Satanic Panic Horror Series Hysteria! Makes an Ideal Halloween Binge

As a movie lover who grew up in the heartland of America during the ’80s, I can tell you that “Hysteria!” on Peacock is a nostalgic, chilling, and thought-provoking series that perfectly encapsulates the fears and fascinations of my generation. The small town setting, complete with its own unique blend of conservatism and curiosity, is so authentic it feels like stepping into a time machine.

During the 1980s, under Reagan’s rule and with the decline of liberation movements from the past two decades, a collective sense of unease swept through mainstream society. Unverified tales of satanic cults proliferating nationwide were given credence by television news personalities such as Geraldo Rivera, and even the FBI deemed them serious threats. Childcare providers found themselves embroiled in sensational, widely publicized court cases accusing them of ritualistic child abuse. Even seemingly harmless forms of teenage rebellion like heavy metal music fandom or playing Dungeons & Dragons could result in a teenager being labeled as a cultist—or even a murderer. This prolonged wave of mass hysteria, known as the satanic panic, was not grounded in real occult violence. However, as Hugh Downs pointed out in a somewhat humorous 1985 20/20 segment titled “The Devil Worshippers”: “It is clear that something unusual is happening.

The core focus of the series “Hysteria!”, which premieres on Peacock on Oct 18 and offers a blend of fun, insightful, and sometimes terrifying elements, revolves around uncovering what exactly that something turns out to be. Set in the small town of Happy Hollow during the late ’80s, where people are either ‘one or the other’, the story begins with a masked intruder invading a bedroom where two teens are about to become intimate. The tranquil residential area seems asleep, yet Faith (Nikki Hahn) and Ryan (Brandon Butler) find themselves battling for survival, much like the teenagers in Halloween. However, while both disappear that night, only Ryan, a popular quarterback, receives extensive media coverage. It’s whispered that satanists could be responsible.

In the lower echelons of the social hierarchy at Happy Hollow High School, three outcast friends from the main character’s group – Jordy (Chiara Aurelia), Spud (Kezii Curtis), and Dylan (Emjay Anthony) – struggle to garner attention for their metal band, Dethkrunch. While Jordy keeps her loyalty and maturity hidden beneath a gothic exterior, Spud is much like the talkative amateur cultural critics found in horror movies such as Scream. Dylan, who serves as the closest thing to a protagonist, yearns intensely for attention, feeling that the buzz surrounding Ryan’s disappearance has garnered more interest than his entire existence to date. This realization prompts Dylan, despite having limited knowledge of the occult beyond the Ozzy Osbourne song “Mr. Crowley,” to market Dethkrunch as a genuine cult. Before he can rethink this ill-advised move, popular girl Judith (Jessica Treska), who bears resemblance to characters from Heathers, jumps on board with the dark rebrand and sets out to recruit new members.

As a die-hard cinema lover, it’s fascinating to witness Dethkrunch’s unexpected camaraderie with jocks who could have easily ostracized them. Their basement shows are now becoming campy events instead. Dylan takes his admiration for the occult a step further by marking himself with a pentagram, which surprisingly gains him favor with Judith. However, stirring up a satanic cult in a town already gripped by mystery surrounding its missing hero isn’t without consequences. The local gossip mill is abuzz about the teenagers’ antics, and it’s no surprise that the town’s law enforcement, led by horror legend Bruce Campbell, and the official religious figures are on edge.

In modern television, it’s not common to find shows that skillfully blend teen and adult characters, but Hysteria! manages to strike the perfect balance. This series not only caters to a wide range of Halloween enthusiasts, but its creation by Matthew Scott Kane (Stitchers) is further enhanced by the effective use of a large cast and numerous storylines that seldom get entangled. The result is a depiction of a community that offers a surprising level of depth for a horror genre series. There are generational disagreements, past friendships with unresolved issues, characters who feel neglected or misjudged by those around them. The show begins with a layer of humorous references, drawing on teen slasher-movie cliches, satanic panic folklore, and familiar faces such as Campbell, Camp, and Milly Shapiro, the unsettling girl from Hereditary. However, it’s the thoughtful, character-driven drama beneath the humor and the horror that makes it all work.

Regarding that horror film: The nostalgic style somewhat limits the creativity of the gruesome scenes. Furthermore, when the main antagonists are revealed, their origins and reasons may seem underdeveloped. However, Kane’s portrayal of the satanic hysteria significantly heightens the eerie atmosphere. If we follow Downs’ argument that “something” was indeed present in Middle America during those times, it was the spread of misguided fear—the same apprehension towards youth, change, and most importantly, diversity, which has fueled modern scares such as QAnon and Marjorie Taylor Greene’s tweets suggesting a hidden power controlling weather. As Campbell’s character Chief Dandridge says, “scared people do frightening things,” and this is clearly demonstrated as the townsfolk take up their pitchforks.

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2024-10-18 16:08