‘THEM: The Scare’ (Them Season 2) Prime Video Series Review - Watch it for Luke James

The key to a good horror show or film, among other things, lies in the presence of the vengeful spirit. How terrifying is the ghost? Is the entity merely used for cheap jump scares, or does it have other creepy motives? THEM: The Scare, in this respect, works quite successfully. The bad guy - a red-haired specter - is the main strength of this series. It should be noted, however, that this villain is more effective as a human than as a spirit.

The reason for this can be found in Luke James's performance. As an aspiring actor named Edmund Gaines, James exudes innocence as well as a perilous void. When he is happy, he smiles and moves like a shy, awkward kid, which is why this character looks like a child when he jumps on an inflatable bouncer excitedly. But when Edmund becomes sad, and his heart breaks into a million pieces (it happens very often), he makes you feel uneasy. In such cases, Edmund comes across as a volatile entity on the verge of exploding dangerously and destroying everyone in his vicinity.

Whenever the camera focuses on an unhappy Edmund, he seems to pop out of his surroundings. His sense of exclusion feels palpable. Yet, James never converts Edmund into a cute puppy. He is needy, all right, though you also sense that there is something wrong with him, and it's too late to fix him. For instance, Edmund acts like a killer to impress a girl with his acting skills without realizing how his behavior might affect the woman standing in front of him. She immediately runs away from his house while he, oblivious to her feelings, remains happy with his skills. Here is a man who has never had any friends or too many friendly conversations with people around him. There were times when I was reminded of Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver. Both Edmund and Travis make you feel apprehensive.

Look at Edmund continuously for more than two minutes and you will feel as if you are watching a brain that's slowly deteriorating. By showing Edmund as a dedicated actor, THEM: The Scare throws a comment on "method actors" who go to extreme lengths to get into the skin of their characters. Edmund, however, has had his heart broken so many times that warm sentiments have left his body. This is why he not only effortlessly slips into the role of a villain but also becomes one gradually. THEM: The Scare subverts our expectations by showing us an angry Edmund about to pounce on his victim and then letting that victim walk free (take that sex worker, for instance). This generates an atmosphere of suspense until he actually attacks someone - until the beast is finally and fully unleashed into the open.

THEM: The Scare nails that sensation of "walking in a nightmare," thanks to Luke James. His Edmund is the best thing about this Prime Video series. It's sad, then, that this character is converted into an underwhelming figure to satisfy the jump-scary demands of the genre. Edmund, the ghost, is never as chilling as Edmund, the human. The former is used for your usual horror clichés ("Boo!" moments, blinking lights, etc.), while the latter grabs you with his creepy vibes. And as soon as Edmund becomes a phantom and the secrets are out in the open (you easily predict some of them), the show loses momentum. This means THEM: The Scare works till Episode 4 or 5. After that, it starts to test your patience through mostly unexceptional routines.

Nonetheless, you keep watching the series due to Deborah Ayorinde's presence. She isn't able to carry THEM: The Scare on her shoulders when James disappears for long stretches, but she at least remains watchable. The other actors are restricted within a limited range, so they don't come across as memorable. Without an actor like James, THEM: The Scare could have felt dull from the beginning. A character tells Edmund he will be good as a villain. She turns out to be absolutely right.

Final Score- [6/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times