Dir. Nick Antosca & Michelle Dea | Now Streaming On Hulu | Rating: 4/5

The Gypsy Rose case is all over the news right now. I’m not a true crime buff but I’ve been following this case for many years now. My first exposure to the case was in Mommy Dead and Dearest (2017) and I’ve been hooked ever since. 

I revisited The Act in the wake of Gypsy’s release from prison this month. Before I get into the review, I want to be clear that I’m not here to hash out the legal intricacies of the death of Dee Dee Blanchard. I want to talk about how stunning of a piece of horror this is.

This series is incredibly well written and acted across the board, down to the supporting cast. The writing style delivers excellent tongue in cheek foreshadowing that is clever and tasteful. Visually, it makes use of calculated cinematography that truly works as a storytelling tool. Things like dripping paint or furniture falling into disarray as the episodes progress, are in lockstep with the story. 

This is a dramatized retelling, so you can only imagine the reality of the body horror captured here. Physical abuse, medical procedures, teeth, and injections galore. It tells a tale of abuse to the nth degree and the insatiable cycle of trauma on families. This is a sickening story to watch, and even more sickening to stomach when you remember it actually happened. 

My biggest critique of true crime is whether this is exploitative in any way and where our morality lies in sensationalizing these cases. Research shows that Gypsy was not involved with the writing and production of this series, despite it retelling the most intimate traumas of her life. And now, days after her release, the media has swarmed around her, with many forgetting the weight and reality of the trauma she faced, and the death that resulted from it. 

Though hokey in a few places, and in need of a bit of tightening, The Act is a must watch. 

Know Before You Watch: Features death, blood, nudity, medical imagery, sex, abuse.