I’ve seen many horrors in my time, some that take themselves maybe a little too seriously and others that are just blatantly a mockery without even meaning to. It’s fair to say that not all horrors hit the right spot for enthusiasts of the genre, with many titles even going as far as to offend the horror fandom.
The trickiest thing for movies and TV shows that fall into the horror genre, it seems, is to find the perfect balance between the scary and whatever other elements it possesses. Such as when horrors are spliced with comedy or action, if not done well, sometimes the story can lean too far away from the actual horror aspect.
The Horror of Dolores Roach, however, finds the perfect balance and tone throughout the first season. You’ll laugh just as much as you become physically nauseous, sometimes at the same time, throughout each incredibly enjoyable episode. Unless watching people eat people in the form of nicely presented empanadas is too much for you that is, however, for horror fans this show is the perfect treat.
Justina Machado who stars as the titular Dolores Roach brings a performance that genuinely captivates, allowing you to be sucked in on an emotional level. You end up feeling bad for her character, despite her frequent sinister acts alongside Alejandro Hernandez‘s Luis Batista who likes to cook people and serve them to his customers.
K. Todd Freeman, who I last watched in Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events adaptation, plays the paranoid conspiracy theorist extremely well and absolutely kills it (in a good way) when on screen with Machado’s murdering Dolores Roach.
This show is the perfect blend between Sweeney Todd and Washington Heights, just without the musical aspects, something that non-musical fans who love their horror will most likely appreciate. I’m not the biggest fan of musicals so getting to see a Sweeney Todd-like story reimagined through the eyes of Dolores Roach was truly a gift.
Not one scene fails to deliver which is thanks to its talented list of cast members who all immerse you into the story that is The Horror of Dolores Roach.
I usually try to take my time when watching TV shows, typically spacing out each episode, however, I binged The Horror of Dolores Roach in almost one sitting and I would happily do it again with a plateful of empanadas.
You’re in for a tasty treat with this one, that’s for sure.
5 out of 5 stars for any horror fan, I highly recommended it for all genre lovers to watch.
The Horror of Dolores Roach comes to Prime Video on July 7, 2023.
