jord_runci
Joined Oct 2022
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Reviews6
jord_runci's rating
Hysteria! Is a thriller/horror set in a small American town in the 80s, that centres around the mysterious death of a teenager, and the spreading panic of its rumoured connection to a high-school metal band and their cult following of satanists.
It's a nod to 80s slashers as well as coming-of-age high school drama, so I went into it expecting to be bombarded by the long list of clichés embedded in both genres. Instead, I thought the characters were so well cast, and the dialogue well written, that I was able to buy into the narrative without feeling like everything was overtly cheesy. Any annoyances I had in that regard stem from the fact that the teenagers (and their decision-making) can be frustrating as hell. But then again, they're teenagers.
The power of religious and social prejudices over a community form a large driving force behind the narrative, but overall, Hysteria! Is a really well-balanced cocktail of murder-mystery and paranormal horror. The show unravels its secrets gradually, so that we get an understanding of what's happening well before the protagonists (rather than during a tell-all final episode twist), but not before we're left to guess who will take what drastic measures to benefit their own agendas.
For those fans of all things 80s, and its heavy music scenes in particular, you're also bound to get a jolt of excitement from the soundtrack, which comprises a host of artists like Iron Maiden, Kiss, Mötley Crüe and Alice Cooper.
Hysteria! Showcases the power of suggestion during the satanic panic of the 80s, and exposes us to the warring forces that strive to either bring a community together, or tear it apart. In any case, it's nice to see the high school jocks, freaks and nerds all coming together, even if that is only briefly, while hailing satan around a candle-lit pentagram.
It's a nod to 80s slashers as well as coming-of-age high school drama, so I went into it expecting to be bombarded by the long list of clichés embedded in both genres. Instead, I thought the characters were so well cast, and the dialogue well written, that I was able to buy into the narrative without feeling like everything was overtly cheesy. Any annoyances I had in that regard stem from the fact that the teenagers (and their decision-making) can be frustrating as hell. But then again, they're teenagers.
The power of religious and social prejudices over a community form a large driving force behind the narrative, but overall, Hysteria! Is a really well-balanced cocktail of murder-mystery and paranormal horror. The show unravels its secrets gradually, so that we get an understanding of what's happening well before the protagonists (rather than during a tell-all final episode twist), but not before we're left to guess who will take what drastic measures to benefit their own agendas.
For those fans of all things 80s, and its heavy music scenes in particular, you're also bound to get a jolt of excitement from the soundtrack, which comprises a host of artists like Iron Maiden, Kiss, Mötley Crüe and Alice Cooper.
Hysteria! Showcases the power of suggestion during the satanic panic of the 80s, and exposes us to the warring forces that strive to either bring a community together, or tear it apart. In any case, it's nice to see the high school jocks, freaks and nerds all coming together, even if that is only briefly, while hailing satan around a candle-lit pentagram.
I was a big fan of this book. While reading it I thought "this would make a great movie", so I was pretty excited to turn to the last page and find out it was in fact being made into a series.
The thing that really sat with me throughout the series was how well the setting in every single scene matched perfectly the pictures I had in my head while reading the book. The house, the warehouse, the lab, the quantum hallway - Daniela's apartment, and the pub where Joel first meets up with Ryan - they all look exactly as I imagined they would, and I couldn't be more impressed by this.
The story also serves the source material well, which is what happens when you keep the author involved, while introducing some minor twists and turns that expand and stray (slightly) from the original plot. The differences were only enough to add a layer of intrigue to those in the know, but otherwise kept everything in line for the ending to stay true to its original counterpart.
The casting was excellent, with a solid roster of great actors. I had to adjust my expectation slightly that the lead character would be a bit less jacked, as I sometimes felt he looked more like a mercenary than a scientist/teacher (it doesn't help that some versions of Joel do act a bit like mercs), but Edgerton nails the role convincingly - no small task when you have to portray different versions of the same complex character.
My only gripe with the series is the same I have with practically any bit of TV with a run time that extends beyond 2 hours in total: occasionally, it can drag out and lose my attention. Not badly, evidently - I binged the whole thing in record time - but just enough that from time to time I would pick up my phone, then after a few minutes find I'd missed something important and have to rewind.
Going back to my original point ("this would make a great movie"), I also don't think a sequel is needed. I like that it ends in sync with the book, in a way that makes sense and needs no further development... but having said that, when the new season comes out, I won't be missing it.
The thing that really sat with me throughout the series was how well the setting in every single scene matched perfectly the pictures I had in my head while reading the book. The house, the warehouse, the lab, the quantum hallway - Daniela's apartment, and the pub where Joel first meets up with Ryan - they all look exactly as I imagined they would, and I couldn't be more impressed by this.
The story also serves the source material well, which is what happens when you keep the author involved, while introducing some minor twists and turns that expand and stray (slightly) from the original plot. The differences were only enough to add a layer of intrigue to those in the know, but otherwise kept everything in line for the ending to stay true to its original counterpart.
The casting was excellent, with a solid roster of great actors. I had to adjust my expectation slightly that the lead character would be a bit less jacked, as I sometimes felt he looked more like a mercenary than a scientist/teacher (it doesn't help that some versions of Joel do act a bit like mercs), but Edgerton nails the role convincingly - no small task when you have to portray different versions of the same complex character.
My only gripe with the series is the same I have with practically any bit of TV with a run time that extends beyond 2 hours in total: occasionally, it can drag out and lose my attention. Not badly, evidently - I binged the whole thing in record time - but just enough that from time to time I would pick up my phone, then after a few minutes find I'd missed something important and have to rewind.
Going back to my original point ("this would make a great movie"), I also don't think a sequel is needed. I like that it ends in sync with the book, in a way that makes sense and needs no further development... but having said that, when the new season comes out, I won't be missing it.
