Penny Dreadful: Season 1 (Blu-ray Review)
Starring: Josh Hartnett and Eva Green
Rated: UR/Region A/1:85/1080p/Number of Discs 3
Where to get it: Paramount
Some of literature’s most terrifying characters, including Dr. Frankenstein, Dorian Gray, and iconic figures from the novel Dracula are lurking in the darkest corners of Victorian London. Penny Dreadful is a frightening psychological thriller that weaves together these classic horror origin stories into a new adult drama.
Penny Dreadful feels a little bit old school in a lot of ways. Here we have a well written show that is set in a cool period with a cool concept and a really great cast that helps to make the show what it ends up being. We have a few characters here that might sound rather familiar and the show manages to weave a plot between them without ever feeling like its craming and without making you feel like you want to toss your TV our the window. That is never easy to do and a lot of shows get that part wrong. Penny Dreadful manages to get the small things right and when you get a lot of small things right it spills over to make things as a whole very good. The show will toss curves at you as soon as the first two episodes and will keep you guessing until the end of the series. There are many lost souls in this show character wise and you will want to make it to the end to see what becomes of them.
This is a very creative, dark, and moody horror tale taking place in 1891. It is very true to the source and seems mature, which is a thing some seem to not be able to appreciate, but I do appreciate it. Now don’t get me wrong here, I could see where people might not be too thrilled about a horror tale taking place during this time period, but I find it to be really well done and that is coming from a guy who don’t usually enjoy stuff set in the 1800s. If you give this show a shot I think it will easily win you over the same way it won me over. Also, for all you HD nuts out there, rest easy knowing that the transfer is another win for the series with a great look that only adds to the overall vibe of the show. Great details and great thrills in this show and release all around!
- Ray Donovan: Season One, Episodes 1 & 2
- What is a Penny Dreadful?
- Literary Roots
- Coming Together
- The Artisans Pt. 1
- The Artisans Pt. 2
- The Grand Guignol
- Prostitution and Sex in Victorian Times
- British Exploration & The Search for the Nile
- The Science of Medicine
