Article first published as TV Review: CASTLE ROCK on Seat42F.
CASTLE ROCK is a new mystery series on Hulu.
Set in the titular town, a small place in Maine that is literally not
on the map (after unincorporating), there are is much dark and
unexplained that happens here. The latest (first for the series) begins
with the suicide of Warden Dale Lacy of Shawshank Prison, an event few
believed likely to happen, and it only gets more twisted when it’s
discovered that Lancy has kept a malnourished man prisoner in the burnt
out section of the facility.
You
probably recognize the name Shawshank. After all, there was a very
popular film called The Shawshank Redemption set there, and that’s no
coincidence. CASTLE ROCK is a Stephen King program that is not based on a
specific King novel or short story. Instead, the oft-mentioned locale
becomes the setting of this new television series that is very much in
the spirit of King’s other works. And while there are numerous
references to his writing, no prior knowledge is needed to follow this
tale, as much as it can be followed at this time. (That being said,
there are Easter eggs galore for hardcore fans.)
A
lot about CASTLE ROCK is unknown at the start and likely to be for a
while. It’s chilling tonally, similar to the best of King’s adaptations.
The colors and lighting are dreary, and every character is hiding at
least one big secret. It’s highly serialized, of course, and much better
than recent King series like Under the Dome. Instead, I would liken it
more to an elongated version of the best of King TV movies or similar
genre works like American Horror Story. Though, the show does feel
distinctly King-like.
At first, the
cast seems sprawling, odd for a show with so few series leads. However,
it soon becomes clear that there are a small number of important people
that will drive the storu forward, while most play a supporting role,
helping the plot along as needed. It seems likely that some of the
recurring players will be in most or all of the season.
There
are a lot of familiar faces. Terry O’Quinn (Lost) plays Warden Lacy,
with Frances Conroy (American Horror Story) along as his wife. Bill
SkarsgĂ„rd (It) is “The Kid,” a.k.a. the man found in the cell that Lacy
kept hidden. Noel Fisher (Shameless) is the prison guard who finds The
Kid, while Ann Cusack (Mr. Mercedes) is the new warden who has to deal
with the discovery and potential fallout. Sissy Spacek (Carrie) is Ruth
Deaver, mother to the show’s real lead, Henry (Andre Holland, The
Knick). Scott Glenn (The Defenders) is the former sheriff who found
Henry when he was lost as a child and is currently shacking up with his
mother. Melanie Lynskey (Togetherness) is the creepy girl next door,
while Allison Tolman (Fargo) plays her sister. And Jane Levy (Suburbia)
is… well, I’m just not sure who she is, but her name is Jackie Torrance,
indicating she may be a descendent of Jack Torrance, famously played by
Jack Nicholson in The Shining. This isn’t a complete cast list, which
should tell you a lot of talented people were all too happy to sign on.
I’m
inclined to agree with them all that CASTLE ROCK is worth your time.
It’s complex, well-made, visually interesting, and an overall quality
production. It’s creepy to the point where I couldn’t watch it right
before going to sleep, a distinction I haven’t given a show in awhile.
It’s also filled with promise of payoff, as the creators, Sam Shaw
(Manhattan) and Dustin Thomason (The Evidence), clearly know their King
and having a blast playing in his world.
The first three episodes of CASTLE ROCK are available now on Hulu, with new installments every Wednesday.
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