This review was made possible by the first season of John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams being provided to Popped by Peacock. John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams premieres October 13 on Peacock.
From the mind of horror icon, John Carpenter comes a brand new series that blends true crime with Hollywood horror. John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams is a new anthology series that looks at the everyday horror around us and lurks in the shadows of even the quietest places. Being his first project in 7 years, Carpenter even returned to the director chair for an episode as well as being one of the show’s producers and composers; but does Suburban Screams live up to the horror legend’s reputation?
Real Terror
Each episode of Suburban Screams takes a look at a different real horror story told by the people who experienced it and brought it to life with cinematic reenactments. What sets Suburban Screams apart from other reenactment shows of this nature is the level of filmmaking and effort put into them. The cinematography in the reenactments is excellent, and most of the performances are really good as well. Some are better than others, with some of the typical cheesiness one expects from these horror reenactments.
Still, overall, I was very impressed with the actors’ performances throughout the series. Throughout the show, I often wished that the whole show was just the reenactment portion.
Another thing that sets this series apart from its peers is the level at which they are willing to go with the violence in recreating these stories. Typically, in shows of this nature, the often crude reenactments cut away when the crime or scary thing actually happens. Suburban Screams leans into it, making the reenactments feel like a real horror movie instead of just a recreation of a particular moment.
True Story?
Unfortunately, what makes this show unique is also one of its flaws. The structure of true crime mixed with Hollywood horror movies works much better in some episodes than others—particularly the supernatural stories vs. the ones about real crimes. Now, I will preface this by saying that I am, by nature, a sceptic. If you are more in tune with the belief in the supernatural, these episodes may affect you differently. The stories which feature hauntings and supernatural forces, while making for good scary stories fail in the true crime aspect.
The interviews and real evidence they showed for these episodes were either nonexistent or not enough to convince me that something truly supernatural did occur. I took the liberty to research some of these ghost stories for myself, and while I could find some of the events that were referenced, nowhere could I find anything related to it being a supernatural event. Even some things in the show that would no doubt have some sort of police or newspaper record, nothing could be found. So, the definition of “True Story” is questionable in some of these episodes.
However, these episodes are where the reenactments shine. The use of tension and score really pulls you into the story, and while I may not believe it happened, it definitely made me look over my shoulder while watching it at night. On the flip side of this criticism, this works very well in the episodes that deal with real crimes, such as The Bunny Man episode. The blend of seeing the interviews with the high-quality reenactments made the stories feel a lot more personal and scary.
Score
In horror, music is one of the most essential tools to build tension and the feeling of uneasiness and terror in an audience. John Carpenter is a master at this, and it is on full display in this series. The score to each episode is perfect and builds and releases tension masterfully to make you feel the fear of these people deep in your bones
The intro to the series is very eerie and sets the tone for each episode immediately. As the episode progresses, so does its theme as it builds to a shocking reveal or scare. The score is definitely the show’s highlight, and Carpenter’s influence pushes it from your average ghost story into something that feels unique.
For more horror television, read our Goosebumps: The Vanishing review.
‘John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams’ Review – Final Thoughts
Suburban Screams is a good and scary time that achieves in blending together the best parts of a true crime special and a well-produced horror series. While the series has its ups and downs, overall, its score and the production of the series make it worth your time and something to put on your watch list this Halloween. Carpenter’s influence and production can be felt throughout the entire series and contribute to the best parts of the six-episode series, making it a valiant return for the horror legend, worthy of holding his name in the title.
‘John Carpenter’s Suburban Screams’ is now streaming on Peacock in the US. Check out a trailer below:
