Grotesquerie | agoodmovietowatch
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Grotesquerie 2024

Despite strong performances, this American Horror Story-esque outing goes for provocative but ends up, whether intentionally or not, as camp

Our Take (by Renee Cuisia)

I suppose fans of horror mysteries with overt Catholic and covert erotic undertones (aka every Ryan Murphy fan ever) will love this, but everyone else will have a hard time digesting this overwhelming series. Maybe you can tell from the name alone, but Grotesquerie seems to prioritize the shock factor more than anything else, which might’ve worked years ago when TV and streaming were a lot less diverse and welcoming to horror. But these days, it’s easy to feel like you’ve seen just about everything, so without the aid of surprise by its side, Grotesquerie feels like any regular detective series. Niecy Nash somewhat elevates the show as she expertly combines her no-nonsense humor with layered drama. Then there are solid character actors like Courtney B. Vance and Lesley Manville to look forward to. But for the most part, Grotesquerie feels like a parody of Ryan Murphy’s productions past. If you’re looking to binge something good for the Halloween season, maybe it’s best to just wait for the real thing. American Horror Stories will be rolling out soon anyway.

Synopsis

A series of heinous crimes have unsettled a small community, and Detective Lois Tryon feels they are eerily personal, as if someone—or something—is taunting her.

More about it

What happens

A detective and a nun pair up to solve a series of grotesque and religiously themed murders, all while battling personal demons of their own.

What sets it apart

The gore, but I still can’t decide if it’s because it’s gross or not as well made as it could’ve been.

TL;DR

Good for Ryan Murphy fans, bad for everyone else.

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About the author

Renee Cuisia

Renee Cuisia

Renee Cuisia is the lead curator at A Good Movie to Watch. In her spare time, she likes to watch K-dramas and analyze them to death. She's also seen You've Got Mail one too many times but is still convinced it's one of the greatest films out there.