Welcome to Nevermore: Netflix's Gore-Filled Grisly School Adventure
SPOTLIGHT ON WEDNESDAY: THE KOOKY, GOSSIP-FILLED WORLD OF NETFLIX'S HOTTEST NEW SHOW
Rating: 4/5 stars
Get ready for a wild ride with Netflix's latest obsession, Wednesday, the kooky and darkly comedic series that's got everyone talking. As a loyal reader of TheScholarlyNote.com, you'll be thrilled to know that this review will dish out all the juicy details on what makes Wednesday so addictive.
A LOVE LIFE THAT'S TO DIE FOR (AND NOT IN A GOOD WAY)
In the midst of this gothic comedy adventure, we're introduced to the Addams family's parents, Luis Guzman and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who are just a little too... affectionate. Yes, you read that right – they're basically making out in front of their daughter Wednesday (played by Jenna Ortega), leaving her with a queasy feeling that'll make even the most seasoned horror fan cringe.
MACABRE MOMENTS TO MAKE YOU SQUIRM
But if the parents' PDA isn't enough to put you off, there are plenty of other disturbing moments to savor. In one particularly gruesome scene, a private detective is attacked by crows – and let's just say it's not exactly like Tippi Hedren's experience in Hitchcock's The Birds (although that was traumatic enough!). And when Wednesday reaches into her pocket to find a letter, she slices open her hand with razor blades cleverly hidden inside the folds of the paper. Yikes!
A CAST THAT'S TO DIE FOR
Now, onto the bright side – the cast is absolutely phenomenal! Steve Buscemi brings his signature smarm to the role of Principal Dort, while Billie Piper shines as a flamboyant music mistress. And then there's Dame Joanna Lumley, who makes a fabulous cameo as Wednesday's grandmama, a funeral director with a motto that's both morbid and hilarious: "Death never takes a holiday so neither do I." (We won't get too into the fact that she attempts an American accent for a few lines before quickly abandoning it – let's just say it's... an experience.)
A SPOOKY CAST OF CHARACTERS
In the world of Nevermore Academy, where children with magical abilities come to hone their powers, we meet an array of bizarre and wonderful characters. There's Wednesday herself, who can move objects with her mind and has psychic visions; her brother Pugsley (played by Isaac Ordonez), who can bring the dead back to life with a mere touch; and werewolves, gorgons, and other magical misfits that'll make you go wild.
A DARK FAIRYTALE OR TWO
Director Tim Burton indulges his love of spooky animations in Wednesday, inserting a dark fairytale about a boy with a clockwork heart into the first episode. It's lavishly done, as is all the cinematography – you'll need an IMAX to truly appreciate the visuals!
GAGS, GORE, AND A DAME GOOD JOKE
While there are certainly some gory moments in Wednesday (we won't spoil them for you), there are also plenty of laughs to be had. In one standout scene, Wednesday sets off a metal detector at an airport and proceeds to unload an arsenal of knives, knuckledusters, nunchucks, and other goodies from her overcoat. Her response? "Cramming hundreds of people into a metal tube flying through the air creates some sort of utopia where weapons aren't needed?" Fair point, Wednesday!
A SNEAK PEEK AT THE FUTURE
As for what's next in store for Wednesday, we can reveal that Lady Gaga will make a small appearance in season two, and she's recorded an accompanying musical component – a track called Dead Dance. According to TheSun.com (yes, we know you want the exclusive scoop!), "Dead Dance" samples Gaga's hit Abracadabra from her latest album Mayhem, with lyrics that include: "When you killed me inside, that's when I came alive." Oooooh, it sounds like a dark pop anthem waiting to happen!
A GOSIP-FILLED EXCLUSIVE
And as an added bonus, we can exclusively reveal that Wednesday producers hope the choreographed dance routine for Dead Dance will go viral on social media. Stay tuned for more updates, but in the meantime, grab your popcorn and get ready to indulge in the kooky world of Nevermore Academy!
WEDNESDAY PART ONE IS NOW STREAMING ON NETFLIX
Catch up with Wednesday now, and be sure to tune in for part two on September 3rd. Don't say we didn't warn you – this show is about to get a whole lot wilder...
