Although not as popular or well-known as Netflix's signature offerings, this rural gothic series produced by cult filmmaker Eli Roth served as the Internet streaming service's entry into the growing genre of supernatural horror shows. The premise is simple: after a teenage girl is brutally murdered, the search for the serial killer stirs up family secrets and strange goings-on. Wealthy and estranged power couple Olivia and Norman Godfrey (Famke Janssen and Dougray Scott) run the town, which also harbors a shady gypsy clan who are the prime suspects—with matriarch Lynda Rumancek (Lili Taylor) playing it close to the vest. The storyline also features the usual high school cliques and collisions. The scions of the two main families, scruffy bad boy Peter Rumancek (Landon Liboiron) and arrogant rich kid Roman Godfrey (Bill Skarsgård), team up to find the murderer, whose unchecked reign of terror is more animalistic than human (as in: werewolf). Roth directs the pilot, but it takes a while for Hemlock Grove to find its atmosphere and pace, putting the emphasis on mood until the next shock or gory sequence jolts the story back into the gruesome realm. Compiling all 13 episodes from the 2013 first season, extras include audio commentary on the pilot, and behind-the-scenes featurettes. A strong optional purchase. (S. Axmaker)
Hemlock Grove: The Complete First Season
Shout! Factory, 3 discs, 720 min., TV-MA, DVD: $29.95, Blu-ray: $49.95 Volume 30, Issue 1
Hemlock Grove: The Complete First Season
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