Next week you better tune into FEARnet, as they’ll launch their new “Twisted Comedy” block, airing on August 2 at 10pm/est. The block will consist of two series – Todd & The Book of Pure Evil and Psychoville – two wonderfully bewildered and weird pieces, which you wouldn’t want to miss.
Since FEARnet has been so kind to let me see the two premiere episodes, you can read my reviews of, Todd & The Book of Pure Evil and Psychoville, below to get a little head-start.
Todd & The Book of Pure Evil Ep. 01 Review
The story:
Todd is your standard looser, who fantasies of becoming a rock star and about Jenny Kolinsky, the hottest girl around. When he stumbles upon a book of awesome powers, making your deepest, darkest desires come true, Todd’s life is up for changes. However, a book like this shouldn’t be in the hands of a teenager . . .
The review:
The episode starts with Todd, daydreaming about Jenny, while he and his naive best friend Curtis, auditioning for the schools Battle of the Bands event, showcasing their mediocre skills, to the audience’s malicious joy.
As Todd, depressed over the audition, smash his guitar into the ground, three strange dudes start talking to him. They tell Todd that if he wants success, then he must seek out The Book of Pure Evil, which the legend says is stitched together with the foreskin of Judas.
Meanwhile, we learn that Jenny is also on the hunt for the book, as she believes it’s an important clue to what happened to her father.
Shortly afterwards, Todd stumbles over the book and it turns out that the book really does help him – to the cost of a measly behavior change. This leads up to a completely enthralling guitar duel between, Todd and his rival Stewart, which is one of the best scenes in this episode, hands down.
As Jenny understands that Todd has possession over the book, she sets out to get him to understand just how dangerous the book really is, before it’s too late.
Overall, I think that the series does a good job balancing between the comical and the supernatural elements, preventing it from coming off as cheesy. The story, in its swift and straightforward way, is cohering and amusing to follow. Also, the actors do a good job breathing life into the characters, making them feels interesting and three-dimensional.
I think that Todd & The Book of Pure Evil is fierce, striking and from the start, it’s pedal to the metal intensity, with no looking back. All you have to do is to lean back and enjoy the ride.
Todd & The Book of Pure Evil Trailer
To learn more about Todd & The Book of Pure Evil, you can head over to FEARnet.
Psychoville Ep. 01 Review
The story:
Psychoville is an award-winning British series from 2009, which revolves around five, twisted and seemingly unrelated characters, living in different parts of England. When they all receive a mysterious letter, containing just one phrase, “I know what you did,” their lives go into a downward spiral.
The review:
In the beginning of the episode we get to see a mysterious man, carefully writing five ornament letters, in the light of a black ominous candle. Then an introduction of the characters follows, as they receive their letters we get a glimpse of their twisted lives and own little peculiarities.
The characters are the ones that drive the story forward, holding us spellbound with their twisted life situations. We have Mr. Jelly, a bitter and worn-out clown who’s missing a hand; Joy, a midwife who thinks her practice doll is a real baby; Oscar, a blind eccentric millionaire with a big collection of stuffed animals and Robert, a dwarf actor with telekinesis powers, who’s in love with his Snow White co-actress.
The story is well written and fascinating, focusing on the characters and their wacky mannerisms, in an engrossing way, which make you want to know more about them, their lives and the dark secrets that are surely lurking below the surface.
The acting is flawless and of high standards, with both Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton each play many characters, in an impressive and convincing way, making it a pleasure to watch them.
Psychoville is a series that breaths’ quality, giving us an awe-inspiring story filled with gripping life stories, suspense and psychologic chills, covered with a veil of dark and morbid humor. Once you have seen the first episode, you wouldn’t want to leave Psychoville – ever!
Psychoville Trailer
To learn more about Psychoville, you can head over to FEARnet.
So, whatever you do, don’t forget to tune into FEARnet next Tuesday, for an unforgettable evening with two wonderfully wacky series, which are too good to miss.
Box of Horror 