Bruce Campbell Doesn’t Do “Bug-Eyed” Anymore

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As a lifelong fan of horror and Bruce Campbell, I couldn’t be more thrilled about the latest addition to the genre – Hysteria! on Peacock. With Bruce Campbell, a genre icon since the Evil Dead days, stepping into the role of Chief Dandridge, we’re guaranteed a rollercoaster ride of suspense and chills.

[This story contains mild spoilers from Peacock‘s Hysteria!]

Including Bruce Campbell in a significant part of the project can almost instantly boost its horror credibility, making it seem like an easy trick or shortcut.

Campbell has been a prominent figure in his genre since Ash Williams unveiled the book of the dead in the 1981 film “Evil Dead”. His latest series, Peacock’s “Hysteria!” (which debuted its full season on Friday), sees him once more engaged in a struggle against supernatural entities. However, unlike his past encounters with demons involving chainsaws attached to arms, Campbell portrays Chief Dandridge, the chief of police in a Michigan town experiencing a Satanic panic during the late 1980s. While it’s uncertain whether actual devilish forces are at play, the story follows him investigating a murder case that triggers the panic.

Despite some peculiar occurrences, Dandridge generally maintains his composure. This role is a stark contrast to Campbell’s most renowned one, yet he expresses enthusiasm about portraying a calm and rational figure in the show.

Campbell expressed his satisfaction in being at this place, stating that as a 66-year-old man, he no longer needs to engage in exaggerated expressions. Instead, he should be the level-headed one, he said to The Hollywood Reporter. He enjoys having roles suitable for his age now, such as police chiefs, corrupt politicians, and prison wardens. It’s enjoyable for him to take on these characters because he has life experience, and it’s entertaining to portray experienced individuals.

One aspect Dandridge struggles to manage is the escalating fear gripping the town following the disappearance of the high school quarterback and the appearance of a pentagram on his garage door. A local heavy metal band from the high school, Dethkrunch (portrayed by Emjay Anthony, Chiara Aurelia, and Kezii Curtis), seeks to gain recognition by transforming into self-proclaimed Satanists. Consequently, they create a “cult” with some peers, which eventually gets beyond their ability to manage.

It’s not unexpectedly causing trouble for the leader that one of the cult’s heads is none other than Dandridge’s granddaughter, Judith (Jessica Treska).

Campbell shares that he’s now a grandfather and if he learned his granddaughter was participating in some satanic rituals, he would exclaim: Oh my goodness, what on earth is going on!?” Campbell continues, explaining that such a notion was a significant source of fear during that era due to the Satanic panic. He finds it horrifying to think that satanic influence could manipulate children into doing harmful acts. Furthermore, he notes that mentioning ‘Satan’ has an immediate effect on people, causing them to become alarmed, thus instilling fear in many hearts.

Campbell acknowledges that the movie Hysteria!, blending elements of comedy, high-school drama, and horror, intensifies the horror aspect as it approaches its peak, featuring an attempted exorcism, a flaming church, and a tense manhunt involving his character.

At the conclusion, things become quite grand, which is enjoyable because it suggests that the production company [Universal Studio Group’s UCP] appreciates it and is willing to invest in it and provide a fitting finale. It’s unfortunate when excellent shows go unnoticed, but this one seems to be getting the attention it deserves. They appear to be putting considerable effort into promoting it, and I commend them for that dedication. You can often sense the investment when you work on a project. The areas they focus their resources and the aspects they value become evident, and they’ve significantly improved this show since we began filming.

Campbell states that the program is both intelligent and engaging, keeping viewers on their toes while being genuinely chilling. He explains that this is precisely the aim – to create horror content that is now more widely accepted. When he first began, horror was considered a taboo genre, comparable to pornography in societal standing. However, shows like “The Walking Dead” have helped normalize it, making this show a cool, mainstream, and creepy production.

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Hysteria! is now streaming all episodes on Peacock.

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2024-10-18 20:24