(9 out of 10 Stars)
I have a show which should not be missed. Hemlock Grove is a Netflix original series. Netflix has gone all out with this one showing that they are serious about entering the race and becoming a channel to consider. Instead of being a warehouse of reruns and rare and hard to find content, they want to transform into a premier outlet of entertainment much like HBO and Showtime.
Hemlock Grove is an excellent effort, if ever there was one. It is based on the book, Hemlock Grove by Brian McGreevy. It is a supernatural show that takes place in this small town in Pennsylvania of the same name. It features a few fairly well-known stars; one of them being Famke Janssen. For the Battlestar Galactica fans, two actors from that show are featured: Kandyse McClure and Aaron Douglas.
A body is found maimed, by what initially appears to be, an animal. Upon closer inspection, it is revealed to be too neat and precise. Thus, begins a hunt for the real “animal.” Just days before, a gypsy family, consisting of a mother and her son, Peter, moved into town and rumors are circulated of them being werewolves. While on the edge of town a tall, white tower controlled by the wealthiest family residents, of which Roman belongs to, holds its’ own secrets. Suspicion is thrown about and the mystery begins. A word of warning: it is for mature viewers. That means; adult language, adult situations, gore, nudity, and some soft sex scenes. Beware!
This all happens in the first episode and while it is intriguing, it is a bit slow. I will admit it didn’t grab me right away, but I decided to press on and watch the second episode. That was where the claws began to sink in and the story kept me rooted in my seat. The second and the third episodes were what breathed life into the series and kept me strapped into a frightful rollercoaster ride from there. The tenth or eleventh episodes are where you can find the meatiest part of the story where Peter and Roman, the main characters, begin to confront their destinies.
I wasn’t playing detective during the viewing, so I didn’t catch who the antagonist was until the very end. That might have been a good thing. I love surprises. However, I had my suspicions by the end of the tenth episode. I’m sure the more astute viewer might pick up on the antagonist early on, but that shouldn’t ruin the experience of the show. You will still want to stick around and watch as the layers are peel back revealing the heart of the plot, which is why the antagonist is doing this.
In all, I highly recommend this series to anyone who has Netflix. To anyone who doesn’t; either sign up for a membership, or find some one who does. Buy them dinner. Buy them candy. Offer to help them bury their dead bodies. Whatever it takes, I would not miss out on this television series.
Erich is the author of the soon to be published thriller, Is Love Everlasting? He has a BA in Communications from Colorado State University. He lives in Arvada, Colorado with his cat, who always tries to help him with his writing. He enjoys watching movies, writing poetry, or reading a great book. Follow Erich on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/
About Erich Appelhans
Erich is the author of the thriller, Is Love Everlasting? He has a BA in Communications from Colorado State University. He lives in Arvada, Colorado with his cat, who always tries to help him with his writing. He enjoys watching movies, writing poetry, or reading a great book. Follow Erich on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/erichswritingspot. Get his book at Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/410406
About Erich Appelhans