Synopsis: NOS4A2 introduces Vic McQueen, a gifted young woman who discovers she has a supernatural ability to find lost things. This ability puts her on a collision course with the evil and immortal Charlie Manx. Manx is a supernatural villain who feeds off the souls of children then deposits what remains of them into Christmasland – a twisted place of Manx’s imagination where every day is Christmas Day and unhappiness is against the law. Vic strives to defeat Manx and rescue his victims – without losing her mind or falling victim to him herself.
Review: Like father, like son. If you are a fan of Stephen King, you likely already know that his son is author Joe Hill. Best known for his comic book series Locke and Key, Hill has become an a popular novelist just like his dad. His book HORNS was adapted into the film of the same name starring Daniel Radcliffe and he has many of his other works in stages of development. The first to make it to screens since HORNS is this take on Hill's 2013 book of the same name. With AMC looking for their next Walking Dead-like hit, NOS4A2 may be their best shot. With a sprawling mythology that blends elements of the supernatural and great three-dimensional characters, this series is sure to please fans of the novel as well as those looking for some fun summertime viewing.
Set primarily in Massachusetts, NOS4A2 follows 18-year-old Vic McQueen (Ashleigh Cummings) who is on the verge of graduating high school when she discovers she is what is known as a "special creative". Learning that there is an entire group of people with similar powers puts her on a collision course with the terrifying Charlie Manx (Zachary Quinto). The series is set up to lead showdown between Vic and Charlie much in the way the novels of Stephen King have seen a hero and villain come to a head. NOS4A2 echoes the confrontations between good and evil from novels like It, The Stand, and The Dark Tower. In fact, like the works of the senior King, NOS4A2 interconnects the other writings of Joe Hill with some references to HORNS, the comic series Locke and Key and even his father's THE DARK TOWER.
What works well with NOS4A2 is the cast. Newcomer Ashleigh Cummings is a formidable lead as Vic McQueen. The Australian actress, soon to be seen in THE GOLDFINCH, is the working class New Englander cliche we often see in the works of Stephen King. But Vic is a layered character with dreams and aspirations that clash with her newfound gift. Cummings makes Vic very relatable and someone with whom audiences can easily identify. We also get YouTuber Jahkara Smith make her acting debut as Maggie Leigh, Vic's mentor and fellow Special Creative. These two actresses really handle most of the heavy lifting while veterans like Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Punisher, Girls) and Olafur Darri Olafsson (THE MEG, FANTASTIC BEASTS: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD) play well as very different yet equally broken characters.
Amongst some truly solid perfomances, the standout is Zachary Quinto. Best known for playing Spock in the J.J. Abrams' reboot of STAR TREK, Quinto has been a solid performer on the small screen with his serial killer turn on NBC's Heroes as Sylar as well as several roles on Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story anthology. Here, Quinto plays a much different character and one that is sure to give even the most jaded viewer some nightmares. As Charlie Manx, Quinto had to endure multiple levels of prosthetics to age his character from his thirties to over eighty. Each age range slightly changes Quinto's performance and it is impressive to watch. It also proves just how talented Zachary Quinto is, sliding between oily evil and charming within a single scene. After watching six episodes of the 10-episode season, I am convinced that Quinto would have been an ideal Man in Black in THE DARK TOWER film.
Working against NOS4A2 is the complex mythology and ideas of Special Creatives, Inscapes, and Knives. They explain it within the logic of the series narrative, but casual viewers may be left scratching their heads as to how everything works. This is not a show that you can turn on in the background and play as it does require a level of focus to keep the story straight. Watching the six episodes available to review in a binge, the story definitely has the feel of seeing a novel realized on screen. There is a lot going on and fans of the novel will see some differences in regards to the timeline and ages of the characters compared to the book. It works well enough that Joe Hill's fans will be pleased.
NOS4A2 is definitely scary and presents some horrific visuals that call to mind moments from Tobe Hooper's SALEM'S LOT. The Stephen King comparisons many are making are apt as this series does feel even closer to his style of storytelling than even the Hulu series Castle Rock. I enjoyed this series but am troubled by the fact that it is not being billed as an event series. With so many shows overstaying their welcome these days, I am hoping the four episodes wrap up this story rather than leaving a second season to complete the tale. Regardless, this is a series worth your time and assuredly will be better than most summer viewing. If anything, you are going to have trouble thinking about candy canes and Christmas carols without worrying that a Rolls Royce Wraith may be coming to get you.
NOS4A2 premieres June 2nd on AMC.
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