'Outcast' Recap: 'A Darkness Surrounds Him'

​Written by John Edward Betancourt

THIS IS THE EMERGENCY SPOILER ALERT SYSTEM...YOU ARE ADVISED TO READ AT YOUR OWN RISK...

Horror is perhaps one of the most versatile genres out there when it comes to finding ways to terrify us. It can use gore and splatter to get under our skin by showing us things we never quite wanted to see. It can take pain and suffering to the extreme to leave us squirming in our seat. But regardless of what device it uses, one way or another Horror's goal is to flat out leave you uncomfortable on some level or another or straight up send chills down your spine. 

With all that in mind, it's time we talk about Robert Kirkman's newest foray into horror themed television; Outcast. Based on the comic of the same name, this is a story that introduces us to Kyle Barnes, a man with a past that few will ever understand since it seems that evil follows him wherever he goes. Kyle has dealt with demonic possession since he was a boy, first seeing it manifest itself in his mother and then later in his beloved wife. His dealings with these wild matters have left him a recluse and posed questions in people's minds about his sanity and stability and despite the relative peace he has enjoyed in solitude...it seems the evil that lurks in the darkness of the world has found him once again.

So really, there's only one question that needs to be answered quickly when it comes to this show...is it scary? The answer is, terror is truly in the eye of the beholder because while at no point did it outright terrify me, it certainly left me disturbed, which is a win in its own right...because it accomplishes the goals we discussed a moment ago, by way of the possessed. There is something primal and raw about those possessed in this show and when they appear on screen in any form or fashion, these beings are robbed of their humanity and because of that...you never quite know what they will do. The sheer existence of these creatures instantly draws you into the story because well, we're fundamentally curious and want to know more and Kirkman is equally aware of that. 

It's why this pilot episode gives us just enough to know that these evil beings want Kyle for something, we just don't quite know what yet. There's references to a "merge" coming and Kyle is carrying some kind of power that the evil wants. But the mystery and the chills aren't the only things that catch your eye when it comes to this show. There's a strange sense of claustrophobia that hangs over every moment of the show, one that leaves the audience feeling trapped to say the least and to top it off, the visuals take you back to the classic era of horror, paying tribute to all of the greats every step of the way. 

Either way it's safe to declare this series premiere a success because, there's some serious potential here. The possessed are genuinely creepy and disturbing and it's interesting how Kirkman knows how to strip down what makes us human to allow these beings to instantly transform before our eyes. More importantly however, I like the fact that Kirkman and company have clearly built a grand world, one complete with rules for both good and evil...and a mysterious story that will unfold before our eyes and if this is where the series starts, there's nowhere to go but up and I'm curious to see what awaits us in the darkness and to see if the story can go from the basics of horror, to terrifying us in legendary fashion. Until next time.

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