Hysteria! Is a thriller/horror set in a small American town in the 80s, that centres around the mysterious death of a teenager, and the spreading panic of its rumoured connection to a high-school metal band and their cult following of satanists.
It's a nod to 80s slashers as well as coming-of-age high school drama, so I went into it expecting to be bombarded by the long list of clichés embedded in both genres. Instead, I thought the characters were so well cast, and the dialogue well written, that I was able to buy into the narrative without feeling like everything was overtly cheesy. Any annoyances I had in that regard stem from the fact that the teenagers (and their decision-making) can be frustrating as hell. But then again, they're teenagers.
The power of religious and social prejudices over a community form a large driving force behind the narrative, but overall, Hysteria! Is a really well-balanced cocktail of murder-mystery and paranormal horror. The show unravels its secrets gradually, so that we get an understanding of what's happening well before the protagonists (rather than during a tell-all final episode twist), but not before we're left to guess who will take what drastic measures to benefit their own agendas.
For those fans of all things 80s, and its heavy music scenes in particular, you're also bound to get a jolt of excitement from the soundtrack, which comprises a host of artists like Iron Maiden, Kiss, Mötley Crüe and Alice Cooper.
Hysteria! Showcases the power of suggestion during the satanic panic of the 80s, and exposes us to the warring forces that strive to either bring a community together, or tear it apart. In any case, it's nice to see the high school jocks, freaks and nerds all coming together, even if that is only briefly, while hailing satan around a candle-lit pentagram.
