Episode two “(I Remember) When She Loved Me” of Outcast premiered on Cinemax Friday night. Here is the Mr. Robot of 2016; from top-notch writing by Jeff Vlaming, a tight cast, and a bone-chilling score, it’s the best show you’re not watching.
In the pilot episode, “A Darkness Surrounds Him,” we’re given a complete story, working to invest the viewer in the series. In the second episode, Vlaming and director Howie Deutch give you a keen look into Kyle Barnes’ life, and how fractured a person he is, plus Deutch sets the table for the series arch with the introduction of Brent Spiner (Data from Star Trek: Next Generation).
The first aspect of the show that jumps out at you is the setting of Rome, West Virginia, everyday America where the church gossip is unrestrained and cloudy days foreshadow the darkness within. No matter who you are, an abandoned trailer in the middle of the woods surrounded by dead animals gets under your skin on several levels. Also, I have no clue how Kyle continues to sleep in the house where his mom was possessed by a demon. That house now that it is rundown is the meaning of ominous.
After two episode you’re left with solid questions to enjoy the ride of the next eight episodes, and because Outcast is on Cinemax, the viewer should not be subjected to the exorcism-of-the-week plotline. Additionally, with the introduction of Spiner’s character, there is a battle brewing in the city of Rome. The plot twist at the end of the episode leaves you with an uneasy feeling of who’s on which side.
Patrick Fugit does an admirable job in the lead role of Kyle Barnes; the man is broken, but he’s been given a glimpse of higher purpose or at the very the least finding the answers to make sense of his life. Philip Glenister’s Reverend Anderson gives a powerful sermon to set up the second episode. Reg E. Cathey with part of the cast you know at some point in time he will get a chance to shine as Chief Giles. David Denman is the perfect foil to Fugit’s broken hero. The cast of the show is sturdy; it will be interesting to watch the crew grow into the characters.
Outcast feels like what The Leftovers should have been. The score and the cinematography are on par with True Detective (at least that first season). What separates Outcast from the rest is creator Robert Kirkman’s addition of horror to the mystery. That is why this is the best show you’re not watching. Yet.
Hart’s War, while a wonderfully unique and charming legal thriller, wasn’t big on complex or memorable characters save for Bruce Willis and Colin Farrell. Colin’s performance as the titular hero is notable mostly for his weakness. In fact Lt. Thomas Hart is meant to be a physically and mentally weak man compared to the more hardened soldiers around him without being a doormat. He can’t be a doormat because his ideals are stronger than theirs. That’s the movie and that’s hard. It’s simply a difficult person to try and get in touch with and Farrell did it wonderfully.
Miami Vice, the TV Show, is extremely iconic as are both the Sonny and Rico characters. Colin is not known for ‘bad boy’ action roles but his reimagining of Sonny Crockett was perfect for the film. He was equal parts classic cowboy police detective, (Dirty Harry/Martin Riggs) and believably complex human being. Not trying to make himself a carbon copy or an updated version of Don Johnson really helped make the movie and the character feel distinct and real, whether or not the actual film was any good and it was sadly mediocre.
Colin’s role as troubled writer Marty will always be a very great use of Colin Farell for its complete irony. Farrell is mostly remembered for playing rather crazed characters, but he is not one of the psychopaths in a film called Seven Psychopaths. In fact he’s played as the straight man to Sam Rockwell and Christopher Walken, both also known for playing crazy. Marty’s character makes the film with his combination ‘holier than thou writer’ and ‘overly done with this straight man’ while actually going through incredibly powerful character development.
No one liked Daredevil, even the directors cut with the complete story was mediocre. The only good thing about the movie was Colin’s portrayl of an Irish version of infamous comic book villain Bullseye. Bullseye was the quintessential psycho assassin. He was over the top: he had jerky movement, killed people for minor infractions or for minor gain and simply emoted lunacy excellently. He was the perfect antagonist for Affleck’s slightly more crazed then brooding take on Matt Murdock. Colin will forever be the king of crazy because of this role.
In Bruges is arguably Colin’s best movie as well as his more memorable role. Ray, an emotionally and mentally unstable hit man is a perfect role for Colin Farrell coming after Daredevil; except Ray is the good guy. He shot the wrong person and now he’s beating himself up for it. The film is Ray’s journey of working through his grief and deciding to move on, but along the way he’s a total wreck of a person with no idea of where his life is going or what to do. The role is acted perfectly and leaves a permanent impression of Colin’s ability as an actor.
Some hardcore horror fans might contend that this film relies too much on conventional scares. Why would Wan go for anything other than traditional scares? There is a certain expectation that has been set from the previous Conjuring and subsequent Annabelle films that the scares are realistic and not “over the top.” Had Wan decided to go way over the top with the gore or other horror elements then it would have detracted ultimately from the film.
