Netflix’s eight-episode horror TV show feels like the perfect blend of Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft, and it takes less than a day to binge-watch. Since the first gothic horror novel, The Castle of Otranto by Horace Walpole, released in 1764, horror novels have branched out in many different ways. Over the centuries, many horror writers have built an impressive legacy, becoming household names both within the horror community and in mainstream culture. Two of the most memorable are H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King.

H.P. Lovecraft’s legacy is complicated, given his xenophobia and racism. However, his writings have shaped horror over the past century, to the point that “Lovecraftian” has become a common descriptor. Meanwhile, Stephen King has steadily released horror novels and short stories since publishing his debut novel, Carrie, in 1974. Both influential writers have impacted television and movies.

Aside from direct adaptations of Stephen King’s books and H.P. Lovecraft’s short stories and novellas, many movies and TV shows feel like homages to or extensions of these horror authors. One of the most exciting is Archive 81, which ranks as one of the best horror shows on Netflix despite getting canceled early. Despite its cut-short run, Archive 81 is worth watching. It answers most of the big mysteries by the end of season 1. Plus, the TV show feels like Stephen King and H.P. Lovecraft had a baby, and you can binge it in 7.5 to 8 hours, making it perfect for a day off or a weekend watch.

Archive 81 Has Characteristics Of Stephen King’s The Shining

Archive 81 tells the story of Dan Turner, an archivist hired by a mysterious benefactor named Virgil Davenport, to restore a collection of 1994 videotapes made by a woman who died in a fire at the Visser apartments while investigating a cult. He’s taken to a remote mansion in the Catskills with no Wi-Fi or almost zero cell reception, where he dives into the project. While the story sounds nothing like The Shining, it actually has remarkable similarities.

In Stephen King’s The Shining, the Overlook Hotel is remote, and the Torrences’ winter there includes virtually no outside contact and plenty of hauntings and terror. This carries over into Archive 81 in two big ways. Firstly, the Catskills location cuts Dan off from the outside world, and the isolation chips away at his mind. He develops intense paranoia, which is heightened by his traumatic past. They even directly reference this when Dan’s friend tells him not to “go Jack Torrance.” Similarly, Melody Pendras investigates the Vissser apartments, a seemingly cursed location where odd supernatural encounters occur.

Interestingly, Archive 81 features a few Stephen King Easter eggs, including a bookshelf filled with Stephen King books. Fans of the king of horror will need to keep their eyes peeled. Plus, one major plot point feels likea nod to one of the most iconic parts of Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining movie.

Netflix’s Archive 81 Blends Together Horror, Sci-Fi, & The Supernatural Like H.P. Lovecraft

Archive 81 exists at a fantastic intersection of the supernatural and horror, with science fiction elements, much like H.P. Lovecraft’s stories. I’m going to be especially vague in this section because most of the Lovecraftian elements lead to spoilers. However, the supernatural elements have this cosmic feeling. Cults and dark rituals are common in Lovecraft stories like “The Haunter of the Dark” and “The Shadow Over Innsmouth.”

Adding to that, the minds of both Dan and Melody start to unravel and slip into madness the closer they get to the truth. This trait is shared between Archive 81, Stephen King, and H.P. Lovecraft. Examples of this in Stephen King are anyone who sees the deadlights in IT and N. and Dr. Johnny Clarke in the short story “N.” from Just After Sunset. Similarly, Francis Wayland Thurston experiences the same thing as she obtains forbidden knowledge in “The Call of Cthulhu” by H.P. Lovecraft.

Release Date

2022 – 2022-00-00

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Rebecca Sonnenshine

Directors

Rebecca Thomas

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