Hysteria!

I'm only on episode 3 but I have to take a second to say how Bruce Campbell is absolutely killing it in this show. I'm used to him being kind of over the top acting (not because he over acts, but because that's what the role called for) like Evil Dead but in this he really really really is doing a great job of like playing a sheriff. It's coming off like very genuine the way he's acting his. You know his hand movements and not just the words that he's saying but all of it just seems very very genuine. At this point I'm just trying to get to my 200 word mark because I'm not done watching the show.

I went in to this completely blind, and my first impressions was that it was going to be a dark comedy and satire from the 1980's satanic panic. It turned out to be a teen drama best suited for the likes of MTV. Once again, it's another 80s throwback where most of the cast look like they're out of 2024 cosplaying 80s characters and getting it all wrong. The story lines are all over the place but they do come together for the most part. I binged watched this in one day and it very well much could have been a 2 hr movie. The not so subtle ending really ruined what could have been an amazing wrap up. I can't really recommend the show, but it wasn't bad. It's definitely a one and done with no rewatchability. They really missed the mark on just how funny the satanic panic was in the 80s when we all knew it was bs.

It's 1989. Happy Hollow is a small town near Detroit. Star quarterback Ryan Hudson and his secret girlfriend Faith get taken by masked people. Dylan Campbell, Jordy Stanwyck, and Spud are a local high school metal band struggling to get noticed. Dylan goes fake Satanic to gain the attention of school hottie Judith.

I really really wanted to like this, but I really really hate Dylan. It's tough to watch the dumb pathetic teen do dumb pathetic teen stuff. He keeps making the same face, saying the same things, and doing the same idiotic mistake. Sure, Judith is hot and guys have done plenty of dumb things to get some crazy hot. It is still a frustrating watch. I feel like I'm Jordy.

Tracy Whitehead is problematic. She never declares that her daughter Faith went missing. The math doesn't add up for this helicopter mother in the early episodes. Then, there is an explanation, but it still doesn't work... especially for the daughter. Unless Tracy assumes that Faith has amnesia, that part doesn't make sense.

I would be more interested in Chief Dandridge's investigation. This is about a murder in a small town. That is still compelling. The actual hysteria part is somewhat interesting. The possession screws up the mystery part unless somebody solves that. There are too many dumb kids and too many dumb adults. I get it. That's the point. It doesn't make me hate Dylan's whiney voice any less.

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.

Hysteria! Was a really pleasant surprise. Visually it shares a lot with Stranger Things, but on the other hand it has similar elements to Midnight Mass. At the same time it's easy series to watch. All in all the show is a mixture of murder mystery, coming of age story, horror... Again, Stanger Things anyone?

What separates Hysteria from other shows is how it handles the comedy-side of the story. Show doesn't take itself too seriously, but at the same time it avoids most pitfalls. TV mystery on satanic panic could easily be either a serious detective drama or slapstick comedy of goofy metal band. Hysteria! Is able to bake something else from premise, which feels both familiar and fresh.

Additionally, I really like the way how it handles references to pop culture and how the chemistry between actors works.

It's really hard to make anything really satisfying by mixing lots of genres and reusing already well known recipe of "Stranger Things". I would have expected a mediocre show, but had such a thrilling time binging this one. Keeping fingers crossed for upcoming seasons! Thus giving it a solid 8, but if you are really into nostalgia and love teen drama with mystery and horror, it's easy to give even an extra point.