netflix release so today is no exception. One of the lesser known productions is Netflix’s/NBC comedy The Good Place. It is one of those hidden gems that once you discover, you can’t really imagine your TV schedule without it. The Good place is a funny take on the afterlife or ‘The Good place’ vs ‘The Bad place’. How many shows are about that egh?  The show is currently on its second season and is out every Friday. However, with the show being so binge worthy and only around 25 minutes, I am sure you can catch up soon enough. It only took me two days to get through 21 episodes but I do have a bit of a TV problem.

good place poster

Plot: When Eleanor (Kristen Bell) is hit by a car, trying to chase a bottle of cocktail mixture for one, she ends up in ‘The Good place’, the shows equivalent to the concept of heaven. Everyone is friendly, the parties are wild, you get to spend eternity with your soul mate, there is free frozen yogurt on every street and you can fly, it seems like well…heaven. However, when Eleanor discovers she is not meant to be there, she must attempt to remain undercover so she is not forced to the ’Bad Place’ or what we call Hell. A place with Scorpion nappies and screws for glasses. There’s no wonder she wants to stay hidden.

Trailer:

Review: Much like many of the other comedy shows I review, I have found another unique program. A show with a great range of characters, is genuinely funny and has a great plot. We are no longer centring shows on just a group of friends hanging out. Maybe this is proof that comedy is finally adapting and able to think of new ideas, to keep us interested in the genre and develop what we know as the ‘American Comedy’. However, again like many American comedies the show is manly created through what characters say rather than interesting filming techniques. A lot of the laughs are driven from Eleanor and how out of place and rude she is compared to the other characters. She is a bitch but she is our bitch and the show would not be the same without her. Again this indicates that the comedy is character driven, rather than giving us gags through how the show is filmed. Alas, we are only in early stages so perhaps we can let them off. Never the less, they do have great set design and colour schemes. Heaven has many bright and energetic colours, whereas earth is dull and grey….seems about right to be honest. It is not often where I compliment a show for its use of colours so bravo for that!

good place characters

Speaking of characters, again much like many of the new American comedies, we have a diverse and interesting set of characters, shown in programmes such as Brooklyn 99 (FOX, 2013-) and Ghosted (FOX,2017-). However, instead of FOX, NBC is giving us some variety. This gives a larger percentage of the audience characters to identify and connect with because we all know it’s not just straight white people who are watching Netflix. The relationships between these characters are also a love/hate relationship that builds over time. We get to see these from the beginning, rather than just see a fully formed friendship group, again like many of the older comedies. I feel that this gives ‘The Good Place’ its charm. However, I would argue that some of the characters are rather annoying and since they are a main character you can’t really avoid them but you could just say that this was how they were designed. Never the less, the show can be forgiven for how amazing Janet (D’Arcy Carden) is. Janet is The Good place’s version of Google but in human form. She can answer any question in the universe and bring you anything you could ever want. However, she can be programmed to speak in different ways, can often glitch and will scream at you and beg for her life if you try to turn her off. She really is my favourite character.

janet

Despite the comedy element of the show, we are provided some interesting ideologies and factors that can make you self-reflect. The new concept of the afterlife judges’ weather you are fit for the good or bad place, based on the way you were as a person. However, it is really hard to go to ‘The Good Place’ and way too easy to end up in ‘The Bad Place’. I mean you go to Hell if you have a personalised number plate and watch trashy TV, whereas you only end up in heaven if you spent your life working for charity.  That means that a good percentage of us are destined to hell. There is nothing like an existential crisis whilst watching TV. One other issue I have noticed about the show and maybe you have too, is that there are no old people.  Why are there so many young people? I’m guessing no one really dies of old age anymore in the shows universe? I need answers!

The Good Place - Season 1

Due to the unique plot, not usually shown in comedies, I would suggest this show to anyone who loves a good comedy but has grown bored of the usually tropes and conventions of the genre. The show is fun, interesting and hilarious with a great set of characters and famous actors. The show is only 20 minutes ling so if you don’t like it, you haven’t really wasted much time. However, I’m sure that you will end up watching all 22 episodes in about 3 days.

The Babysitter (McG, 2017)

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Netflix’s original movie The Babysitter is another addition to the horror/comedy hybrid genre. Another comedy mix that laughs at all of the tropes of the second in command film type. I do enjoy a good parody so when ‘The Babysitter’ came to my attention on Netflix, I was sure to give it a watch and determine the level of greatness. It’s easy to assume that a horror parody can be in league with movies such as Scary Movie (Keenen Ivory Wayans, 2000) but luckily for a film critic that actually enjoys praising a good film, The Babysitter moved towards Shaun of The Dead (Edgar Wright, 2004).

the babysitter

Plot: When Cody’s (Judah Lewis) parents go out of town, he is left with his incredibly beautiful and badass babysitter Bee (Samara Weaving). As a baby sitter Bee has a duty of care so when she invites a group of her friends over for a human sacrifice, she is defiantly going against the moral handbook. Cody must attempt to survive the night, to avoid being a part of devil worship.

Trailer: 

Review: Like most American comedies we are usually only given laughs through the use of verbal comedy i.e. jokes and gags. The character says something stupid or funny and we are given a good giggle. However, The Babysitter mixes it up and brings in some fantastic visual comedy and camera work, with video game written graphics, continuous POV’s , excellent use of screen space and an interested scene with characters interacting with the visuals of a projector.  With these techniques employed, it is clear that McG is a cleaver director. I only wish that more of these methods were used. You have the ability so use it!

Unlike most horrors we have characters we love. Cody is a lovable and cleaver dork that the audience can’t help but like. He has great survival instincts, which means that he doesn’t make the usual dumb decisions in horror films. He does all the correct things that you should do in that situation but his actions still result in danger. This means that the audience are left satisfied at the way he has handled the horror but frustrated that it still didn’t help! This really was a unique take on the horror genre and could perhaps be used as a parody towards traditional horror conventions. This a phenomenon used throughout for example, foreshadowing and the use of OTT gore within horror is hinted and mocked.

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Getting back to Cody… he is given such great characters development. He starts off as the nerdy kid, terrified of everything and turns into a badass. Well, being chased and hunted by murderous killers would probably do this to you.  However, this development can also be down to his odd encounters with the Jock Max (Robbie Amell). He seems to be both a help and a hindrance. Other great characters include the entire cast! The casting is diverse, showing a good representation. We have people from all backgrounds within the satanic group to show that everyone can be evil… how nice. The only issue I found is that two of the characters can be seen as being oversexualised. This may be my feminist female mind talking but they are shown to be a very sexual. All though, this could be the parody talking. The characters may be shown in this way to mock the ‘slut’ character trope of a horror or to just turn a few people on.

babysitter cast

The horror elements also start off unexpectedly. It seems like a happy hearted film to open and makes a great twist. This makes the plot so much more unique. The combination of a nice light hearted comedy and a horror calls for a nice mixture of scary conventions to be used and a great narrative to carry this along. This movie isn’t just a load of scares with not much happening but a good story… the soundtrack is also pretty good. It’s safe to say that I enjoyed this film.  I only wish the film was a little longer. The Babysitter has a total running time of an hour and 25 minutes, making it just under the usual running time of a film.

 

Big Mouth Season 1 (Netflix, 2017-)

Posted on by deathbyapril

Ladies, gentleman, people of the Jury, we all know that cartons aren’t just for kids. We have great adult cartoons such as Rick and Morty, Family Guy and South Park. These are shows defiantly not fit for Cartoon Network. Netflix thought they would get on board the band wagon of inappropriate cartoons and made Big Mouth. From the look, characters of the show and the theme of going through puberty, it does originally seem like a nice teen show but please don’t make this mistake. It’s crude, bizarre and just kind of cringe worthy. I don’t want to watch 12 year olds masturbate but apparently in a cartoon this is fine.

Big Mouth follows a group of, I believe 7th graders (I’m British, I don’t know the American School system), going through the awkward stages of puberty. Women experience their first period, guys get their first pubes and teens get their pillow pregnant?! It’s super weird. The show explores the nature of moving from tween to teen, with strange metaphors and over bizarre situations. My personal favourite, being the hormone monster, who offers extremely crude suggestions in romantic situations. Nothing is better than trying to kiss someone for the first time when a monster is screaming at you to take them there and then. However, you can’t deny that inner you will shout that sometimes. It’s all the typical cartoon shenanigans but with such cringe situations, perhaps to represent the awkwardness of being a young teen. Despite this, it does rely on people to find second hand embarrassment and gross humour funny. I feel like I shouldn’t laugh at a teen jizzing his pants because he hugged a girl. I felt like ‘WTF Netflix’ was the general mood.  I personally don’t enjoy this form of comedy so some of this show is wasted on me. But I know a lot of people will laugh out loud at a lot of the scenes.  Nevertheless, I did really enjoy the show.

The idea of puberty is also well presented and since the target audience has already gone through that terrible stage, we can both appreciate and laugh at the crap that these characters must go through. Nothing is better than laughing at other people’s pain. It’s a show with a decent theme and purpose. The presentation is what keeps us film and TV critics at bay. Anyone who has seen the show will know that the song ‘Life is a fucked up mess’ is a tune. The series really allows a basis to catalyse a conversation on puberty and bodily changes. Hopefully, once you have watched to show, you will be able to open up and laugh about periods and pubic hair (more than you probably did before).

I also find that the show is trying to find its feet during production. The storylines only get better as the show progresses so if you watch it, give it time. There were a few times early on, where I thought I was going to give up on this ridiculous cartoon but I’m glad I saw it through to the end.

Netflix Original: Gerald’s Game (Mike Flanagan, 2017)

Posted on by deathbyapril

Stephen King must be rolling in the money the past few months. With the release of IT (Andrés Muschietti, 2017) and now the release of Gerald’s Game (Mike Flanagan, 2017), only available on Netflix, he must be laughing at his success. There is no surprise that King has a net worth of over $400 million, when he can produce stories that are both great as novels and movies.  Gerald’s Game hit Netflix just last month and has defiantly proved this theory right, with one of the best Netflix original movies I have seen. It has a truly engaging storyline and film techniques good enough to make any film nerd scream with excitement.

Plot: When Jessie (Carla Gugino) and Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) go on a romantic getaway to spice up their sex life, Gerald decides to handcuff Jessie to the bed. Unfortunately, before any of the fun begins, Gerald has a heart attack and dies, leaving Jessie handcuffed to the bed, with no one around to get her out.  She must either try to survive long enough for someone to find her or find a way to get out herself. Luckily, she has the hallucinations of herself and her dead husband to help her through her nightmare.

 

 

Review: Firstly, any film that can have such an interesting and captivating narrative that keeps audiences on the edge of their seat, whilst being set in just one room is a rare and beautiful oddity in film making. As Jessie is strapped to a bed in one room and all she is able to see is the inside of her bedroom, this is all the audience is really able to see. We are confined to the mental and physical observations of our trapped character. For Jessie the world outside doesn’t exist so for us, it doesn’t really either. Space was an important part of the filmography and it is clear throughout.

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Now the prospect of just watching a character strapped to a bed for 1h and 45 mins does sound very boring. She would have no one to talk to and she wouldn’t really be doing much but struggling and screaming. Well, she imagines herself and her dead husband talking to her and trying to help her live. This prospect is a really fun and interesting idea used within the film. It can suggest that her subconscious is really trying to survive and offers some innovative solutions to the conscious Jessie, who just can’t seem to stop panicking and crying. It seems as if the survival instinct is a separate part of Jessie, which allows her to keep ticking, even when she is a mess. Plus, it allows the audience to see her thought process in a more creative way, compared to her just talking to the air or hearing an internal monologue. Plus, it makes Jessie seem extra crazy. This however, may be just down to Stephen King being an excellent writer, rather than the director.

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The sub plots are also appealing and provides both a large character development for Jessie and builds in elements of horror. The film shows flashbacks to Jessie’s traumatic childhood and added ‘hallucinations’ of death/ the moonlight man, a very creepy man who lurks in the shadows and appears in the moonlight. First we are given the horror of Jessie being shackled to the bed and then stuck to the bed with a monster on the loose. What I’m saying here, is the plot is fantastic. It is a unique yet simple storyline that offers a creative way of presentation that can be appreciated by both film fanatics and non-film fanatics. On the other hand, I am unable to comment on if the film sticks to the novel and how much I should be praising Stephen Kings writing rather than the directing of Mike Flanagan, as I have never read the book. (I do pan on reading it after I’ve finished Stephen Kings Misery… 200 pages left). If you have read the Novel, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts.

moonlight man

The conclusion to the film could have been a bit more dramatic. For those of you who have seen the film, I mean the last few minutes rather than the really gross and gory part. I do have to give them credit for the gross out factor. Not many films can make me cringe quit like that scene could. I mean, everything is wrapped up in a little bow for us fussy viewers. It was a typical Hollywood ending. For a film that focuses mainly on straying away from cinematic norms, perhaps they could have kept this prospect until the very end.

Despite, the incredible character development of Jessie, I do believe that Gerald’s storyline is lacking. We learn very few things about him, yet he is a main character within the film. We are suggested that he is slightly abusive and cheats but this is only a small part of his character. I wanted to understand more about their relationship and explain why her mind chose to have him help her through the film, if he was such a terrible character. I mean the film was named after him so a little more development is all I ask.

Overall, I would totally recommend this film. It is unlike any film I have really ever seen and you have no idea how difficult they are to find in this industry. It does have its flaws, like all films but there are way more positives.

 

American Vandal: Season 1 (Netflix, 2017)

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Crime documentaries are a very recognisable genre. We know the conventions. By this, I mean, we know that they will include interviews from witnesses, friends, family and the suspects.  They would have cut aways, narration, reenactments and professionals/investigators conducting experiments. You can spot the genre a mile away. However, we have finally reached the last stage in a genres lifecycle, parody.  Parody is to essentially take the piss out of genre conventions or other texts. Netflix took this definition and turned it onto the investigative crime doc, with its most recent addition, American Vandal.  Netflix does describe the show as a satire but the show seems to mock codes and conventions of film/TV, rather than society so I’m just going to call it a parody. (My dissertation was on parody so I apologise if I sound a bit too passionate about it).

Plot:

When Dylan Maxwell (Jimmy Tatro) is accused of spray painting 25 dicks on to 25 of the teacher’s car, Peter Maldonado (Tyler Alvarez) and Sam Ecklund (Griffin Gluck) create a documentary to find the truth. This 8 part mockumentary will seek to uncover if Dylan is guilty and if not, who is?

Trailer:

Review:

The show takes the investigation seriously and follows all the guidelines of a traditional documentary. You could easily mistake it for anything you would see on CBS. This is until you find out that they are investigating dicks. Luckily, the show doesn’t give us dick joke after dick joke. The fact that they take this crime so seriously and even make the show 8 parts is what makes it funny. They really grip you in, making you want to watch more. The humour stems from how this crime is replacing the usual murder storylines and replacing it with a childish crime. They just take the dicks so serious! To be fair so do I. I watched the show in about 3 days because I just wanted to know, who drew the dicks? I often found myself gasping at new bits of evidence and trying to solve it myself. I did pick up on stuff before the investigators did and that just heightened my need to watch it. It was just like watching any other crime show…kind of.

american-vandal-trailer

For such an immature crime comes immature suspects and investigation. Those involved are mostly students so their reasoning and methods of investigation are far from professional. They investigate the ball hair on the dicks and the hottest mums in school, to the credibly of a suspect based on whether or not they lied about getting a hand job. It does seem silly but it really works. I just can’t get how the serious everyone takes it, it’s based on dicks!  This does however mean, that you will just laugh at how stupid the show is, rather than actual comedy and jokes. Your comedy preferences would really influence If you enjoy this show or not. I do hope this inspires other mockumentaries. However, I don’t want to risk ruining this new genre.  This could inspire new shows but also start a trend that could be unsuccessful. Parody can be difficult to pull off but can always result in some great programmes, take Parks and Recreation for example.

american vandal

For such a non-serious crime, the show really needs to find evidence to discover who it is and why they did it. This is again understandable for the genre. Unfortunately, there is a lot of time wasting. They investigate things that are unnecessary and really drag everything out. I do believe that they could have made fewer episodes to keep viewer interest and avoid wasting time and budget. 6 episodes would have been much more fitting. In addition, when we finally get to the end episode, it isn’t wrapped up very well. I was left unsatisfied. I do enjoy my shows wrapped up in a little bow. However, this could be the show leaving room for a second season. We will just need to wait and see.

american vandal 2

The show is also unrealistic. Now hear me out. I know, it’s a crime drama based on investigating dicks on cars. This isn’t what I am talking about. The show is produced by student film makers around the age of 16. Throughout, it is implied that their past projects have been terrible. They aren’t given a budget. They have school level equipment but can still produce really high quality content. My level of work was nowhere near as good as this, not until I was at university. BUT, this does need to be watchable by a real Netflix audience. Maybe I’m just jealous that Peter and Sam can make better work at 16 compared to me at 16.

dylan maxwell

Overall, I did enjoy the show. I did watch it in about 3 days and I usually like to take my time because I hate it when shows end on me. I put the finale of Pretty Little Liars on hold for two weeks because I didn’t want it to end. If you have a love of parody, I would give it a watch. I found it hilarious and I hope to see more from the mockumentary genre after this.

The Mist (Spike/ Netflix, 2017)

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As fans of television and films, I think it is safe to say, that when it comes to Stephen King adaptations, they can either be amazing or terrible. Some of the great screen adaptions can include The Shining (Stanley Kubrick, 1980), ‘IT’ (Tommy Lee Wallace, 1990) and The Green Mile (Frank Darabont, 2000). However, one particularly questionable adaption is the new television series ‘The Mist’ (Spike/ Netflix, 2017). It is nowhere as good or as disturbing as its film version, which was directed by our Green Mile director in 2007. If you haven’t seen this inadequate show, I will briefly and much to my dismay, describe the plot to you. I will then explain why I’m not much of a fan but will continue to watch the entire series.

mist poster

PLOT.

When the mist hits Bridgeville, Maine, the residents must haul up in various locations, including a shopping centre (just like the original), a church and a hospital. BUT this mist is not like the usual fog you get, when you are trying to drive to work and can’t see five feet in front of you, it’s filled with monsters. So it’s the same as driving through fog when you’re in Birmingham. In the film and the book, these monsters are just massive bug like creatures. In my opinion, the films monsters are some of the creepiest looking things ever. However, Spike thought they would shake it up a little, until the lid falls off and splashes liquid all over the kitchen. These monsters are your worst fears and they try to convince you to kill yourself, or they would just do it themselves if you refuse (redundant, I know).  That sums up the main plotline. Nevertheless, most films/ TV shows will have a sub-plot. The show opens with the rape of Alex Copeland (Gus Birney) at a party. She was unconscious while it happened so she is unsure of who committed the crime. Despite this, her best friend noticed Alex’s crush walking down the stairs during the party and told everyone that the love interest did it. Unfortunately, before the DNA test reveals the attacker, the apocalypse begins. Then to make things worse, Alex is hauled up with her over protective mother, Eve (Alyssa Sutherland) and her accused rapist.

mist spiders

REVIEW

When I watched the first episode and they started with a rape plot line, I was incredibly shocked. It is very brave of a show to start with such a dark and serious topic. When a show does this, they must do so with respect and ensure they are protecting venerable viewers. This need is kind of met. The family and police take the crime seriously but the other residents seem to blame it on the victim. They say that she has made it up and that it was her fault because she’s a slut. First off, this is not a good message at all to give to rape survivors. Please be more sensitive Spike! They are brave enough to share their story and get justice for a horrific crime against them and they get taunted and rejected. Luckily, those who do accuse Alex are swiftly eaten by some monsters. *High fives monsters*. This sub-plot is also the most interesting part of the show and the only reason I continued to watch. This should not be the case. The show seems to stray away from the fact that there are monsters now roaming America. I mean the other way the show also does this, is by not actually showing many monsters. You see like 4 in total so you end up forgetting that the monsters are a threat at all. It just turns into a show about angry people locked in a mall. It is honestly a disgrace to the film and book. Well that may be a little harsh. It is very different form the film and book.

With any apocalypse show or show with a possibility that your favourite character could be killed off at any moment, it is important to have good characters. The Walking Dead (AMC, 2010), for example has some fantastic characters and you know they can be killed off without warning. RIP. With The Mist, this is far from the case. I can personally say that I hate every character in the show, EVERY SINGLE ONE. You know in horror films and most apocalypse stories, that there is that one character who you just want to die. They are just the most useless character ever. Well this is every character in the show. Everyone sucks. They kill each other without reason, lock each other up, steal food, blame each other for stuff, kick people out of the mall and just act like generally awful people. All I ask is for one good character, please!

mist character

If you have seen the Mist, you know there is one crazy religious lady that convinces everyone that a human sacrifice would help (Like WTF). Well, our lady played by Frances Conroy, is more of a hippy and states that its mother nature’s way of avenging the rape story line. A crazy theory that any sane person would not believe but apparently everyone is insane and actually believes her. Honestly like, they all deserve to die. By all means, murder your own kids because a hippy said so. The terrible characters take away from the plot because you just don’t care if people live or die and this is the main element of any horror.

hippy

Ok, moving away from the characters, before I get too angry and rage quit my review. Let’s talk about the lack of suspense within the show. If you have worked in the television industry or have studied media, you would know that to keep people engaged in a series, it is important to have cliff hangers or points to ensure that viewers want to continue with the show. The programme loses this on occasion. This is the kind of show that if I stopped watching or missed an episode, I wouldn’t care too much about. Nothing to me screams “Next episode, put on the next one”. This is kind of a bummer considering the whole series is available to binge watch on Netflix. The show is just so unbelievable average. However, I haven’t actually finished watching the series so it might get amazing in the last two episodes. (I shall get around to it… eventually).

So this next little comment is not so much a dig at the show but my questions to Spike. 1) Why did you kill a dog off first, you evil people? 2) How long has this been going on for? Like it seems like only 3 or 4 nights and the shopping mall has already run out of food!

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Overall, the show is very average. It has a semi-interesting plot line. It isn’t very scary, it’s hard to like any of the characters (in my opinion, you may like the show) and it doesn’t stick to the original like at all, a factor that always annoys me in any remake. I wouldn’t really suggest this to anyone but again, you might enjoy it. This may be one of the harshest reviews I have ever done so that’s one thing The Mist has going for itself.