Season two of “Them: The Scare” has premiered on Prime Video, so we can finally discuss it. I’ve seen the first five episodes, and I have some thoughts.
Let me start by saying that I found the first season of “Them” (review) tough to watch, but not in a bad way. It was brilliant and easily one of the most unnerving things I’ve ever watched, and that’s saying a lot. It had me feeling a gambit of emotions but left me heartbroken because of what the characters had to face. Season two of the anthology series is a whole different monster.
Season two moves from the 1950s of the first season to 1990s Los Angeles. The story centers on LAPD Detective Dawn Reeve (Deborah Ayorinde), a hardened investigator tasked with solving a series of brutal murders that began with a foster mother. The body is found bent and twisted in unnatural ways, her face locked in a terrible expression. This is just the first gruesome murder to come. The series is split, partly about the detective and partly about a struggling actor who works at a Chucky Cheese-like pizza place. His life, a struggle, takes a dark turn soon in the season. Don’t worry; I won’t give away any more spoilers.
Created by “Little Marvin,” “Them: The Scare” explores loss, struggle, race, and a lot of horror and does so without apology and with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. And it couldn’t be better. Don’t you get tired of watching movies and shows that tip-toe like they’re walking on eggshells? Not “Them.” There are no mixed messages here. This is pure horror. It’s creepy as hell, grotesque, and brutal. But sends clear social commentary about prejudice and the fight for equality. The world needs bold stories like these and shows like this.
The cast is phenomenal. Deborah Ayorinde, who also led in season one, returns and does not disappoint. How you can read the fear, horror, and emotion from the expressions on her face is impressive. She makes her character relatable and makes her someone you want to respect. She has consistently delivered the goods over two very different seasons. That’s hard to do. You want to check out our recent interview with Deborah, who discusses both seasons in depth.
Luke James gives an absolutely brilliant performance as the other lead. James plays Edmund, a man struggling with his dreams and demons. He comes across at first as a shy, sweet guy, but looks can be deceiving. As the season unfolds, we learn that he has a connection to Ayorinde’s Detective Emory, and we watch him become increasingly unhinged.
The supporting cast includes Pam Greer (Ms. Foxy Brown herself), a powerhouse all on her own. Ashley Thomas, Alison Pill, Joshua J. Williams, Jeremy Bobb, and Ryan Kwanten round out the large ensemble cast.
I have to mention the special effects. The SFX team nailed it. For a second, you forget that what you’re looking at is a prop—it isn’t real, and thank God it’s not! The way the victims are twisted and posed is both eerie and fantastic.
The story is well-written and executed. The twists and turns strike at the perfect moments to intensify the horrors of the series. However, not all aspects of the story are created. Many happened. For example, there is a scene where two cops discuss a man who is a “beast.” The scene appears to be a reference to Rodney King. This was a volatile time in Los Angeles. Not only were people rioting, but there were two serial killers on the loose, the “Grimm Sleeper,” Lonnie David Franklin Jr., and the “Southside Slayer,” Michael Hughes. AIDS was on the rise. OJ was a suspect. It was chaos.
It’s time for my verdict, but this should already be obvious. “Them: The Scare” gets two big thumbs up. Don’t be surprised if you see it on our “Top 10 of 2024” list. It’s a must-see!
