Hell Motel

One of the biggest highlights of the show's production are the kills themselves, which are suitably gruesome and also stylishly shot. .... With 10 actors serving as its main ensemble, Carpenter and Martin did a largely effective job putting together their Hell Motel cast.

A slasher saga that’s both an intriguing whodunit and a playful critique of the true-crime and entertainment industries’ hunger to exploit tragedy—a combination that begets humor, surprise, and at least a couple of instances of avert-the-eyes nastiness.

The formula of one death per episode does get belabored eventually, but Martin and Carpenter perk it up with flashbacks that dig into the twisted backgrounds of each motel guest.

Creative kills and an eclectic cast of characters can’t save the show from eventually feeling repetitive. Its pattern of “whodunit” arguments between survivors punctured by scenes of violence grows stale after four or five episodes – which is a pretty big problem, considering Hell Motel is eight episodes long.

In the end, “Hell Motel’s” self-serious tone, plodding pace, and lack of a central lead keep this horror thriller series from living up to its potential as a worthwhile genre destination.