You
might wonder if sailors would be too superstitious to serve on a ship named HMS
Terror, but when it was commissioned as a bomb ship, the name probably sounded
reassuring. During the War of 1812, the Terror helped lay siege to Fort McHenry,
thereby contributing to the composition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” However,
when it was retrofitted as a polar exploration vessel, it stopped instilling
terror and started attracting it, according to the laws of karma. It will be
the crew’s profound misfortune to be assigned to an impossible mission, under
the command of a tragically hubristic commander in the new period horror limited
series The Terror, produced by Ridley
Scott, which premieres on AMC this Monday—and the first three episodes will also
screen together during the upcoming What the Fest!?
Sir
John is determined not to return until he finally discovers the long-sought Northwest
Passage, but unfortunately, it does not exist. Frankly, Captain Francis Crozier
probably suspects as much. He is second in command to Franklin (who leads the expedition
from HMS Erebus), and directly skippers the HMS Terror. Franklin is convinced
providence will eventually open up a back channel to China for them, but you
could say hope does not cut much ice that far north.
Inevitably,
the two vessels become icebound, which would be bad enough on its own. To make
matters worse, as the crew prepares to endure winter in the distant arctic
seas, a mysterious creature starts hunting them. The so-called “Tuunbaq” looks
like a mutant polar bear, but it seems to have some sort of psychic connection
to the Inuit woman they fittingly but somewhat ironically dub “Lady Silence.”
Based
on Dan Simmons’ novel, The Terror combines
the icy dread of Lovecraftian horror with the grim but fact-based realities of
conditions during a Nineteenth Century polar expedition. There is a palpable
sense of claustrophobia, isolation, and biting wind-chill throughout the series.
The set and design craftsmanship is absolutely first-rate, but from time to
time, the battery of directors (Tim Mielants, Edward Berger, and Sergio Mimica-Gezzan)
allow too much slack in the line. Arguably, this ten-episode series could have
easily run a leaner, meaner eight episodes without seriously ill-effects.
Nevertheless,
it is impressive how skillfully co-showrunners David Kajganich and Soo Hugh
build this sinister ice-bound world and establish the intricate network of
relationships among the expedition’s crew. It is also nice to see a major television
production entrusted to veteran character actors like Jared Harris and Ciarán
Hinds. Indeed, both are well within their elements, bringing complex, humanizing
dimensions in the dour, whiskey-medicating Captain Crozier and the arrogant,
tunnel-visioned Franklin, who both feel a strong emotional attachment to their
crews, but which manifests in very different ways.
Harris
and Hinds give the series instant credibility, but Tobias Menzies delivers what
might be the best performance, involving the most extreme character development
arc, as James Fitzjames, the expedition’s third in command. Initially, he comes
across like a Mr. Darcy-like character, but he becomes considerably humbler as
reality sets in and his sympathies swing from Franklin’s gung-ho position to
the pragmatism of Crozier.
For
obvious reasons, this is a very Y-chromosome cast, but Nive Nielsen is terrific
as the mysterious Lady Silence. Adam Nagaitis chews the scenery like an old pro,
making a suitably despicable villain as the mutinous Cornelius Hickey
(typically pronounced “Higgy”). Likewise, Paul Ready is indelibly memorably as the
tragically empathetic Harry Goodsir, the ship’s surgeon (ranking below the
doctor in 1800’s terminology).
It
definitely feels like a long voyage, but there are scenes in Terror that will really stick with
viewers. The term “punished as a boy” will always ring with meaning and a third
act death clearly evokes David’s painting of The Death of Marat in its grim elegance. This is an effectively
moody slow-boiler, but when the creature attacks, the effects are quite good. The
series should also keep viewers honest with respect to the over-hyped storms
that recently dusted through the City. Sure, there was a little snow, but there
was no need to worry about scurvy. Recommended for fans of atmospheric period
horror, somewhat in the Hammer tradition, The
Terror premieres this Monday (3/26) on AMC—and 30% of it screens during
What the Fest!?, at the IFC Center.
