FROM series review is frighteningly entertaining

Much has been said here about the horror genre, series, and movies that have a common denominator at a time when we think we have seen everything, rethinking the same idea over and over again does not always work and in fact, it tires the viewer who is looking for entertainment.

Speaking of modest works does not mean that they have a similar quality in some cases this becomes a respite in so many blockbusters that are currently in the catalogs of the different platforms.

There are many ideas to develop in this genre and very few of them come to see the light and much more that are renewed for future installments either on the big screen or on the small screen, FROM tries to contribute something new to the genre to a great extent.

What is the series about?

A town somewhere in the United States suffers from a peculiar and terrifying phenomenon that traps all who enter its territory, while the involuntary residents struggle to maintain a sense of normality, desperately looking for a way out while trying to survive an unknown threat and its terrifying creatures that are constantly on the prowl when the night comes.

John Griffin’s creation bears its share of originality and is partly based on something we have already seen in 2 works by M. Night Shyamalan The Village (2004) and Wayward Pines (2015) or Lost by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof (2010) these productions have in common the idea of ​​a community isolated from the world that was stalked by terrifying creatures, the interesting thing about all this is how each one narrates these events and how the same idea and FROM has great potential to be that kind of show that terrifies in a simple and unpretentious way.

The opening sequence, as well as its credits, immediately establish what we can expect from all this, along with this the subplots begin, we see the presentation of the family Mathews Jim, Tabitha, and their children Julie and Ethan who are in a family trip in a motorhome when they find that the road is closed and they take a detour that takes them to this strange town with no exit, after understanding that something is happening they have an accident that forces them to stay in this place, many unapparent questions answers are what this story raises.

We are facing a series that handles an immediate horror with a macabre sensation that leaves us as we discover what is happening there, we know as well as we saw it in its first episode that here no restrictions are taken when considering what awaits each of them if they do not follow the rules and they will die in the worst possible way, as well as religious beliefs that are decidedly transforming into something ungodly that is far from giving them comfort and hope.

All those ominous situations tell us that nothing we are seeing is what it seems, pleasantly breaks the rule that the viewer thinks he knows what is going to happen in things that are too obvious, they need these people to have to board up the windows of houses, locking the doors after dark and entrusting themselves to a strange amulet prevents those creatures of the night from murdering them, we understand how inflexible the rules of survival are and the consequences of not carrying them out for those who break them and for those who put in danger to others.

Something that applies effectively and in a very twisted way is how the coexistence between them is, we know that there are 2 groups in the city, on the one hand, we have those who think they are hippies who live independently of the others in a big house in the outskirts of the town, the person in charge of them is Donna, a sensible and strong woman in her convictions that we see when Tabitha and Julie have to escape from the dangers of the night and find temporary refuge in that place, this woman tells them a story with a naturalness creepy to us, on the other hand, there is the group of those who chose to live in the city and abide by rules specifically designed to keep as many people safe for as long as possible

In both cases, the order in a society that cannot escape from that town is necessary, here the message and its social criticism are emphasized at every moment, that there must be rules so that coexistence is more bearable, although each one of them and as a commune In general, they fight their own battle to survive and one day return to their true homes. The leadership of both groups has been assumed by Sheriff Boyd Stevens, who captivates us in each scene and who we want to know more about, and how he got there trying to correct his mistakes. from the past and save lives including his distant and troubled son Ellis.

Taking the idea from The Walking Dead series created by Robert Kirkman in 2010 that monsters are not the only thing to fear, desperate people are often dangerous in their thinking and their actions, in this case under forced confinement where we see that each one has their fears rooted beyond the dangers of the forest, the setting, like the series we quoted, plays a very important role, the houses with their worn facades, the dirty interiors, the cars that are on the street in strange positions indicates that this town is even cursed, the restaurant where they meet has a sinister look and an even more disturbing background that reminds us of the classic Nick of Time episode of The Twilight Zone.

The executive producers of this series Jack Bender (Lost and Game of Thrones), Jeff Pinkner (Lost, Fringe) and John Griffin (The Twilight Zone) create and recreate an audiovisual show that is very powerful in itself where horror and mystery pose new questions to the viewers such as, if they are an isolated town where you can enter but not leave, how do they get their food and supplies? this question is yet to be answered, likewise, they create an atmosphere where suspense is present at all times without being exaggerated and they handle it more creatively and credibly than such a situation can exist.

In these first 3 episodes of 10 that make up the first season, we see how they are laying the foundations for something that, although it is not that big, if it has the level of impact that is needed, there is a plausible fear of otherness as a result of a philosophical, psychological, cognitive and social process through which a group defines itself by creating its environment and personality that creates its own identity and can easily differentiate itself from other groups, the revolt against the rules, spirituality and the order that resides in a youthful rebellion, we see the selfishness in each of its characters who see for themselves and force themselves to see for others for their survival and convenience that creates compelling relationships, the handled horror is unpleasant but very well placed and justified.

Writers John Griffin, Javier Grillo-Marxuach, and Vivian Lee do not skimp or fall into the excessive cliché of scaring for the sake of scaring and do not skimp on using very explicit gore in their scenes, along with their directors Jack Bender, Jennifer Liao, Jeff Renfroe, and Brad Turner unscrupulously shows all the creepy and twisted parts that in many cases we prefer to intuit than to see in this very graphic way, it gives us something new amid the already stale world of surviving monsters in unexpected ways, the camera movements are slow and it gives us the feeling that in that place time intentionally passes too slowly or too quickly depending on the needs of its narrative.

From brings together a cast of actors who embody complex and intricate characters that feel very real, Harold Perrineau, Eion Bailey, Catalina Sandino Moreno, David Alpay, Shaun Majumder, Avery Konrad, Hannah Cheramy, Ricky He, Simon Webster, Chlöe Van Landschoot, Pegah Ghafoori, and Elizabeth Saunders do a wonderful job living this peculiar situation.

The music composed by Chris Tilton (Fringe and Zoo) knows perfectly well what chords and notes to use so that this work is the perfect complement to the scenes, here we do not find thunderous sounds that help the bad scenes, on the contrary, each piece feels perfect and provides what is necessary so that as viewers we listen to something that impresses us.

In conclusion, this horror and science fiction series tries to rethink the canon of what is already established, a very worthy job that is worthwhile and that although it does not intend to take it to another level, it strives to make an impact with its original idea and its almost precise development, which fulfills its role of entertaining and interesting within the competitive genre it occupies.

FROM is currently broadcast on the Epix channel and will soon have its premiere in Latin America.