Finished it up.
I'll stop short of calling it groundbreaking, but it is nonetheless one the freshest takes on the "Haunted House" genre I've seen in quite a while. Really great stuff, and some truly frightening and disturbing content that will stick with you. The people behind this show know how to build suspense and dread like few others. It is genuinely creepy at times, and will have you looking over your shoulder in dimly lit rooms and dark hallways long after the credits roll. It rarely goes for shock and cheap thrills, and it successfully makes the audience feel as nervous and tense, as the characters in the show hearing bumps in the night. This is minimalist horror done right, where what you can't see is more frightening than anything they could show you. When the show does make a reveal, its usually a well earned payoff to an excellent build up, and never ruins the immersion. The "horror" part of this show is aces.
That all said, and where it might turn some genre fans off, is that its equal parts a family drama, as it is a haunted house story. Where it differs itself from most that would try to flesh out a script with some dramatic padding, is that its all connected to the house. It can feel like an ordinary drama at times, but it never truly leaves the central figure of the show, which is the house. Its all tied together rather nicely.
If I had one complaint, its that the dialogue can get a little too expository at times. There are times in the show where characters will go on these long winded monologues,usually while having some kind of breakdown, that just explains way too much, and doesn't feel natural. They are good scenes for the actors to show their chops, but it can be a little much.
On the technical side of things, its all great. Acting, writing, directing, yada, yada, its all top notch stuff. Nothing to complain about on that front.
So yeah, this is a great series for anyone really. I think even non-genre fans could sit down and get into it. Its just so well done. Might be the sleeper hit of the year. I have a feeling the popularity of this show will pick up steam over time, as word spreads. Check it out.
9/10
One last thing, as I said, the show doesn't pull off too many cheap tricks, but I have to recognize one. There is this one jump scare they threw in there near the end(Ep 8 or 9 I think) that legitimately almost gave me a heart attack. If you've seen the whole show, I think you'll know which scene I'm talking about.
