Monsterland

I will add more to this review but if the caliber of the rest of the episodes is the same as the first.. well horror fans of all shapes and sizes.. we might be in for a big treat. Many 'horror' fans, by that i mean gore mongers. Will perhaps not appreciate the first episode considering its a psychological horror... I for one got a pure feeling of unease watching the first ep, this often comes from great story writing, editing and direction can do this with dialogue coming secondary.

Episode 2, Also another psychological horror. That ambiguous ending will have you questioning everything that came before it in a different light. Everything seemed more innocent until.... well you'll have to see. Really what carried this episode is the acting of the lead. I've seen him in other things and he plays certain characters very well.

Edit, Just done with episode 5... My score has thus far not merited being downgraded from a 9 especially after this episode... Many people in the world are affected or have a loved one affected with mental illness. This one hit very deep for me as I struggle with mental illness and will for many other people like myself who have felt that level of despair where you thought there was only one solution... fortunately i keep myself in line in that regard more for the sake of others than myself. Others are not so fortunate to have that level of control....

A ton of these reviews lament the script writing, however, few actually seem to realize it is adaptation of a short story anthology, North American Lake Monsters y by Nathan Ballingrud. I have not read the anthology which seems to be much more favorably reviewed. The show was good just poorly marketed. The previews and and retitling definitely do not fit the show. It also seems the source material may have alluded to more actual monsters where the stories selected here were mostly metaphorical.

If you're looking for jump scares and a gore fest, this is not it. If you like psychological horrors/thrillers with a sprinkle of supernatural, well then you're in the right place. This show is more about the monsters inside of us as humans and less about the supernatural, mostly using them as a metaphor (at least that's what I took from some episodes). As an anthology series, there will inevitably be some episodes that fall flat. Like black mirror, it's a lot of commentary on current situations/issues, and like black mirror, some episodes are just better than others. I personally really enjoyed the series and watched it all in one day. My least favorite episodes were 4 and 8, with the best being 5,6, and 7.

Firstly, I have only seen the first episode so far. I am always on the lookout for shows that are on the sinister side. I expected this show to be about typical monsters, and I really do not enjoy that kind of entertainment. I do enjoy a deep, meaningful psychological thriller which this seems to be. I recommend it, but not if you are looking for typical halloween horror.

Monsterland advertises itself as blurring the lines between black and white. While traditional horror always punished the obvious sinner, what Monsterland does well, is make their protagonist more human. The characters range from distraught teenagers, to a billionaire, to middle class families. Even if you can't find your exact socioeconomic status in this eight-part series, you can be sure you'll relate to one of their stories.

In some episodes, the monsters are debated, they may be hallucinations or normal facts that everyone accepts. In other episodes it's obvious that humanity is the monster, a recurring theme throughout all genres. What Monsterland does well though, is that it makes you wonder what is real and what isn't. What is a representation of something the author and producers wanted to portray, or what is bonafide supernatural entities.

What I loved about Monsterland is that it portrays the true horror. While there is no shortage of blood and gore, there are no jump scares. This series will not keep you up at night; however, it will make you think about humanity. There are 7 billion people, each living their own lives with their own darkness. Monsterland offers brief illuminations into that darkness that threatens us all, without relying on gore, jump scares, or monsters. It's an honest look at how anybody, of any race, any financial status, any orientation, can have a difficult time with life.

Each show is a slowburn. There are very few moments that I would consider my "favorites". In each episode, you must understand the characters and their blights before understanding the monster, whether it is real or imaginary. Because of this, some episodes fall flat, some are intriguing, and the only genuine episode is the series finale. Monsterland takes you on a journey that will not leave you sleeping with the lights on, but will make you think that the characters in each episode are not so different between you and I.