FROM
From is a supernatural horror drama series created by John Griffin, with a premise that offers a unique perspective on living through difficult times. The show is set in a rundown town, where the inhabitants are trapped by supernatural forces, which they cannot comprehend nor escape. The series explores the theme of the horrors of living through a unique nightmare, which may be familiar to some viewers dealing with real-life struggles.
The first episode begins with a warning from the town’s sheriff, Boyd Stevens, that the residents must be inside before the sun sets, as the town is besieged by mysterious creatures who prey on them at night. These creatures look like real people, but they are not. A family on vacation enters the town and soon discovers they cannot leave, as the town has a strange hold on people who come to it.
From is not for the faint-hearted, as it features graphic violence and gore. The first episode sees a little girl and her mother being attacked by a monster coming through the girl’s bedroom window. The scene is particularly gruesome, with the family’s bodies ripped open and hollowed out of their organs, blood streaking the walls almost to the ceiling.
The show takes its time in revealing the mysteries that drive the story forward, including who or what the monsters are, where they came from, why these people, and whether they might find a way back out again. From appears to be playing a long game, with every new answer yielding more questions, ensuring that the story will continue for seasons to come.
However, From’s deliberate pacing can be a liability, and it may struggle to convince viewers to stick around for the entire season. After four episodes, From feels like it’s just getting started on laying out the world’s rules and the characters that inhabit it. While the show’s large cast provides many avenues to explore, it also spreads the show’s attention too thin, with even major characters like the Matthews family coming off as generic stereotypes.
From is a show that features a large and diverse cast of characters, each with their own unique struggles and personalities. The actors in the show do a commendable job in portraying these characters, giving them depth and complexity that keeps the audience engaged.
Harold Perrineau, who plays the town sheriff Boyd Stevens, is one of the standout performances in the show. He manages to convey the character’s sense of duty and responsibility towards his town, while also showing the weight of the horrors he has witnessed and the toll it has taken on him. Perrineau’s portrayal is a masterclass in understated acting, using subtle gestures and expressions to convey a wealth of emotion.
Catalina Sandino Moreno, who plays Tabitha Matthews, is also excellent in her role as a mother struggling to protect her family in a hostile environment. She brings a vulnerability and determination to the character, making her an empathetic figure that the audience can root for.
The show’s overall tone is one of dread and foreboding. The atmosphere is thick with tension and the sense that something terrible is always just around the corner. The supernatural creatures that haunt the town are a constant presence, lurking just outside the characters’ vision, ready to strike at any moment. The show is unapologetically violent and graphic, with scenes of gore and brutality that are not for the faint of heart.
Despite this, there are moments of hope and humanity scattered throughout the show. Characters form relationships and bonds with one another, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. There is a sense that, despite the horrors they face, the characters are still capable of finding joy and meaning in their lives.
Despite these shortcomings, From offers enough glimmers of promise that make it worth sticking around for. The standout performance is Harold Perrineau as Boyd Stevens, who conveys turmoil more vividly with his body language than most of From’s other characters do in paragraphs of dramatic dialogue. Elizabeth Saunders as Donna, the no-nonsense leader of the community’s other main faction, is also compelling.
Boyd’s town and Donna’s Colony House represent the two sides of a more profound conversation that From is reaching for. The theme explores the necessity and impossibility of learning to bear an unbearable situation, and the different ways people might go about doing so. The established citizens repeatedly tell newcomers they’ll need to adapt to the circumstances, or perish trying to cling to their old ways.
From is not a subtle show, but it does raise thought-provoking questions about the human condition, such as how people cope with trauma and adversity. The show’s slow-burn approach can be frustrating, but it also allows for more extended character development and exploration of the show’s themes.
From is a horror drama series that offers a unique perspective on living through difficult times. While the show’s deliberate pacing and uneven character development may deter some viewers, the performances by Harold Perrineau and Elizabeth Saunders make it worth sticking around. From is not for the faint-hearted, but it does raise thought-provoking questions about the human condition and how people cope with trauma and adversity. If you’re a fan of slow-burn horror dramas, From is definitely worth checking out.
