16 reviews
Lets all blame Satan...
The good old Eighties, when some Christian conservatives attempted to stop kids from listening to wild heavy music supposedly associated with Satan and the likes. This series has playful fun with this basis, via a suburban town of Happy Hollow, where the residents and their teenagers get caught up in some strange going-ons, led by a high school heavy metal band and its wild antics - with the demonic Satan along for the ride.
Bruce Campbell as the chief of police is a bonus and an absolute hoot, as is Julie Bowen, a concerned mother who is flung around by an entity, and even gets to have visions of the evil creature with the horns. Emjay Anthony Is perfect as the son, Dylan, going to great lengths to get that girl, even if it means starting your own satanic cult!
There is plenty going on in this series; school bullying, doing anything to get attention, peer pressure, craving acceptance, and all things associated with teenage angst. Most of all it's about the hysteria parents create to deal with the situation.
Bruce Campbell as the chief of police is a bonus and an absolute hoot, as is Julie Bowen, a concerned mother who is flung around by an entity, and even gets to have visions of the evil creature with the horns. Emjay Anthony Is perfect as the son, Dylan, going to great lengths to get that girl, even if it means starting your own satanic cult!
There is plenty going on in this series; school bullying, doing anything to get attention, peer pressure, craving acceptance, and all things associated with teenage angst. Most of all it's about the hysteria parents create to deal with the situation.
Better then I thought it would be
Cable was down so I found this by accident. Peacock is not my usual streamer but I got a good price for it. Anyway I didn't expect much but I like a good horror comedy and this was better then expected. I like that it was set in the 80s because it gave it a "leave it to beaver" feel to it. The parents are those you would expect from an 80s TV show.
When a teenage football star vanishes and is later found in what looks like a ritual death two stories begin to run parallel. Three outcasts who have a hard rock band that no one attends decide to use it as way to get publicity for their band. They convince everyone that they are satanist which works for a hot minute but then make them prime suspects for the murder.
The second story is the adults all getting into a frothy religious hysteria (get it) over their children. The two main people are Linda and Tracey. Tracey makes a good villain in this as she is perfectly willing to use Linda's fear of not understanding her son and his choices as way to get the town in to hysteria.
The show isn't perfect but it does say interesting things about how parents fear not understanding their children when they don't follow the plan for them. But it also shows that there is real danger masked in fear and paranoia. This is a fun show and it if you are looking for something to watch it is worth a look.
When a teenage football star vanishes and is later found in what looks like a ritual death two stories begin to run parallel. Three outcasts who have a hard rock band that no one attends decide to use it as way to get publicity for their band. They convince everyone that they are satanist which works for a hot minute but then make them prime suspects for the murder.
The second story is the adults all getting into a frothy religious hysteria (get it) over their children. The two main people are Linda and Tracey. Tracey makes a good villain in this as she is perfectly willing to use Linda's fear of not understanding her son and his choices as way to get the town in to hysteria.
The show isn't perfect but it does say interesting things about how parents fear not understanding their children when they don't follow the plan for them. But it also shows that there is real danger masked in fear and paranoia. This is a fun show and it if you are looking for something to watch it is worth a look.
- Nightmarelogic
- Oct 18, 2024
- Permalink
Great show
- NoLifeWatchingEverything
- Oct 18, 2024
- Permalink
Very Well done
This show captured 1989, the satanic panic, and the style of all those old supernatural horror films to the 'T'. I suspect that when the network saw it, they had them edit out a few minor shots that might give away what was a possible ending, so they could do a second season. At least I hope so. But having lived through that period, I can say they did it very well.
While not a comedy, it did keep me laughing at all the nods to other films of that genre, which in way reminded me of Stranger Things, but they limited jump scares, nudity blood, and ultra violence, and still made a good show. My hat is off to the producers and directors and writers.
PS the cast is all good, and this is Brice Campbell's 2nd best role after Bubba Ho Tep.
While not a comedy, it did keep me laughing at all the nods to other films of that genre, which in way reminded me of Stranger Things, but they limited jump scares, nudity blood, and ultra violence, and still made a good show. My hat is off to the producers and directors and writers.
PS the cast is all good, and this is Brice Campbell's 2nd best role after Bubba Ho Tep.
This is not a good show
- Green_Dust
- Oct 19, 2024
- Permalink
An Absolute Blast!!!
Start to finish this is pure, addicting awesomeness! It was so fun. I had a hard time going to work and Waiting to be finished!
Bruce Campbell plays the sheriff and that alone is awesome, But it takes place in the 80s during the Satanic panic and has just about everything you could want out of a show! A bit of Horror, comedy and a lot of heart!
I'm definitely going to revisit it from start to finish because I got through the whole thing in less than a day!
If you wanna have a fun time during the Halloween season, I highly suggest this show! The acting is also pretty damn good! Have fun with it and I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did!
Bruce Campbell plays the sheriff and that alone is awesome, But it takes place in the 80s during the Satanic panic and has just about everything you could want out of a show! A bit of Horror, comedy and a lot of heart!
I'm definitely going to revisit it from start to finish because I got through the whole thing in less than a day!
If you wanna have a fun time during the Halloween season, I highly suggest this show! The acting is also pretty damn good! Have fun with it and I hope that you enjoyed it as much as I did!
- xshanex-54161
- Oct 18, 2024
- Permalink
Exactly the show you're expecting, but well done.
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.
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.
- jord_runci
- Oct 19, 2024
- Permalink
It's alright but not my 80's
Alright show for the most part, can ffw through slow parts(anything with the kids) which makes it tolerable. My big big issue with these throwback style shows like this and Stranger Things is they never get the 80's right especially the period in time they say it is, not my 80's. Such a weird mish mash of different eras during the decade. Clothes and style from say '82 then next scene stuff we didn't have or do until '89. Also would it hurt to use crt filter or a lower non progressive scan resolution to really give the 80's feel? Videogames do it so well now, Late Night With the Devil a perfect example of time period that feels like time period. Haircuts almost always look like wigs or a piece. Never were we so diverse either. Especially in the Midwest in the clique-centric 80's. This makes it tough to watch as someone the age of the adults in this show who was there, from Flock Of Seagulls to New Kids across AC/DC to Kid N' Play as a card carrying member, not my 80's, not really even a representative of the era. If you get past that and call it fantasy, mediocre.
A charming Stranger Things wannabe
It's 1989. Dylan, Jordy and Spud are the outsiders who nobody notices and have a heavy metal band that nobody cares about. When the star football player dies in an apparent Satanic cult ritual, Dylan is inspired by cheerleader Judith to exploit the situation to get the band some notoriety.
It's impossible not to compare this show to Stranger Things, since there are similar characters, and it treads the same ground as that show's fourth season subplot. But speaking as someone who was ACTUALLY falsely branded a Satanist (yes, Satanic Panic was very much a thing), I feel like Hysteria did a much better job with that story. The show has a supernatural slant, but it's more grounded in reality than Stranger Things ever was. And as someone else mentioned, the fashions and music run the gamut of the '80s (even stretching back to the '70s), but that's also an issue with the other show -- it's difficult to replicate an exact time, so I can overlook it.
A cast can make or break a show, and they clearly had a great casting director. As Dylan and Judith, Emjay Anthony and Jessica Treska each exude 80s charisma. As Jordy, Chiara Aurelia feels like an authentic goth girl. Bruce Campbell perfectly cast as the town's sheriff, who provides most of the funniest moments. Julie Bowen is great as Dylan's mother, who has the acting chops to sell it when her story descends into cliché. And I have to mention Nolan North as Dylan's father, a character that's wonderfully written and performed (it's weirdly refreshing to see a dad who's not a clueless buffoon). Sort of typically, they underwrote the black Spud character, but Kezii Curtis still made him loveable. However, the second black lead, a bully named Cliff, was imbued with tremendous depth by Elijah Richardson.
There are a couple things that keep Hysteria from being as great as the first season of Stranger Things, but it's definitely better than some of the subsequent seasons. The story's wrapped up nicely with a few teases for another round.
It's impossible not to compare this show to Stranger Things, since there are similar characters, and it treads the same ground as that show's fourth season subplot. But speaking as someone who was ACTUALLY falsely branded a Satanist (yes, Satanic Panic was very much a thing), I feel like Hysteria did a much better job with that story. The show has a supernatural slant, but it's more grounded in reality than Stranger Things ever was. And as someone else mentioned, the fashions and music run the gamut of the '80s (even stretching back to the '70s), but that's also an issue with the other show -- it's difficult to replicate an exact time, so I can overlook it.
A cast can make or break a show, and they clearly had a great casting director. As Dylan and Judith, Emjay Anthony and Jessica Treska each exude 80s charisma. As Jordy, Chiara Aurelia feels like an authentic goth girl. Bruce Campbell perfectly cast as the town's sheriff, who provides most of the funniest moments. Julie Bowen is great as Dylan's mother, who has the acting chops to sell it when her story descends into cliché. And I have to mention Nolan North as Dylan's father, a character that's wonderfully written and performed (it's weirdly refreshing to see a dad who's not a clueless buffoon). Sort of typically, they underwrote the black Spud character, but Kezii Curtis still made him loveable. However, the second black lead, a bully named Cliff, was imbued with tremendous depth by Elijah Richardson.
There are a couple things that keep Hysteria from being as great as the first season of Stranger Things, but it's definitely better than some of the subsequent seasons. The story's wrapped up nicely with a few teases for another round.
- aardvarktheape
- Oct 18, 2024
- Permalink
Bruce Campbell couldn't save this one
Mostly boring, mostly teen drama that cannot be saved by a somewhat talented cast due to the dull plot and dialogue. Does not feel very 80's at all, especially when injecting modern slogans such as "I just want to be seen. Truly seen!" sometimes multiple times per episode.
Additionally, this show is built off of the tired Hollywood stereotype of all Christians being either incredibly stupid or simply pure evil. I'm not religious, so it doesn't offend me, but wow is it surely stale at this point.
With Bruce Campbell, Julie Bowen, Anna Camp and Garret Dillahunt among the cast, I did have a bit of hope this could be at least be barely watchable and it did manage to meet that low bar. The younger portion of the cast aren't the worst I've ever seen, but induced yawns on the whole. If you don't have a lot of time for TV then skip this one, 100%.
Additionally, this show is built off of the tired Hollywood stereotype of all Christians being either incredibly stupid or simply pure evil. I'm not religious, so it doesn't offend me, but wow is it surely stale at this point.
With Bruce Campbell, Julie Bowen, Anna Camp and Garret Dillahunt among the cast, I did have a bit of hope this could be at least be barely watchable and it did manage to meet that low bar. The younger portion of the cast aren't the worst I've ever seen, but induced yawns on the whole. If you don't have a lot of time for TV then skip this one, 100%.
- survivingalive
- Oct 21, 2024
- Permalink
Fun thriller series
- Cookiejar55
- Oct 22, 2024
- Permalink
This happened in of us in the 80s!
Sure this show could have been better. But it's one of the only shows in along time that felt really good to watch. It could be far better than stranger things if they continue this. I see so many plot twists and ways for the universe to expand. I grew up in the south in the 80s and plenty of parents and teachers were this dumb and cruel back then. You would have no idea why all the kids stopped talking to you or the teachers are being mean and lying about you and sending you to the principals office. Even as s little child it could be something as simple as cartoon tshirt that was innocent they dream uo some insane crap about. Lots of terrible things happened back then it was all do to the normies causing all the evil in real time. All because to obtuse to understand metaphors music or Jokes. It lead to lots of satanic panic and people commenting real crimes and deleting one another and blaming or setting it up to look like some satanist did it. Lots of crimes just pinned on the outsider or closed completely due to this dumb way of thinking. Stranger things sucks and has sense the second season. Plz keep this show alive. You nailed the complexity's and how crazy this world truly is and exposed the normies for they are. Also Bruce Campbell is amazing in everything! Just take your time with the second season and make it better than the first. I'm 40 and my daughter is 19 and we both loved this show and can see it growing into one of the best in a sea of dumbed down sterile no fun shows. This was a breath of fresh air and gave a sense of nostalgia. Go a little crazier and harder next time. Add a little goofy and evil tricks in the vain of ash vs evil dead! Don't worry about the normie views. This one should be for the outsider to understand and regular folks that have a sense of humor. It would be a hit and become a cult classic. Get a few horror writers and comedy writers in the room with you. Go harder and edge it to keep the mostly all ages viewers. But plz don't peacock give this one a chance! The rest of us are bored to tears and have no content the past few years and everything that was good is ending or got cancelled long ago. Progress it to the 90s! Kids grew up a little and got cooler and more mature taste the represent the underground music and bands that started to explode by then.
- mowen-26903
- Oct 21, 2024
- Permalink
Great show!
If you love Bruce Campbell this is one of the best shows he has een in. Julie Bowen was also great in it. Millennials will hate this as they didnt grow up with the music and the satanic panic. I found this awesome and very nostalgic. Jocks trying to be relevant and cool all because they are aint getting noticed as much anymore coz now the goth kids are cool. Now thats great. The music was great the actress if she was singing for real did an amazing job. We need more shows like this, Bruce needs that animation for evil dead to get off the ground because that would be awesome. Has anyone heard anything about a possible season 2 as i can see there is a possibility with the way it ended. One thing also i will add is the length of the episodes was perfect too!
Soo lame!
This show is like talking to the tweeker asking for change at the circle k on a Friday night. Just rambling and just not getting to the point.
The 1st four episodes are just filler and really mean nothing.
Then episode 5 is the 1st real episode in starting a story but still grasping at straws.
The actors are just whiney and 2 Dimensional so much so that they pretty much abandoned them and moved on to the secondary cast.
Boring Boring boring...
I'm here for Bruce Campbell and well... just consider that this isn't the one.
And the music started great and then turns in an annoying game of how can we make pop metal even lamer.
Just pass on this one.
The 1st four episodes are just filler and really mean nothing.
Then episode 5 is the 1st real episode in starting a story but still grasping at straws.
The actors are just whiney and 2 Dimensional so much so that they pretty much abandoned them and moved on to the secondary cast.
Boring Boring boring...
I'm here for Bruce Campbell and well... just consider that this isn't the one.
And the music started great and then turns in an annoying game of how can we make pop metal even lamer.
Just pass on this one.
- chadiewacker-85398
- Oct 21, 2024
- Permalink
A Chaotic Blend of 80s Paranoia and Supernatural Thrills
Hysteria, the new series set in 1980s Texas, takes a big swing at blending supernatural horror with social commentary. It's a heady mix of Satanic Panic, teenage rebellion, and small-town paranoia-an ambitious premise, but does it hit the mark? Like the hysteria it tries to capture, the show often feels chaotic and unfocused, but not without moments of intrigue and a few well-placed shocks.
From the first episode, Hysteria lays out its main conceit: a high school rock band becomes the center of a panic when a young girl goes missing, and the town's conservative roots quickly latch onto rumors of devil worship and occult practices. It's a reflection of a very real fear that gripped much of America in the 80s, with news stories and talk shows fanning the flames of paranoia. That sense of reality grounds the show, giving it a kind of eerie plausibility, even when the plot veers into supernatural territory.
Where Hysteria succeeds is in capturing the atmosphere of the era. The costumes, the set design, the music-they all do an excellent job of placing you squarely in the mid-80s, a time when the line between truth and urban legend was often blurred. The neon lights and heavy metal soundtrack evoke a world of rebellion, where teens are looking for escape, while adults are scrambling to maintain control. The show is best when it leans into that tension, using the Satanic Panic as a backdrop for exploring the real fears of a generation growing up under Reagan-era conservatism.
But the show falters when it tries to do too much. The narrative often spins out in different directions, introducing subplots and characters that don't feel fully developed. The supernatural elements, while spooky at times, feel tacked on rather than integral to the story. The series would've benefitted from focusing more on the psychological and sociopolitical dynamics of the panic itself, rather than relying on the occasional cheap scare.
That said, the cast delivers solid performances, especially the young leads. They carry the emotional weight of the story, their fear and confusion reflecting the larger chaos swirling around them. While Hysteria doesn't fully realize its potential, it still offers a compelling-if uneven-look at one of America's strangest cultural moments. There's enough here to keep you watching, even if you're left wanting more coherence by the end.
From the first episode, Hysteria lays out its main conceit: a high school rock band becomes the center of a panic when a young girl goes missing, and the town's conservative roots quickly latch onto rumors of devil worship and occult practices. It's a reflection of a very real fear that gripped much of America in the 80s, with news stories and talk shows fanning the flames of paranoia. That sense of reality grounds the show, giving it a kind of eerie plausibility, even when the plot veers into supernatural territory.
Where Hysteria succeeds is in capturing the atmosphere of the era. The costumes, the set design, the music-they all do an excellent job of placing you squarely in the mid-80s, a time when the line between truth and urban legend was often blurred. The neon lights and heavy metal soundtrack evoke a world of rebellion, where teens are looking for escape, while adults are scrambling to maintain control. The show is best when it leans into that tension, using the Satanic Panic as a backdrop for exploring the real fears of a generation growing up under Reagan-era conservatism.
But the show falters when it tries to do too much. The narrative often spins out in different directions, introducing subplots and characters that don't feel fully developed. The supernatural elements, while spooky at times, feel tacked on rather than integral to the story. The series would've benefitted from focusing more on the psychological and sociopolitical dynamics of the panic itself, rather than relying on the occasional cheap scare.
That said, the cast delivers solid performances, especially the young leads. They carry the emotional weight of the story, their fear and confusion reflecting the larger chaos swirling around them. While Hysteria doesn't fully realize its potential, it still offers a compelling-if uneven-look at one of America's strangest cultural moments. There's enough here to keep you watching, even if you're left wanting more coherence by the end.
Not a comedy
I went in to this completely blind, and my first impressions was that it was going to be a dark comedy and satire from the 1980's satanic panic. It turned out to be a teen drama best suited for the likes of MTV. Once again, it's another 80s throwback where most of the cast look like they're out of 2024 cosplaying 80s characters and getting it all wrong. The story lines are all over the place but they do come together for the most part. I binged watched this in one day and it very well much could have been a 2 hr movie. The not so subtle ending really ruined what could have been an amazing wrap up. I can't really recommend the show, but it wasn't bad. It's definitely a one and done with no rewatchability. They really missed the mark on just how funny the satanic panic was in the 80s when we all knew it was bs.