The series, executive produced by Eli Roth and based on a novel by Brian McGreevy, is a somewhat awkward hybrid of Twin Peaks and True Blood with a little class warfare mixed in. Theres a murder mystery and a small town that has fallen on hard times full of people with secrets and strange powers. And while it isnt without interest, having seen the first 3 episodes, Hemlock Grove is too much like an R-rated CW series and not nearly as disturbing or involving as shows like Hannibal and Bates Motel.
It kicks off with some sex and a murder, as if to remind you that this isnt network television. The latter involves a high school student named Brooke Bluebell. She is attacked in her car and dragged into nearby woods before being gruesomely disemboweled. This coincides with the arrival of Peter (Landon Liboiron) and his mother Lynda (Lili Taylor). The gypsies move into a trailer thats in the shadow of a mansion home to Peters classmate Roman (Bill Skarsgard).
Roman is a member of the Godfrey family, who basically run Hemlock Grove. Based on Romans mother Olivias (Famke Janssen) reaction to the arrival of Peter and Lynda, their families have had previous encounters, and they werent pleasant. Other key players include Romans uncle Norman (Dougray Scott), Normans daughter Letha (Penelope Mitchell), and Christina (Freya Tingley), a high school student and wannabe novelist who takes an interest in Peter.
The show is at its best when it focuses on the murder (which is followed by another in the third episode) and finding out who did it. It seems that a large animal did it, but no tracks are found near the bodies. Peter and Roman, who make for an odd but appealing duo, decide to join forces and discover the identity of the killer. They believe it is a werewolf who has gone rogue and is killing out of anger, and unless they can stop him the killing wont stop. Oh, and Peter happens to be a wolf himself. The end of the second episode has his transforming in front of Roman. Its pretty convincing and disgusting, and a little different from your average transformation.
Also of note is the fact that some of the people of Hemlock Grove have strange abilities, and there are strange occurrences to go along with the strange residents. If he concentrates hard enough, Roman can make people do whatever he tells them. His sister is literally a one-eyed giant and his mother is clearly abnormal, though it is unclear exactly what she is capable of (her general wickedness is never in question). Letha is pregnant but claims to be a virgin and says an angel is responsible.
Unfortunately, Hemlock Grove strays far too often from the murder mystery. Too much time is spent getting bogged down in the overly familiar, and it can be almost painfully dull (most of the second episode is like a soap opera). Theres a subplot involving Normans long-term affair with Olivia. Theres Roman and his unhealthy obsession with his cousin. Theres the town crazy who sees things (but isnt as crazy as people think). No one is who they seem, etc. The characterizations also leave something to be desired. Three episodes in and no one really sticks out or is especially interesting.
Compared to other shows, like the aforementioned Hannibal and Bates Motel, theres a noticeable lack of polish to Hemlock Grove. Its storytelling is a little more clunky and it fails to establish an effective tone. The mix of melodrama and magical powers and creatures and a murder mystery doesnt cohere. Overall its passable and not a bad way to kill time, but it didnt leave me craving more or all that eager to discover who (or what) is responsible for the killings. At the moment there are several network and cable television shows more deserving of your time. This one is for a weekend when youve got nothing else to watch and nothing better to do. Must-see it is not.
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