Pro. Rebecca Sonnenshin | Now Streaming On: Netflix | Rating: 2/5

It’s always exciting when a horror series blows up on a streaming service, since it’s an indicator that it’s palatable by a wide audience. Archive 81 shot straight up to Netflix’s number one streaming spot in the US on its release day. Though I haven’t listened to the podcast it’s based on, I figured it was worth a watch. ⁠
⁠
Archive 81 has amazing suspense beginning with its very first episode. The series relies on its fairly large cast of characters to tell the story in piecemeal, slowly unraveling the strange happenings of the Visser. Mamoudou Athie is a stellar leading man, portraying Dan as relatable, yet still mysterious. Though Dina Shihabi gives a strong performance as Melody, the PhD student we follow through the tapes, around the midway mark Melody is reduced to being whiny and gullible to a point that strains our suspension of belief.⁠
⁠
Side characters are always a hit or miss in horror. They can be poorly written or they can steal the show. Archive 81 falls on the latter. In particular, Mark and Jess are significantly more engaging characters than Melody, with writing that is smart and calculated. (I would die for Mark. Or do I just relate to Mark? Place your bets). ⁠
⁠
You may be thinking – “This is all positive criticism. Why such a low rating?” To that my answer is – not everything needs a sequel. One of horror’s greatest weaknesses is its willingness to prepare for a sequel, even if there is no reason for a story to continue. Archive 81’s hard work for 7 episodes is obliterated by two cheap twists and several unaddressed plot points that were clear setups for another season. It is a massive let down and so poorly done, I just couldn’t let it go.