The Following: The Complete First Season

This absorbing Fox crime drama falls into the burgeoning genre of envelope-pushing TV shows laced with disturbing imagery and thematic elements, along with a touch of the supernatural. The slightly derivative premise centers on ex–FBI agent Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon), who's been traumatized by his capture of the mad-genius serial killer Joe Carroll (James Purefoy in Hannibal Lecter mode). Years later, Carroll escapes prison with the ultimate intent of gaining revenge, but what no one knows (the show's most preposterous yet brilliant conceit) is that Joe has garnered an unknown number of seemingly normal people in the outside world as his unquestioning disciples. Created by Kevin Williamson (Scream), the series employs well-edited flashbacks to flesh out the stories of Joe and Ryan, as well as those of the brainwashed cultists. With its ritual deaths and often gruesome crime-scene tableaux, The Following is not meant for the timid. Compiling all 15 nail-biting installments from the 2013 debut season, extras include audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and deleted scenes. Recommended. (T. Fry)