Hysteria!: Season One: A Captivating Supernatural Outing with an Intriguing Narrative Tapestry (Blu-ray)

The Show:

Beloved horror icon Bruce Campbell may be most well-known for his work in such films as "The Evil Dead" trilogy, "My Name is Bruce," and "Bubba Ho-Tep," but many fans also know him for his extensive television work in projects like "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.," "Burn Notice," and, of course, the all-too-short three-season "Evil Dead" spinoff "Ash vs. Evil Dead." Ironically, his latest television venture, "Hysteria!," also has him battling demonic forces, which have seemingly gripped a small town in panic. Will his latest outing bring him right back to his glory days as fan-favorite Ash Williams, or will it merely be a horror vehicle that ends up going nowhere?

Taking place in 1989 in the small town of Happy Hollow, Michigan, the show begins with the abduction of local high school quarterback Ryan Hudson (Brandon Butler) and his girlfriend Faith Whitehead (Nikki Hahn), which seems to have involved some kind of occult activity given the pentagram left at the scene. Faith is eventually able to make her way back home to her mother, Tracy (Anna Camp), but doesn't fully remember what happened.

Meanwhile, Dylan (Emjay Anthony), Spud (Kezii Curtis), and Jordy (Chiara Aurelia), three teenage outcasts in a struggling heavy metal band, decide to take advantage of the situation and rebrand their band as being satanic. This gets them a lot of attention, including that of Dylan's crush, Judith (Jessica Treska), but sadly, Ryan's body is discovered shortly after with what appears to be satanic materials nearby. This makes them the target of a witch hunt by Tracy, the local religious do-gooder, and an investigation by Police Chief Ben Dandridge (Bruce Campbell). However, we soon find out that there's much more going on as a rash of supernatural activity seems to be affecting many residents, including Dylan's mother, Linda (Julie Bowen). Will anyone be able to get to the bottom of the mystery that's gripped Happy Hollow?

On the outset, "Hysteria!" may seem like another attempt to elicit cheap thrills & scares from a supernatural premise, but surprisingly, what we actually get is nothing of the sort. There are certainly horror elements that give a few thrills along the way, but this is not the kind of show that's really out to scare its audience. Instead, its main goal is to weave a rather intriguing tapestry of inter-connecting stories about the people of this small town, all of which revolve around the mystery of Ryan Hudson's murder and the subsequent demonic activity being experienced by several of the locals.

In that regard, the show is mostly a success, switching between the various townspeople and giving us plenty of engaging plot elements, including Dylan, his friends, and their band, which leads to the formation of a satanic cult to help boost their popularity, as well as Dylan's relationship with Judith, who is disturbingly into the whole idea of the cult. On top of that, we follow the Police Chief's investigation, Linda trying to deal with a demonic presence, and just a few episodes in, we learn much more about what happened on the night of Faith & Ryan's abduction, leading to certain revelations that show another character in a different light.

Taken all together, it makes for a fun, entertaining web of narratives that even throws in plenty of silliness along the way so that it doesn't get lost in its more serious supernatural material, which it does naturally lean quite heavily into by the end. Speaking of the end, it's a bit of a shame that the show was already canceled after this first season, and even though it's unclear where a second season would've gone if it had happened, at least things are wrapped up pretty well for the most part (though there is the smallest of teases at the very end, not unlike what many horror films do to let us know that it might not be completely over). Overall, "Hysteria!" pretty much gives fans of the genre everything they could want, including another charming performance from the legendary Bruce Campbell, so if a supernatural mystery with thrills & a bit of humor is your idea of a good time, then you'll more than likely enjoy what this has to offer.

Video/Audio:

"Hysteria!: Season One" comes to Blu-ray in a 2.39:1, 1080p High Definition transfer of excellent quality. Being a show that deals with dark, supernatural elements, naturally it features many dark scenes, but the picture is always perfectly sharp & clear throughout the entire eight episodes. Likewise, the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio is fantastic, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and music in outstanding quality. Overall, Universal has done a great job in both departments for the show's physical release.

Special Features:

None.

Conclusion:

"Hysteria!: Season One" takes full advantage of its supernatural elements as it weaves a fascinating tapestry of inter-connecting stories about the citizens of Happy Hollow, all surrounding its intriguing central murder mystery and the subsequent demonic activity that grips the small town. With its deft blend of thrills & humor, fans of the genre will likely find exactly what they're after, ultimately making this short-lived show one worth checking out.

Score: 3.5/5

Now available on Blu-ray.

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