As someone who has never read anything by HP Lovecraft or Matt Rush’s “Lovecraft Country” novel, I really didn’t know what to expect when I tuned in for the first episode of Lovecraft Country on HBO this weekend. Although, with a title like “Sundown,” I was perhaps a bit more prepared than folks who haven’t heard of the infamous Sundown Towns from the early to mid-20th century. But I wasn’t prepared for the intricate melding of horror, sci-fi, and the horrific elements of Jim Crow era America.
Not since Watchmen (which I know was a mere year ago, but still, it’s been a minute) has a series managed to capture the same feeling I had when watching that incredible piece of work: excited confusion at the touches of sci-fi and horror, admiration for the stunning performances contained within the episode, and a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach watching the horrific acts of white supremacist violence directed at our protagonists. After watching the pilot of Watchmen, many people took to Google to read up on the Tulsa Massacre, as it was the first time they encountered that horrific moment in US history. I hope that people do the same thing after watching Lovecraft Country and read up on Sundown Towns (here’s a great piece about Anna, Illinois, a town mentioned by George Freeman in the episode as the place where his knees were shattered).
Simply utilizing sci-fi and horror tropes as a metaphor for racism and white supremacy wouldn’t be enough to get my enthusiastic review (vampiric monsters afraid of being exposed to the light are about as dead-on a metaphor for the KKK as one can get). But combining those elements with a deft narrative touch, gorgeous cinematography, and a stellar cast elevates Lovecraft Country‘s premiere into the upper echelons of television. Hell, Chicago has never looked better than it did in “Sundown” (fun fact: I live close to where the production filmed some of their street scenes – in the northern neighborhood of Lakeview rather than on the South Side – and it was a treat to see everything done up in 1950s looks). Robert McLachlan absolutely crushed the cinematography in the episode, framing things just right to highlight the color palette and make the characters pop against the gorgeous backgrounds (the framed shot of Atticus Freeman sitting on the side of the road reading a novel was a work of art).
And then there’s the cast. I wasn’t all that familiar with Jonathan Majors prior to watching the episode, but I’ll be damned if he didn’t jump right to the top of my “Actors to Watch” list. It’s a nuanced performance that doesn’t rely on the power of the piece itself to propel it forward. Rather, Majors is content to sit in silences, displaying the wealth of emotions Atticus experiences throughout the episode. It’s not a showy performance, but it is a strong one. Courtney B. Vance’s work as George Freeman is, to be frank, what we’ve come to expect from one of the best actors of his generation. Like Majors, Vance doesn’t feel the need to go over the top. His George is calm, cool, and collected, but Vance lets us see that George also recognizes the outward threats of the era and locations. He is just as angered and affected by the injustice and racism around him as his nephew.
The star making turn of Lovecraft Country, however, belongs to Jurnee Smollet, an actress who has had a long and storied career (you may recall her from her work as Michelle Tanner’s best friend on Full House or perhaps her excellent work on the syndicated series Underground – which was a series from Lovecraft Country‘s showrunner Misha Green). Every moment we spend with Leti in “Sundown” provides us with a key look at the character – and every minor movement or expression of Smollet’s digs deeper into just who Leti really is under her tough exterior. Smollet’s performance here, combined with her great work in this year’s Birds of Prey, should be more than enough to get her the notice she richly deserves – and the high profile roles that go with it.
I’m all in on Lovecraft Country (so much so that I’m delaying my weekly Wynonna Earp recaps, as this series has proven to be the more interesting and complex story compared to the uneven goings on in Purgatory this season). I’ve only seen this initial episode so I’m not sure it will hold up all the way through, but I’m hoping we have another Watchmen on our hands. After the numerous disappointments in 2020, I hope this one lives up to its promise.
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