Il diavolo in Ohio

Devil in Ohio was a show I watched on a whim. It sounded interesting and I do enjoy supernatural shows and true crime shows. It starts off strong enough with a fairly open story about a girl who escaped a cult and made it to a near by hospital. From there the first few episodes do a descent job at setting up what could be a really great and interesting pay off. The problem is, that pay off never comes. Instead the characters flatten out, become awful versions of their initial appearance and make flat out stupid choices that will leave you thinking the last half of this show was either not finished when shooting or written by some different from the first half. To top it off, the ending is underwhelming to a level that made me regret giving this show time in the first place.

I think the bad reviews are too harsh. I enjoyed this show and though it was unique. It did a decent job of weaving a wide range of complex psychosocial themes through the characters in a way that made each of them relatable and interesting at last once throughout the show. I particularly enjoyed not being able to get a handle on the true motives of one of the main characters, and changing my mind about her constantly.

True, it wasn't a masterpiece and there were predictable, tired tropes. Pacing was a bit off at times in terms of plot and character development, and there was some lazy writing around key events. Overall, I am still glad I watched it and would recommend it to people who are intrigued.

It definitely wasn't what I was expecting from the trailer- it's definitely like a lifetime movie that's been dragged out to 8 episodes with a high budget! Now, I'm not saying that's a bad thing in the slightest, but you have to know what you're letting yourself in for! It's cheesy, overly dramatic at times but it's definitely entertaining! It probably could have been cut down to 5 episodes and would have been slightly better! It reminds me of the Apple TV show servant with regards to the cult aspect! Had the same sort of ominous vibe- just wasn't as well done. I can't complain, kept me entertained all evening!

Give it a go- see what you think!!

1. Girl running and falls on nothing and can't get up..check

2. Problems solved if one person says one sentence but does not...check

3. Teenage girls acting like the MOST stereotypical selfish teen on every decisioncheck.

4. Bends down in bathroom mirror and stands up with someone behind them...check

5. Runs off alone to investigate things even after danger has been identified and it is VERY easy to get someone to go with you, but don't....check

6. Cops being the dumbest people ever...check

7. While people are dead having discussions about who dated who or bring up the stupidest things to talk about while life in danger...check

This series is advertised as a thriller/horror, but a majority of the run-time is based upon soap opera/drama without a true payoff in the end. Do not invest your time.

I think Netflix marketing messed this up; the book it's based on is a very melodramatic YA novel about a self-obsessed "misunderstood" 15-year-old girl. The material is a very silly idiot plot. Netflix, by centering Emily Deschanel, has framed this as an adult horror story, and it just isn't. So people are furious at all the teen drama. But, well, it is a teen drama.

The script aligns with that context; people exclusively make stupid decisions. In the book, Mom and Dad's dysfunction was understandable through the lens of their teen girl child. When the adults are the main characters, it doesn't work. Dad refuses to consider an offer on his debt-hole property because his wife suggests the person? Psychiatrist Mom can't possibly at all be qualified, the way she acts.

The book is mediocre teen drama, fairly faithfully adapted. The perspective is off, and the marketing matches.

Not bad viewing for a silly light horror mystery. As a teen series, it's pretty good! Very few scary or gory bits (like, one jump scare? A photograph or two of a cut on the cult girl's back?).