Occasionally, there are TV series that go under the radar for numerous reasons. In the age of streaming, sometimes a less popular streaming platform might impact viewership. When it comes to From, which is an MGM+ original, that’s absolutely the case. If you’ve only heard whispers about the show or have no idea what it’s about, From is a sci-fi horror series that follows a town of people who are physically unable to leave and are hunted by murderous creatures at night. And there are secrets in the town and the surrounding area that still need to be uncovered
From is a show that’s unafraid of scaring you, with a tremendous performance from award-winning Harold Perrineau as Boyd Stevens and a nice showcase for lesser-known actors like Chloe Van Landschoot, Corteon Moore, Ricky He, and more. There’s a grittiness in the world that From exists in, and the violence is unwavering when the monsters come to play. It’s certainly worth checking out for quite a few reasons. But maybe you only need these three to subscribe to MGM+ and check out the series for yourself.
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There’s a lot of Mystery
It’s intriguing when a series focuses heavily on a particular mystery that takes some time to solve. From doesn’t cop out by giving its viewers firm answers in the first season. Instead, From is still dragging out why exactly the characters are trapped in the town. Just when you think the characters like Boyd (Harrold Perrineau) are close to figuring things out, something throws them off. There’s also still so much mystery surrounding what the nocturnal creatures are and why they want to brutally murder the townspeople. And that makes it all the more effective because the reasons could be anything.
Being forced to figure out the mystery alongside the characters makes for an interesting experience. Rather than being ahead of the characters in From, we’re just as stumped as they are. While that might not work for every viewer, if you prefer a slow-burn mystery, you’ve found the right show to tune into every Sunday. You will always question what’s really going on in nearly every episode, especially during the third season, which is currently airing.
The Characters and the Willingness to Kill Them
Having a range of characters in a series like From is incredibly important because it’s just like the real world. There will be moments where even the most likable of characters make the worst decision. Not to mention unlikable characters causing natural conflict in a stressful situation. For example, most of the Matthews family has been relatively annoying since the first season of From.
Not to mention unlikable characters causing natural conflict in stressful situations. Having a lead character like Boyd helps keep From grounded because he’s imperfect. It’s also nice to have a Black man as the lead of a show. From has a diverse cast in general, featuring queer characters and people of color that all have their own personalities.
From also isn’t the type of show to avoid killing characters off, either. For some storylines to progress or for characters to step outside of their shell, there need to be emotional shake-ups. Thankfully, From does this well. Without spoiling the deaths too much, just know that even the minor characters receive deaths that are cruel in nature. From is currently airing its third season, and one of the most recent deaths of a beloved main character has shaken up core characters. It’s incredibly refreshing in a very macabre way.
The Practical Effects
In a time where AI and CGI are rampant in a lot of media, it’s a relief to see practical effects, especially for creature designs. From Season 1 is the most CGI-heavy with the monsters’ true faces. However, both season 2 and now season 3 are more about practical effects. And it makes the monsters look a little less wacky.
What makes From’s monsters so unsettling is the fact that they appear human until they show their “true faces.” A threat that appears to be human is scarier than a threat that’s outright monstrous. The From FX team also makes the deaths disturbing more often than not. Not to mention incredibly realistic with how horrifying it would look and appear for people to be ripped apart, for instance. Overall, horror series that have an inhuman main threat require solid practical effects. Thankfully, From isn’t lacking in that department.
All in all From has much to offer as a sci-fi horror series. It’s also relatively underrated in comparison to other horror shows that people know about. And if you’re into an intriguing premise as well as genuinely scary monsters, you’ll find enjoyment in checking From out. You can’t go wrong where any of that or Harrold Perrineau is concerned.
From is available to watch for subscribers to MGM+ or Paramount+ every Sunday.
