What Is the Story About?
The series is a collection of the Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro’s personally curated stories. Del Toro introduces each episode. It features eight horror stories that fall in the Gothic and Grand Guignol genres helmed by names like Guillermo Navarro, Vincenzo Natali, David Prior, Ana Lily Amirpour, Keith Thomas, Catherine Hardwicke, Panos Cosmatos and Jennifer Kent.
Performances?
Almost every episode features some really good performances from its lead actors. The most exceptional ones are David Hewlett‘s in Graveyard Rats, F Murray Abraham‘s in The Autopsy, Kate Micucci in The Outside, Crispin Glover in Pickman’s Model and Essie Davis in The Murmuring.
Analysis
Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is definitely a cabinet full of curiosity inducing stories. Largely bending towards mystery and gothic horror, much like his filmography Cabinet of Curiosities offer horror of different dimensions ranging from grief, struggle of fitting in and greed to obsession.
EP 1. Lot 36
Written by Guillermo Del Toro and directed by Guillermo Navarro, Lot 36 sets up the series on a good note. There is a fine marriage of mystery and cult in the episode that establishes a creepy finale act. One might not dig the characters or the writing but oh there are spooky scenes.
EP 2. Graveyard Rats
The shortest episode and probably one of the most entertaining ones. Written and directed by Vincenzo Natali, Graveyard Rats is a manifestation of one of those wild grandma tales we’ve grown up to. Aided by a spectacular David Hewlett performance, the short is all about weird looking monsters, rats and greed. A must watch.
EP 3. The Autopsy
The Autopsy is arguably the best anthology short in the entire series. One of the finest pieces of body horror that takes a different look at illness/viruses from The Empty Man fame David Prior. Written by David S Goyer, The Autopsy is grotesque and equal parts visually beautiful looking. F Murray Abraham’s performance is also great. A must watch and that goes without saying.
EP 4. The Outside
Ana Lily Amirpour who has made one of the most revered contemporary horror classics : A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night directs ‘The Outside’. Haley Z Boston penned the screenplay. The Outside, much like The Autopsy is a body horror about the struggle of fitting in. Watch out for a horrific and equally shocking climax act. Kate Micucci’s performance deserves a thumbs up too. One of the best episodes unarguably.
EP 5. Pickman’s Model
Written by Lee Patterson and directed by Keith Thomas, Pickman’s Model mirrors one of those Oscar Wilde period classics where art trumps reality. Art possesses the viewer and the painter in this largely meddling and overlong episode. It’s neither visually nor psychologically scary. Cispin Glover gives a fine performance nevertheless.
EP 6. Dreams in The Witch House
Dreams in The Witch House is a Gothic horror outing from Catherine Hardwicke and written by Mita Watkins. Starring Rupert Grint in a role that reminds us of his Harry Potter outings, the episode largely disappoints owing to pacing issues. The climax however gives the creeps you’ve been longing for almost an hour.
EP 7. The Viewing
Panos Costmatos writes and directs this episode that tries to marry monster horror, body horror and psychedelic horror.. all at once. The pacing is bound to bug you quite a bit, but the finale act is rewarding. The short is not horrifying, but oddly lovecraftian.The Viewing is definitely strange and equal parts original. Watch it if you’re up for something hypnotic.
EP 8. The Murmuring
The Murmuring re-moulds grief as one of the most draining forms of horror. Jennifer Kent, who gave us The Nightingale (2018) writes and directs The Murmuring. Unarguably the most well written and heartbreaking episode of the series, The Murmuring doesn’t resort to odd-looking monsters or jump-scare horror or odd noises to induce fear, but simply breaks down human emotions in the most horrifying ways possible. If you’re a fan of Mike Flanagan’s universe of stories, you’d dig this. A must must watch. Exceptional performance from Essie Davis.
Other Artists?
The entire casting of the show is top notch. None of the actors appear an inch out of the world the creators have created. Andrew Lincoln in The Murmuring, Eric Andre and Sofia Boutella in The Viewing are some of the other show stealers.
Music and Other Departments?
Music is one of the biggest strengths of the series. Composers for the individual episodes include Tim Davies, Jeff Danna, Christopher Young, Daniele Luppi, Michael Yezerski, Anne Chmelewsky, Daniel Lopatin, and Jed Kurzel. Each track captures the essence of the series from mystical to lovecraftian to and everything terrifying in between. The cinematography by Colin Hoult, Jeremy Benning, Michael Ragan and Anastas Michos is another strong suit. The production design and CGI work is also impeccable giving the right amount of gothic, gore and trance.
Highlights?
• Performances
• Core Stories
• Score & CGI work
Drawbacks?
• Few episodes are overlong
• Too much of Lovecraftian horror
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes
Will You Recommend It?
Yes
Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities Series Review by Binged Bureau
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