The season
finale is funny, clever and
entertaining. Also, one
of the most terrifying
endings in recent television
history.
Inside Number 9's season finale is certainly the most ambitious episode of the season. It attempts to homage classic horror films, simultaneously parodying the genre whilst creating an atmosphere and tone similar to such horror classics. This is not an entirely unique concept, and has been attempted by previous films such as Scream and The Cabin in the Woods. I like both of these films, however I feel that they both fell short in some aspects. The Harrowing is not perfect either, and is certainly not my favourite episode of the show, however it is certainly one of the most potent entries within this little sub-genre.
This first and most interesting element of the episode to me is the production design. I was blown away by the setting of this episode, a classic old dark house, due to the sheer amount of effort that was put into upping the uneasiness of the environment. The hellish paintings on the wall, the stark black paint on the walls, and especially the furniture. The house's furnishings are clearly of a different time, outdated and comically contrasting with the modern outfit of the main character. However the fact that this detail is not pointed out very much allows it to melt into the atmosphere rather than being forced into the forefront. That detail helps to explain why so much of this show works so well, it respects it's audience and is happy to let an element simply do it's job, rather than specifically pointing it out. This applies to script details, visual details or music details. I love this show, and so much of that comes from the way Shearsmith and Pemberton respect their audience.
Speaking of Shearsmith, he offers the most entertaining performance of the entire season in this episode. The character Hector, whilst far from being the main character, is an absolute joy. Shearsmith goes completely over the top here and loves every second of it, granting an endlessly quotable character. Despite this however, the character retains a slyly creepy dimension throughout and always maintains an eerily creepy presence despite his hilarious dialogue and delivery. The same applies to Helen McCory, who is also great as the episodes other source of chilling villainy. She isn't as funny as Shearsmith (although sill having a fair number of amusing lines herself) however she manages to be even more unsettling, driving home the effective horror edge of the episode. The episode's main character, Katy, exists in stark contrast to these eerie beings and acts of a strong base to keep the audience grounded and on edge, for we are genuinely concerned for her safety.
The final thing which deserves note is the ending. The episode's creepy undercurrent grows throughout, until it's ending. The final scene of the episode will stick with whoever watches, it is is not only explicitly horrific, but also implicitly disturbing and implies far more horrible things for the main character. The episode's twist is nowhere near as shocking as others within the season, however this scene more than compensates.
Overall, this episode makes a worthy conclusion to the first season and leaves the viewer with a harrowing (chuckle) feeling. The second season of this excellent show begins airing this Thursday (26th March) on BBC ONE. I highly recommend giving the second season a try in case you missed the first, or buying the first season on DVD to catch up on some amazing television.
By Jack D. Phillips
A Zoom Film Review
Inside Number 9: Episode 6
This first and most interesting element of the episode to me is the production design. I was blown away by the setting of this episode, a classic old dark house, due to the sheer amount of effort that was put into upping the uneasiness of the environment. The hellish paintings on the wall, the stark black paint on the walls, and especially the furniture. The house's furnishings are clearly of a different time, outdated and comically contrasting with the modern outfit of the main character. However the fact that this detail is not pointed out very much allows it to melt into the atmosphere rather than being forced into the forefront. That detail helps to explain why so much of this show works so well, it respects it's audience and is happy to let an element simply do it's job, rather than specifically pointing it out. This applies to script details, visual details or music details. I love this show, and so much of that comes from the way Shearsmith and Pemberton respect their audience.
Speaking of Shearsmith, he offers the most entertaining performance of the entire season in this episode. The character Hector, whilst far from being the main character, is an absolute joy. Shearsmith goes completely over the top here and loves every second of it, granting an endlessly quotable character. Despite this however, the character retains a slyly creepy dimension throughout and always maintains an eerily creepy presence despite his hilarious dialogue and delivery. The same applies to Helen McCory, who is also great as the episodes other source of chilling villainy. She isn't as funny as Shearsmith (although sill having a fair number of amusing lines herself) however she manages to be even more unsettling, driving home the effective horror edge of the episode. The episode's main character, Katy, exists in stark contrast to these eerie beings and acts of a strong base to keep the audience grounded and on edge, for we are genuinely concerned for her safety.
The final thing which deserves note is the ending. The episode's creepy undercurrent grows throughout, until it's ending. The final scene of the episode will stick with whoever watches, it is is not only explicitly horrific, but also implicitly disturbing and implies far more horrible things for the main character. The episode's twist is nowhere near as shocking as others within the season, however this scene more than compensates.
Overall, this episode makes a worthy conclusion to the first season and leaves the viewer with a harrowing (chuckle) feeling. The second season of this excellent show begins airing this Thursday (26th March) on BBC ONE. I highly recommend giving the second season a try in case you missed the first, or buying the first season on DVD to catch up on some amazing television.
By Jack D. Phillips
A Zoom Film Review
Inside Number 9: Episode 6
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