Keke Palmer’s The ‘Burbs Is a Horror-Comedy Remake With a Surprisingly Sweet Twist

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New mom Samira experiences a series of unsettling encounters with her neighbors after moving to her husband’s suburban hometown, and the vibe immediately recalls the horror-comedy film Get Out. Samira, a determined lawyer on maternity leave, is Black, while her husband, Rob, is a white British book editor. The predominantly white residents of Hinkley Hills make awkward and subtly problematic comments, like calling their baby Miles a “cute little mocha munchkin,” leading Samira to feel as though she’s stepped into a real-life version of Get Out, anticipating they might claim to be ardent Obama supporters.

Peacock’s new series, premiering February 8th, is inspired by the 1989 horror comedy The ‘Burbs, but otherwise offers a fresh take on the story. The original film, starring Tom Hanks, playfully poked fun at the common movie trope of seemingly perfect suburban life hiding dark secrets – a theme explored in films like All That Heaven Allows, Revolutionary Road, American Beauty, and The Stepford Wives. This new ‘Burbs, created by Celeste Hughey and expanded into eight episodes, initially feels like a predictable blend of the original movie and recent racially conscious thrillers popularized by Jordan Peele (whose film Nope also stars a cast member from this series). However, the show quickly establishes its own identity, offering a lighter sense of humor and a surprisingly thoughtful exploration of the secrets hidden within suburban communities.

My first impression of the show wasn’t great, much like how Samira initially felt about her new neighborhood. The first episode, written by a seasoned writer known for blending comedy and drama, focused so much on explaining the situation that it didn’t really let us get to know the main couple. As Samira walks down their charming street, she comments on how quickly they went from city living to a suburban life. Rob agrees, adding that Hinkley Hills is a safe place to raise their child. Neither of them particularly wanted to live in his parents’ old house—they’ve been traveling the world—but they’re in love and want what’s best for their baby, so they’re giving suburbia a try.

From the moment Samira sees the house across the street, she gets a bad feeling. It’s a large, rundown Victorian that seems strangely out of place among the newer homes nearby – almost like something from a spooky old movie. The house has been vacant for years, and Samira soon learns that a teenage girl named Alison Grant disappeared from there years ago, and was never found. Her former neighbor, Rob, is reluctant to discuss what happened. When his friend Naveen asks if there’s a story behind it, Rob claims there isn’t, but it quickly becomes clear that he’s holding back a lot of information. It just takes time for the truth to emerge.

Very quickly, the Victorian house is put up for sale and immediately bought. A grumpy man, played by Justin Kirk—who you might recognize from his role as the provocative Jeryd Mencken in Succession—moves in. When Samira tries to be friendly by bringing him brownies, he calls the police, claiming a Black person was suspiciously near his property. Combined with some forced humor (like Rob’s comment that “brownies are the Beyoncé of dessert”), this plotline hints that the show will be a somewhat awkward and comedic rehash of Amazon’s unsettling series Them: Covenant, which dealt with racial discrimination.

Fortunately, The ‘Burbs takes a turn for the better. It’s not about a surprising plot twist, although there are plenty of those. Instead, the show quickly moves Samira out of trouble with the police, tones down the awkward jokes, and focuses more on funny, flawed characters. Rather than making her deal with openly hostile people, the show surrounds her with neighbors who are imperfect but generally kind. A friendly widow named Lynn, played by Julia Duffy, invites Samira to a casual “Wine Night” with the neighbors – it’s basically a support group for people feeling lonely. There, she meets Dana, a tough but sweet ex-Marine (played by Paula Pell of Girls5eva), and Tod, a quiet and quirky guy (Mark Prosch, who you might recognize as the “energy vampire” from What We Do in the Shadows). Pell and Prosch play characters similar to their other roles, which makes them feel even more authentic. Tod didn’t even need to say anything to make me laugh – just watching him ride around on a silly bike was enough!

Like many stories set in seemingly perfect suburbs, everyone in this show is hiding something – even Samira’s new spouse. These secrets are revealed gradually, and are usually more heartbreaking than frightening. The show follows Samira as she gets to know – and even grow fond of – her eccentric neighbors, who are all drawn into helping her solve a mystery. While the initial mystery isn’t a distraction, it’s not about revealing the darkness hidden beneath the surface of suburban life. Instead, it’s a way to bring people together, suggesting that all it takes to build a community is the willingness to get to know those around you. The show offers a quietly optimistic view of human connection.

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2026-02-06 20:06