Lockey And Key

     ‘LOCKE AND KEY’

Source: Netflix

The series is based on the IDW Publishing comic book franchise of the same name by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. It revolves around three siblings, Tyler (Connor Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones) and Bode (Jackson Robert Scott), who, after the gruesome murder of their father, move to their ancestral home in Massachusetts only to find the house has magical keys that give them a vast array of powers and abilities. Little do they know, a devious demon also wants the keys, and will stop at nothing to attain them. Locke & Key was premiered on Netflix on Friday, February 7, 2020.

Locke House (Source: Netflix)

Even though it’s not up to the lofty standards of horror-fantasy set by the award-winning comic series, Locke & Key is a fun show that’s easily digestible for both fans and newcomers.

Kinsey (Source: Netflix)

Netflix seems to have a fondness for adapting material centered around dysfunctional families who return to their childhood homes following the death of a parent. Sometimes these families are superheroes (The Umbrella Academy) and sometimes they’re tormented by ghosts (The Haunting of Hill House). The latest offering in this Netflix family trauma genre is Locke and Key. . It follows the Locke family as they move into their spooky ancestral home following the death of their father Rendell (Bill Heck). The kids, good-natured jock Tyler, angsty and rebellious Kinsey and precocious Bode discover a collection of magic keys that give the users powers to open doors that bend reality. Add to this a demon trapped in the house who wants the keys and you get a chain of cataclysmic events and supernatural battles.

Siblings Trio (Source: Netflix)

The original source material is a decidedly dark and twisted horror series; it’s definitely not material that would be considered family-friendly. However, the makers of the show have dulled the edges for this adaptation. Instead of a drama about a family reeling from the trauma of a brutal home invasion that resulted in the death of a parent paired with a gory supernatural horror story,Netflix’s version plays out more like a young adult fiction series with horror-fantasy elements. It has some creepy scenes, but there’s nothing in the show that would keep you awake at night. 

(Source: Netflix)

Watching the Locke family overcome grief and learn about the magic of the keys is compelling. It checks the boxes when it comes to visuals and depiction of the relationships within the Locke family. Scott’s performance as Bode is particularly endearing.

Body (Source: Netflix)

Instead of going full-on horror, it's apparent Netflix wanted to cast the widest net possible and get fans from all walks of life. After all, there is a little something for everyone here.The show has its issues and struggles with a few pacing hiccups late in the season after some needed exposition and origin tales pop up too late. Every scripting shortfall is overshadowed by the cast's strong delivery and line reads., even more so in a world of cluttered comic book adaptations. At the very least, the streamer has made something well worth the wait, provoking a strong desire for more.

Although Netflix have now confirmed season two is happening, it may take longer than a year to arrive.

Till then : Aloha !

Body saying Bye  (Source: Netflix)