Lovecraft Country (2020)

The critic calls it great television that prioritizes thrilling action-adventure while embedding a prescient message about racism; praises its heart and emotional family drama akin to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The review hails the audacious mash-up of pulp fiction, topicality, and gore, praising the cast (especially Jurnee Smollett) and calling it impossible to be ambivalent about.

The review highlights how the series blurs monsters from Lovecraftian fiction with real-world racism and human threats in segregated 1950s America. It singles out the strong grasp of pacing, tone, and thematic depth for praise.

The critic calls the series an absolute delight and a fun, wide-eyed homage to pulp fiction that expertly weaves Jim Crow-era racism with horror and fantasy elements.

The critic finds the series finale a fitting end to an exuberant, messy and ambitious show that defied expectations with its bold, bonkers blend of fantasy-horror and racial themes.

The critic describes the series as unlike anything else, brutal and righteously furious in confronting racism by equating white people with the monsters in its 1950s setting.

The critic notes the stylish and clever use of horror traditions to explore American racism but finds the characters underdeveloped and the series more focused on Lovecraftian shocks than deeper advancement.

The review finds promise in the premise and strong leads but faults the uneven execution, flat main plot, and some anachronistic choices that undermine the impact.

The critic praises it as an enthralling tale about legacy, fear, and power that doesn't tiptoe around the horrors of anti-Blackness. They single out the layered performances by the stellar cast for praise.

The critic describes the series as a chilling, heartfelt, dark, intriguing, and overwhelming piece of art that delivers intense, action-packed episodes with strong themes. They single out the multi-layered performances and exploration of generational curses and racism for praise.

The review calls the series spellbinding for blending human and otherworldly horrors in a bold, rule-breaking way that reclaims Lovecraftian themes from a Black perspective. It singles out the vivid, anachronistic soundscape and creepy creature effects for praise.

The critic finds the pulpy adaptation savvy, sensational, and gripping scene-by-scene, with an incredible ensemble and bold visuals that make genre tropes fresh. They single out the perspective on racism and the needledrops for praise, while noting some uneven overarching storytelling.

The critic finds the series visually stunning and energetic after a mind-blowing debut but criticizes its multi-stranded narrative for growing sillier and less focused. They single out the rich purple visual design for particular praise.