Review: Hemlock Grove
Written by Kate Horvat from
HalloweenCostumes.com
Hemlock Grove is
Netflix’s next successor in its new empire of original series. After its
successful launch of House of Cards,
Netflix is doing a great job of producing binge-worthy original content. Over
the span of two days, I devoured the entire 13-episode first season. And I can
honestly say I am hungry for more.
From executive produce Eli Roth, of Hostel and Cabin Fever
fame, Hemlock Grove is being touted
as a cross between Twin Peaks and True Blood. With its peculiar characters,
murder mystery and a tantalizing slow reveal - it certainly is living up to the
hype. And with a healthy dose of sex, murder and gore, we are quickly reminded
that this isn’t your grandmother’s typical network programing.
Upon a voyeuristic presentation of the town and the people,
we are suddenly grounded into the story when high school student, Brooke
Bluebell, is horrifically murdered by an unseen beast. We are introduced to the
characters of this world through their reactions to the mounting stress of
confronting a grisly murder.
The Godfrey’s are unofficial royalty, residing in a white castle-like
mansion overlooking Hemlock Grove. With the wealth from its, now closed, steel
mill factory, the Godfrey’s fund a super-secretive biotech facility, The
Godfrey Institute. Effervescent and
mysterious, Olivia (Famke Janssen) is a strong matriarchal character hiding
many secrets. She adores her 17-year-old son, Roman (Bill Skarsgard); to the
point of being smothering and controlling. Roman resents this behavior and
tries desperately to rebel against it; although he is unaware, along with the
audience, as to what his true nature is.
The Romancek’s are transient gypsies new to town. Peter
(Landon Liboiron), also 17-years-old, is clearly a werewolf and fully aware of
his supernatural nature, as well as other supernaturals in this world. One of
the most amazing and talked about werewolf transformations happens in the
second episode. His mother, Lynda, is a
supporting character that gently guides and encourages Peter. The relationship
between this mother and son set is a stark contrast to their wealthy
counterparts, the Godfrey’s.
The most intriguing storyline in Hemlock Grove is of the Godfrey Institute and the Frankenstein’s
monster inspired character, Shelley Godfrey; her name being an obvious nod to
Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Shelley is abnormally large with a deformed
face that glows blue when touched. And although she is the most compassionate
and intelligent of all the characters, she is hindered by muteness, forcing her
to watch the world unfold around her. There is also an unknown quality about
her that makes her existence very important to the work being done at The Godfrey
Institute.
Rounding out the cast is Dougray Scott as Roman’s Uncle
Norman, Penelope Mitchell as his cousin Letha and Freya Tingley as shy wannabe
novelist Christina, who seems to always get in the middle of things.
The complexity and depth to the story and its characters quickly
sucks you in. And unlike many other werewolf/vampire cable programming, the
dilemma of these characters is not that they are supernatural, but that they
are supernatural beings reacting to life around them.
Kate Horvat
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