From the sinister minds that brought you The Purge, Happy Death Day and Paranormal Activity, comes the new Hulu original horror series Into the Dark, which turns every holiday into a complete nightmare. The new horror anthology series will feature different actors in each episode, with a new episode being released each month focusing on a holiday from that month.
The ninth installment of the horror series is titled “They Come Knocking” and it focuses on Father’s Day and the story of a single father and his grieving family as they deal with the loss of their wife and mother. When they take a trip to a special spot, miles away from civilization, to say goodbye they encounter some mysterious children that turn the trip into a nightmare.
If you’ve been following along with my reviews of Into the Dark, you know I’m not much of a horror fans when it comes to truly scary stories. Slashers and psychological thrillers I can handle, but the really creepy stuff, not so much. With that being said, my thoughts on “They Come Knocking” are: NOPE! Nope nope nope nope nope.
That’s not to say it wasn’t enjoyable. It’s still a very good story and there’s a lot to like about it. It’s just the first episode of the series to keep me up at night. In fact, as I write this, I’m dozing off occasionally due to my lack of sleep. I better write a little more quickly.
If you’re a true horror fan, you’re going to enjoy “They Come Knocking.” The aforementioned mysterious children are incredibly creepy and tension builds perfectly as it leads up to the big scares. I will say, in the end, I wasn’t quite as creeped out as I thought I would be (I won’t give anything away). But for a while there, I may of may not have been watching through my fingers.
Josephine Langford plays Clair
As always, the cast is terrific. Josephine Langford, Clayne Crawford and Lia McHugh portray the terrified family and, even in the limited time they have, they really allow you to connect with them and feel what they’re feeling. Even if what they’re feeling is pure horror that will keep you up at night and dreading the sound of a knock at the door.
Clayne Crawford plays Nathan
Overall, I think “They Come Knocking” is one of the strongest episodes of this series, especially if you’re a true horror fan. If you’re like me and you value your sleep, you may want to skip this one. It’s a strong story with more than enough creepiness to keep you on the edge of your seat… with your hands over ears and your eyes closed… and your back to the TV. So, you know, it’s a lot of fun.
“They Come Knocking” premieres on Hulu on June 7, with subsequent episodes of Into the Dark coming each month for a full year. Be sure to check out our reviews of previous episodes and check back for more reviews of this new Hulu original as I try to help you decide if each episode will cost you hours of sleep.