Helstrom

Helstrom, with compelling mythology and morally complicated characters, is just the type of spooky adventure I was craving this fall.

The central duo could stand to gain a little bit of comic book flair, especially if we’re supposed to accept that the various nightmares they deal with on a daily basis are as scary as Daimon and Ana insist they are. The show really is better off having exorcised any obvious comic book connections, but it struggles to find anything especially unique to fill that void.

It’s possible the protracted table-setting and myriad subplots will eventually pay off when “Helstrom” ties the threads together. However, even if that’s the case, the actual experience of watching those threads in action remains programmatic and dull.

Critics received five of 10 Helstrom episodes, and the fourth and fifth episodes actually contain a couple wrinkles I liked. ... Otherwise, Helstrom is nearly indistinguishable from other entries in the genre. ... Nothing here is good enough to make an investment in. Check out CBS' actually clever, actually scary Evil instead.

It’s more creepy than scary and the first episode does nothing to make us want to watch and find more of those scares. ... Helstrom was slow-moving and dull, and is more interested in brooding dialogue than actual scares.

What follows is part demon-exorcising procedural, part family drama, and neither are properly executed. ... Furthermore, awkward editing is also a persistent issue throughout all 10 episodes. Dramatic, action-oriented, and ostensibly scary moments are frequently cut short and the interruptions kill any semblance of the show’s pacing rather than creating tension or suspense.

“Helstrom,” the series, is void of everything that defines “Helstrom,” the comic. This is an ongoing problem with comic book shows and movies: The endless search for respectability and gravity in stories about superpowered people fighting evil in spandex. Here, the search ends with pouting dourness and tedium.

The worst thing about Helstrom isn’t that it’s poorly made — it’s that it feels utterly empty. It doesn’t scare, doesn’t intrigue, and never makes you care about its characters. The premise sounded promising: the children of a serial killer, tied to demonic forces and haunted pasts. But it all fades into lifeless dialogue, characters with zero charisma, and a pace that never truly takes ****’s not just a writing issue — the casting is also a problem. None of the actors seem convinced by their roles, and that lack of conviction drags the whole show down. Relationships don’t click, emotions don’t land, and even the possessions feel routine. Visually, though, there are some strong moments. The effects are far better than in some so-called “cult” ****’s frustrating, because the idea had real potential to blend horror with psychological depth. But it doesn’t go deep, and it doesn’t scare. It ends up stuck in the middle — and honestly, it’s hard to keep watching. A failed attempt, albeit nicely wrapped.

This show is one of the worst Marvel outings. Pretty much every episode can be summed up with constant brooding, psuedo-intellectual sarcastic banter and not nearly enough fun or action.

Legit one of the worst comic-based shows I've ever watched. The plot is boring as hell. The writing ****. Everything looks grey and uninteresting. Except for Robert Wisdom (Henry), the acting is pretty awful across the board, especially when it comes to the female lead, Ana, who looks constipated in every single scene. The two leads in general is the show's biggest problem. These are some of the most unlikable protagonists I've ever seen. All they ever do is whine and complain about everything. Flawed heroes can be done interestingly, but this is so not the case here. I don't even feel like writing a proper review. I'd rather do laundry than watch this show, and I hate doing laundry. Just don't watch it.