Combined with sharp, if fairly straightforward, direction from Jack Bender and solid writing from Cavell and his team, The Institute proves to be far more than an X-Men or Stranger Things clone, and instead a captivating ride from start to finish.

To get to the real action towards the end, though, requires sitting through a bit of a rough start. This is not an exceptional King adaptation, nor does it subvert the source material. In fact, the hourlong episodes dutifully stick to the book, with mild surprises for anyone familiar with the story. But the pulpy fun, with bouts of sentimentality, makes for an enjoyable summer horror viewing experience.

“The Institute” is an interesting enough watch. Like many of King’s novels, the ideas in the show are captivating and resonate with several issues present in our modern society. However, as a thriller, this story feels incomplete. Despite all the essential elements that make for an engaging ride, as the final credits roll, “The Institute” feels somewhat lacking.

Parker is always good to watch, and her Mrs. Sigsby is given some material to make her seem human — if not quite to humanize her — but nothing regarding the Institute and its complicated plans and methods really makes any sense, even in King’s made-world. Still, if you regard “The Institute” as a kind of YA novel about resistance and revolt, and a metaphor for the way young people have been sacrificed by the old to feed their agendas and wars, it has some legs.

“The Institute” can feel refreshing when its throwback style meshes with its timeless principles. Unfortunately, ordinary ideas aren’t enough in a show lacking anything extraordinary whatsoever.

The Institute never achieves either emotional potency or any sense of gee-whiz spectacle.

An 8-episode series with a few decent ideas but shoddy execution, dull filmmaking, and leaden pacing.