‘The Mosquito Coast’ Recap: ‘Light Out’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the series premiere of ‘The Mosquito Coast’.
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The last few years have done an incredible job of shedding light upon something we simply didn’t know existed en masse in the United States of America. In that, there is a fairly significant segment of the population, that genuinely has some vastly different beliefs about our country and what it stands for. For they are of the opinion that the government is their enemy through and through and is working hard behind the scenes to get them and silence them so they can execute nefarious and terrifying plans. The kind that would end democracy and change the landscape of the world forever. Which are… fears and wild theories that are dangerous at times, as evidenced by January 6, but are at the same time… fascinating.

Because we simply cannot understand how people in this modern world, where public education is there for so many and where genuine and honest information is available at our fingertips, slide into such delusion and confusion and genuinely believe in such outlandish conspiracy theories. But they do and our curiosity of how people slide into that is being satiated by way of new stories that are looking to explore the genesis of such matters and one such television show that is making it a focus of its storytelling, is the new AppleTV+ series, The Mosquito Coast. For the series premiere of this show, ‘Light Out’, puts this on display in a stunning manner… by fooling the audience. For initially, we are led to believe that Fox family is nothing more than a grand American tragedy, since it seems they’ve slipped through the cracks of a land where ingenuity is supposed to be rewarded.

But as the story continues along and we start to get to know Allie and his wife Margot, it becomes inherently clear that this family is living on the edge, not only because of failure, but because they choose to. For they firmly believe that the United States Government is hunting them down, and is eager to bring in Allie for what appears to be his life changing inventions, the kind that could potentially hurt the economy by making essentials an affordable reality. And to complicate their worries further, eventually the police do come searching for them and hunt them fast and hard, lending credence to everything that Allie preaches about not trusting the government and the need for keeping off the grid and away from the system. And while that truly makes it seem as though this story is indeed about a family on the run from a powerful entity, it’s the tiny details in this premiere that help one to realize… that this is a broken family that has given into conspiracy theories. 

Because Margot and the rest of the family are forbidden to have cell phones, and they’ve clearly cut off contact with the rest of the world and left family members worried, as evidenced by the awkward and desperate conversation that Margot has with her mother via payphone. And the constant failures that Allie goes through with his inventions and the constant moves and identity changes and off kilter work he does, speaks volumes to a man that is marginalized and viewed as a failure and that has broken his clearly intelligent mind and helped him to believe that others are responsible for his hardships and that people are out to get him. And while we did indeed see some kind of chase here, the kind that makes you wonder, his odd behavior, and the concern from Margot’s parents and the inference that Allie did something illegal in a fit of rage, helps us to understand that there is a good chance they’re being ‘hunted’ to bring Allie to justice and to put the kids in a safe place and well, all of these elements make for one incredible series premiere.

One that definitely does a wonderful job of sucking you into a world of mystery that never quite offers up any easy answers and that’s not bad thing in the slightest. Because it definitely compels you to continue the journey, one that will properly explore how exactly good, everyday people turn to conspiracy theories and lies for comfort and the damage that those lies can do to a family. Because it is inherently clear by the end of this tale, that the cracks in his theories will be exposed, along with the truth about his past and how it led them all to this harrowing point and that will make for some powerful moments for certain. The kind that will undoubtedly force his beloved family to decide, if they should still stand by Allie and his broken mind and soul. Until next time.

‘The Mosquito Coast’ is streaming now on AppleTV+.

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