Lovecraft Country

HBO | Release Date: August 16, 2020

4.8	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 155 Ratings

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rob_vzMar 10, 2021

Wholesome black family. Sneering white men being eaten by monsters. Basically what happens when Black Lives Matter is married to 1920's supernatural horror.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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roastbirdJan 12, 2021

If they can change the title from Lovecraft country to something like American folk tales, that could be better. As a show it is good for watching.

Lovecraft is different from vampire, ghost, serial kills....

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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SergeiZNov 28, 2020

This show is as bad like the original book.
There was a cool idea - to show that the worst horror is a racism. But in Lovecraft Country - black racists hate white racists and there is no a single good character.
Boring, depressing andThis show is as bad like the original book.
There was a cool idea - to show that the worst horror is a racism. But in Lovecraft Country - black racists hate white racists and there is no a single good character.
Boring, depressing and unpleasant.
Gave four points because on metacritic has "no censorship" and a score below 4 is simply not preserved.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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MoviebuffzSep 5, 2020

For me this was just strange. As a black guy I appreciate that we finally live in an America where we aren't being portrayed as gangsters, athletes, or uneducated. And that racism is finally being taken serious.

But I don't see how peopleFor me this was just strange. As a black guy I appreciate that we finally live in an America where we aren't being portrayed as gangsters, athletes, or uneducated. And that racism is finally being taken serious.

But I don't see how people who aren't looking for a societal agenda can enjoy this. The racism feels comical. And the actual show is average.… Expand

13 of 16 users found this helpful133

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RidingHoodSep 15, 2020

A terrible adaptation - bad over the top acting, bad tempered men, passively sexy women, every character is a trope.

7 of 9 users found this helpful72

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Rev7Sep 21, 2020

First off, need to point out that there is a lot of racist comments. And I'm not referring to the negative reviews, im talking about the positive reviews (8-10s). All I can i say is they are not scoring the show fair (this goes for the 0s asFirst off, need to point out that there is a lot of racist comments. And I'm not referring to the negative reviews, im talking about the positive reviews (8-10s). All I can i say is they are not scoring the show fair (this goes for the 0s as well) and making racist comments about white people doesn't help.

The show has its moments but lacks in a lot of areas. Acting/dialogue : the acting is decent through out the show, only a few actors/actresses do a poor job, but the dialogue is over the top cheesy and cringy at times.

The main characters also seem to suffer from memory loss and have no problems killing tons of people, just as long as their white.

Visuals: for the most part are decent. It gets a little too dark at times which make it hard to see whats going on, but the monster designs are great. Costumes are on point and so are the sets.

Story: its a mess. The tone of the show switches too much and that makes it distracting. The episodes gradually start to lose traction/direction and start becoming a huge convoluted mess. There are parts that will make your eyes roll or make you question what was the point of that? Or, how did that character get there? How did they know to do that, there was no explanation prior.

There is also the lack of HP lovecraft story. Its more of a vibe than a HP lovecraft adaptation. Which is disappointing for cosmic horror fans. In regards to the racism, there should be a balance, for me its too much and extremely exaggerated. To the point its comical. One minute there's monsters/horror and then the next 40 minutes its all about racism. We don't need a reminder every 5 min of how racist it was back in the jim crow days, or over the top racism making every white person they interact with is racist and ignorant. It all becomes trite very quick. Also making racist comments about white people on top of that, doesn't help.

The show has potential but doesnt know what it should be. Its confusing at times and lacks balance.… Expand

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

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jeremyfranklyOct 19, 2020

This show started out strong, with monsters and deep Lovecraft vibes. It quickly went downhill with convoluted storylines, interpersonal intrigue rather than conspiracy, long rambling soliloquies, and a complete shift in tone. It went from aThis show started out strong, with monsters and deep Lovecraft vibes. It quickly went downhill with convoluted storylines, interpersonal intrigue rather than conspiracy, long rambling soliloquies, and a complete shift in tone. It went from a Lovecraft story through the Black gaze to a jumbled fantasy mess that happened to have 'Lovecraft' in the title. Skip it.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

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LunaticInkAug 29, 2020

I really wanted to like this show. The two main actors, Jonathan Majors and Jurnee Smollett, are great. Both do a wonderful job with what they’ve been given. The story itself is the Scooby Doo version of The Color Purple. It’s tooI really wanted to like this show. The two main actors, Jonathan Majors and Jurnee Smollett, are great. Both do a wonderful job with what they’ve been given. The story itself is the Scooby Doo version of The Color Purple. It’s too ridiculous to take seriously, and contains none of the cosmic and psychological horror Lovecraft fans would expect. The “monsters” are essentially a sideshow to the racists, which is every white person in the show. These themes have been covered countless times by more talented writers. It’s like an out of control tumblr feed come to the screen.

Maybe it will improve as the season advances, but I doubt it. I’m only still subscribed for Raised by Wolves. Hopefully that isn’t the same kind of nonsensical **** show.… Expand

6 of 11 users found this helpful65

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Cracker1Aug 28, 2020

The episode starts with a dialogue implying that people who like offensive literature stick their heads in the sand with regards to the offensive nature of said literature. With a tone like we should compare Lovecraft's work with naziThe episode starts with a dialogue implying that people who like offensive literature stick their heads in the sand with regards to the offensive nature of said literature. With a tone like we should compare Lovecraft's work with nazi propaganda.
Then we have a wise-old-uncle caricature telling us people don't mention Lovecraft's rascist side enough. Really? You sure about that? Because I have heard nothing else for the past decade. But then again the fifties were a different place (not that this show ever acknowledges that particular concept).
The rest of the episode is a long tapestry of abuse against African-Americans. Which is legit, I don't doubt things were as horrific as this episode portrayed. Just a bit of a shame nobody mentions, oh I don't know, rascism directed at Asian-Americans, of rascism from African Americans. Maybe that's not fashionable enough with the target demographic. Or maybe the choir didn't get preached enough at yet.
There is, however, a certain emphasis on mystery, which is a very welcome element to anything associating itself with Lovecraft and which in my opinion doesn't get stressed often enough.
I have not given up hope this show will actually get Lovecraftian instead of just something along the lines of "if you like Lovecraft you deserve to get buried alive for a week" and "black people have it bad" but I fear that just like Coppola's 'Bram Stoker's Dracula' Lovecraft's name will keep getting used as a platform for shamefacing white people (while completely ignoring any and all other racial or religious groups). And worst of all, I don't think people will care.
Oh, and I like the visuals and the actors.… Expand

7 of 14 users found this helpful77

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oldshepJan 1, 2021

Was it good? Not really. I enjoyed some of it for what it was. I've read the book, so I knew it wasn't particularly Lovecraftian horror. That being said, the book and show do draw upon Lovecraft's other works, introducing concepts ofWas it good? Not really. I enjoyed some of it for what it was. I've read the book, so I knew it wasn't particularly Lovecraftian horror. That being said, the book and show do draw upon Lovecraft's other works, introducing concepts of adventure, the occult and magic, even sci-fi weird tales. Are they what people think when someone says Lovecraft? No, but they're still Lovecraftian. A ghost story, or visiting other lands still falls well within the scope of Lovecraft's works.

The acting was great for what it was. The pacing was awful, I almost dropped watching the rest of the series after episode 2.

Make no mistake, there is a clear agenda in this show. Being BIPOC and LGBT, I get it. But anyone who denies that this show is anything but outrage pr0n needs to get their head checked. You can enjoy it, I did at times. But just at least admit it is what it is: pure, unadulterated racially-charged revenge self-insert fodder.

Not convinced? I read the book as well, literally every change made to the show from the book was to give an opportunity for the main characters to kill someone. The changes from the book also clearly delineates that anything morally grey done by black characters is justifiable, no black character ever works against the main crew or the central thesis: black is good, right down to the shoggoths. And the material that wasn't based on the book? A feeding trough full of outrage. Now that's got some spice, not like white people food! Again, you can like that, more power to you. It really does highlighted some important moments in black history... in some questionably researched ways. But the presentation: you better be able to eat pork, 'cause the fisting you're about to get is full of ham. If adding any excuse to change the plot to kill a white person and forced revisionist history is what the writers consider adding the 'authentic black perspective' to a white man's book, just... yikes.

Unlike most detractors, I actually think the depictions of racism were appropriate. Yes, white people really were that racist. Here's where I found it grating though, there were scant depictions of racism other than violent overt ones. We get a small glimpse of the insidious nature of it in a couple episodes (Ruby and Hippolyta [its Hip-paw-lit-uh, not Hippo-lighter, 'it's Greek']), but the bulk of it is just shallow 'white actors forcing themselves to grimace at black actors.' It's not well done. And when the show does try to introduce nuanced concepts like 'there were some nice white folks too' or 'us Korean-Americans feel like perpetual visitors' it's relegated to a throwaway one-liner. Merely mentioning it doesn't mean the show has actually addressed those concepts in the slightest.

Speaking of lack of depth. The series added a whole lot of elements that just scream 'tick a checkmark.' It's not enough to introduce racism, but LGBT issues and feminism as well. The show tries to stuff so many modern social issues into a show set in the 1950s. Like, it was nice to see ballroom culture, that was cool. But that's where the reaction ends, 'oh that's cool.' The best I can say is that it's treatment of LGBT and feminism was mostly tasteful if vapid.

The political speeches at the end of each episode? What could've been a moment to cap off each episode, where we can just bask in the raw emotions that the actors were portraying, instead we're reminded that the writers have ham for fists and we're treated with yet another sermon. Your audience is not stupid. It didn't give me the feels, it gave me brain damage.

But, quite possibly the most infuriating thing, is that the writers commit some of the sins BIPOC constantly berate pale writers for:
1) Minorities as disposibles: they set a world record for fastest first-contact to genocide.
2) Cultural appropriation: The portrayal of Korean animism... was questionable. It's at the level of Avatar (TLA). Harmless, but guess white people aren't the only ones ripping from cultures purely aesthetically, without 'letting marginalized voices' speak.
3) You need to educate yourself: Last time I checked, Nigeria's still waiting for the Dahomey royal family's descendants in Benin to apologize... for enslaving its peoples. But sure, have their royal guard fight... their number two customer, Confederate America? Or, how two-spirit as a First Nations concept was conceived in the 80s, not centuries ago. Yahima would've referred to themself in the culturally appropriate manner of the Arawak, you social construct colonizer! Like, educate yourself.
4)Hypocrisy: All the belittling done by the main crew against non-black POC in a show about racism... and they're instantly forgiven... I--

tl;dr -- Lovecraft meets Chicken Soup for the Basic-Black Soul. Didn't realize I was watching an award-bait self-help show.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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MrMuppeNov 1, 2020

This is a strange one in the wrong way. What I mean by that is how the show is a quality rolercoster, and this is after watching the 10 episodes that are season 1. One episode can be an easy 10 while the next can be a clear 2.
The acting isThis is a strange one in the wrong way. What I mean by that is how the show is a quality rolercoster, and this is after watching the 10 episodes that are season 1. One episode can be an easy 10 while the next can be a clear 2.
The acting is great, they all do their part and they do them well, that is minus the white racists that go from believeble and all the way to where you can see on the acters faces that they are attempting to portray comic book villains rather then racists pos.
The racism shown therefor goes from being eye opening to being forced into a scene just because of reasons.
Soundtrack: When we get music from that age it is good, when they throw in the hiphop is just bad and does not fit. Whoever made that decision needs to be asked why they tought it was a good idea to mix in modern music.
The writing and direction is where this show goes all over the place. Some episodes are just great storytelling while other episodes feel wasted as they focus on random stuff that in the long run does not matter.
But the biggest sin is that the makers of the show fails to understand lovecraftian horror, they reveal secrets as soon as they can rather then holding on them, they misstake horror with gore.

And finally. Do not listen to the racists who gave it a 0 because the series show that racism existed during a time when white people were pretty damn racist. And while I love Lovecraft I do understand that he was a racist, like almost everyone else who lived at that time.

My advise, even as I give it a 5, is to watch the first episodes and if you can't handle the lows of the **** episode give the rest of it a pass.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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