Before the annual wave of new pilots comes to network TV in the fall, this summer will feature the premieres of several noteworthy shows, one of which is Cinemax’s demonic horror series “Outcast.” Though set to air in early June, Cinemax released the pilot on YouTube over the past weekend to promote the show’s June 3 release.
Whatever the reason, the series is off to a promising start with its gruesome, chilling pilot, which remains faithful to its source material. Based on the comic book series of the same name by “The Walking Dead”creator Robert Kirkman and artist Paul Azaceta, and developed for television by Kirkman, “Outcast”provides a more hard-edged horror for audiences weary of the soap operas that have overtaken the genre in recent years.
Set in a small town in West Virginia, the show centers around protagonist Kyle Barnes (Patrick Fugit), a recluse who’s been surrounded by demonic possessions his entire life. When his childhood friend, who he refers to as his sister, Megan (Wrenn Schmidt) manages to get him outside of his house, he learns through the town gossip that a young boy has apparently become possessed also.
Following several failed exorcism attempts by the town’s preacher the Rev. Anderson (Philip Glenister), Kyle reluctantly intervenes. Desperate to find answers to what exactly has been haunting him and his loved ones for so long, and knowing that the reverend is the only one who believes him, the two join forces to combat the evil which plagues their town.
If “The Walking Dead” is Kirkman’s love letter to the iconic George A. Romero zombie films, then “Outcast”is his tribute to “The Exorcist.” Beyond that however, by applying a serialized structure to this story, he is able to really invest in these characters. And whereas “The Walking Dead” has suffered multiple times from showrunner changes and excessive melodrama, “Outcast”was developed and is being run by Kirkman, and appears to be going for the grittier tone viewers were anticipating.
In the pilot, the most graphic scenes take place with the demon-possessed child. As Kyle and Anderson try desperately to free him, we see the boy aggressively attack them, while his body twists and contorts in a zombie-like fashion. While it’s somewhat comical at times, the filmmakers do a solid job of making viewers feel creeped out, particularly with the bleak lighting and classically eerie score.
In addition to each being more or less a panel by panel adaptation of the comic, the actors also look extremely similar to the characters on Azaceta’s pages. While Glenister is the biggest scene-stealer here, brilliantly balancing Anderson’s unshakable faith with his inner struggles, Fugit gives an equally strong performance. Fugit portrays Kyle as an extremely tortured individual unable to let go of his past, but who wishes nothing more than to be free of this soul-crushing pain. We also get cameos from “The Office’s” David Denman as Meghan’s husband, and “House of Cards’” Reg E. Cathey as an old friend of Kyle.
Between this show and AMC’s “Preacher,” which premiered this past weekend, networks seem to be interested in adapting more non-superhero comics for adult audiences. If that’s the case, then “Outcast”is a good place to start. With its effective balance of human drama and bloody terror, the pilot is a good watch for horror fans everywhere.
4 out of 5 Stars
