How did the series "Chapelwaite" based on Stephen King turn out

A story of human cruelty

As a child, Charles Boone (Adrian Brody) tried to kill a distraught father. Because of this, the hero moved away from his relatives and traveled for many years. But after the death of his wife, Charles moves with his two daughters and son to Chapelwaite - the estate of his deceased cousin Stephen. He hires governess Rebecca Morgan (Emily Hampshire) and tries to set up a business in the nearby town of Pricher's Corner.

It turns out that the entire county dislikes the Boone family, considering them crazy and dangerous. Charles unsuccessfully tries to prove to those around him that he wants to live peacefully and develop the city. But soon violent crimes begin to occur in the vicinity, and all the blame is laid on the Boons. Meanwhile, the hero begins to have strange visions.

Let's make a reservation right away that Chapelwaite should be classified as a sloburn - stories in which the plot develops very slowly, gradually forcing a gloomy atmosphere. After a dynamic introduction filled with exaggerated cruelty, the action will slow down for a long time in order to acquaint the viewer with both the main characters and the new place in which they settled. In this case, this approach can be perceived in two ways.

On the one hand, it allows you to better reveal the most successful part of the series. A thoughtful viewer will understand that the authors talk not so much about monsters, murders and visions, but about family problems and relationships between people. Moreover, the theme is served in the spirit of Mike Flanagan's "Ghosts of the Hill House", or even Ari Astaire's "Reincarnation".

"Chapelwaite" talks about the value of family ties: it was not for nothing that Charles's children were added to the film adaptation, who were not in the original. Their communication with their father was shown as warm and touching as possible. Particularly prominent is the physically and emotionally traumatized youngest daughter of Loa, played by Sirena Gulamgaus.

At the same time, "Chapelwaite" reveals the favorite theme of the same Astaire: your family is your cell, there is no escape from heredity. That is why the growing madness of the protagonist is so strong. Charles tries to convince everyone that he is as far as possible from the strangeness of his relatives, but gradually he himself goes their way.

On the other hand, unhurried storytelling sometimes drags on the plot too much. In "Chapelway" as many as 10 hour episodes, and sometimes the authors have to be distracted to do something to keep the timing. The Boons' relations with the residents of the neighboring city seem to complement the action quite well: typical inhabitants are afraid of the new and blame all their fears on one enemy, whom they themselves have invented. But the personal stories of the inhabitants of Pricher's Corner are far from always interesting and look like simple fillers - side lines that should clog the time.

Successful suspense and simple horror

"The Settlement of Jerusalem" by Stephen King, with its atmosphere and even individual scenes, clearly referred to the classics of Gothic horror. First of all, the story "The Rats in the Walls" by Howard Phillips Lovecraft and the novel "The Lair of the White Worm" by Bram Stoker. It is worth giving credit to the authors of the film adaptation: they tried to maintain a mystical and disturbing atmosphere, and did not make the entire series a set of screamers. But too reverent attitude to the classics almost deprives the story of surprises.

At first, the old estate itself, where the Boons arrived, is frightening. The way Brody's character constantly listens to the sounds from the walls makes the viewer breathless. Much of the action takes place under the light of oil lamps. And in night scenes, fog often catches up, making the picture cold. These are not very difficult techniques, but they fit well into the plot and work great.

There are also parts in the series that are typical for simple horror films. For example, the hallucinations of the hero associated with worms. And here these creatures not only cause a feeling of disgust, but serve as a reflection of the mental state of the character. Although in the scene where the hero takes the razor, it is better for especially impressionable ones to close their eyes in advance: not everyone can stand it.

But by the middle of the season, the plot changes direction. A terrible maniac appears, and then supernatural forces, which speeds up the action: the fourth episode ends very dynamically. Alas, at the same time, successful suspense is exchanged for classic horror, which is more entertaining than frightening. After all, human emotions in this story worked better than monsters.

Great actors and easy shooting

Many viewers will be attracted to watching the series by Adrian Brody in the lead role. And they will get the most out of this project. Perhaps the Oscar winner does not give his best performance, but every time he appears on the screen, his hero attracts all the attention. Brody shows the transformation of the character from episode to episode. At first he is defeated due to the loss, but is still energetic and strives forward, and soon he already doubts his adequacy. His annoyed whisper in some scenes scares you to goosebumps.

Fortunately, it is interesting to watch not only the main character. Emily Hampshire, whom everyone has already fallen in love with for "Sheets Creek", does an excellent job of playing the role of Rebecca Morgan. The motivation of her character at first seems too superficial, but the authors gradually reveal the image. For the most part, the girl is responsible for the voice of reason and becomes the link between the Boone family and the townspeople.

But with the minor characters and the general development of "Chapelwaite" copes mediocre. The rest of the faces often look stereotyped and are needed to simply complement the story. They have no memorable traits. Although someone may be hooked on small human tragedies that every inhabitant of the city hides from the rest.

The costumes and surroundings are better elaborated than in cheap historical projects like The Chronicles of Frankenstein. But still, in the crowd scenes on the street, theatricality is too felt. And the clothes of many heroes seem to be only removed from mannequins. Although it is easy to get used to such convention, given the mysticism and madness of the plot.

But the approach to camera work is confusing. Very good moments, whipping up anxiety, sometimes coexist with ragged editing. In the usual calm dialogue of the governesses with the children, the camera angles change literally every 2-3 seconds, as if the authors are afraid that the audience will quickly get bored. But if this does happen, it would be more likely due to another prolonged scene, and not too long a frame.

"Chapelwaite" is an atmospheric mystical series in a historical setting, which is based on the play of the main actors and life themes. It immerses the heroes in the hectic life and makes you think about the family legacy. However, the protracted narrative and overly predictable classic plots can partly spoil the impression. Therefore, it is worthwhile to tune in in advance for a leisurely emotional story.