We report for you … From, the series for Lost nostalgics
With a supernatural story that blends mystery and questioning, From makes no bones about the fact that it’s along the same lines as Lost – with the same merits and the same pitfalls.
what is from In a seemingly unremarkable small town in the middle of the woods, Sheriff Boyd (Harold Perrineau) patrols nightly to report curfew. Because this small town is far from peaceful: all the residents arrived there by accident, it is impossible to leave them, and most importantly: at nightfall, evil creatures of human appearance massacre all those unlucky enough to cross their path. To escape from them, one must hide at home and never let them in. That’s where the Matthews family comes in. Jim (Eion Bailey), his wife and their two children still don’t know what to expect… Between fear and desperation, everyone is trying to survive and some are wondering: where exactly are they? How and why are they trapped here? What monsters are they attacking? And above all: is there a way out?
Available on Paramount+ with the release of Season 2 on the platform. Out of is typically a high-concept series Lost. And she has arguments for the coveted title ” art nouveau Lost “. First, the presence of Harold Perrineau (Michael on the Island); then, a mysterious and unknown place that cannot be left or attacked by “others”; also, an executive producing duo (Jack Bender and Jeff Pinkner). And before Above all, the two shows share the trait that seduced and then angered viewers of JJ Abrams’ show: lots of questions and no answers.
Imagine: you are driving quietly on a deserted road in the middle of the forest. Suddenly a tree blocks the passage and you take a detour to a small town; After crossing it you will find the same tree and then the same city. You’re trapped and, even worse, you learn that nightmarish creatures appear at night and rip and disembowel anyone who crosses their path, unless they’re locked inside with a talisman on the wall. Welcome to Fromville.
This is where Jim, Tabitha and their children Julie and Ethan arrive. You will discover the city, its mysteries, its esoteric rules and its inhabitants and will be our guides in the first few episodes. Alongside her, we’ll get to know the gallery of characters that populate the series. Starting with Boyd, the sheriff, who tries to keep order and protect the residents in order to control the population’s fear and claustrophobia. But also a whole gallery of characters, some living in their own house and others living together in a big house in community. We meet in particular Victor (Scott McCord), a strange fellow and, above all, the oldest resident, the sheriff’s son, or his deputy Kenny.
Apart Lost, Out of also draws from Stephen King’s side. The village is bleak and desolate, the wooded surroundings dense and uninhabited, horribly mutilated corpses abound, and the monsters look like cruel spirits as they pounce on their victims to devour them. The series plays with an oppressive atmosphere and does not skimp on gore or moments of shockespecially with haunting credits, a grueling opening scene, and the first few episodes that dive straight into the action.
Out of is therefore the perfect series for anyone who wants to scare themselves. And also for those who like to brainstorm and develop all kinds of theories. The twists are there, the potential clues carefully scattered, allowing the viewer to imagine and sense something. Or to have the impression of being carried around. Because there are many questions, many clues, many clues, many hypotheses… and absolutely no answers. Who or what are the monsters, where do they come from, why do some voices hear, why do amulets work, where is this city, how and why did the protagonists get there, who is Victor, what roles do the drawings and symbols play? play a draw? The mysteries are numerous and the series obviously doesn’t want to solve them. At least for now. Using the same irritating tactics as Lost where each new answer only raises more questions, whose answers raise even more questions. The writers are obviously anxious to let the story run over several seasons.
That happens in the second season. The creatures are always terrifying, and the sense of danger is heightened by the multiple cliffhanger from the previous season… but we’re no further ahead. We don’t know more about the nocturnal monsters, the origins of the city, etc. The problem per se isn’t so much that the series is jealously guarding its secrets (frustration is part of it, after all), but that there’s no progress in the narrative. If we accept Out of however, has enough merit to draw fans of the genre to Fromville. After all, the series is like the city it depicts: as soon as you enter it, you go around in circles for hours, hoping to find a way out.
From is a challenging concept that plays with horror and the supernatural, driven by a strong premise, bright ideas and an excellent Harold Perrineau. A fascinating story that we have absolutely no idea where to take us, shocking scenes and weaker sequences, a harrowing atmosphere, iconic characters and other less interesting ones… In short, a series that doesn’t live up to everything promising but so far successful enough to have Fromville added to the list of towns like Twin Peaks, Wayward Pines and Castle Rock. We actually want to spend 45 minutes a week there, but we don’t want to live there.
Out of
2 seasons – 20 episodes of approx. 45′.
On Paramount+.
