Archive 81 [Netflix]

The Black Oil · 05-01-2022 5:53pm #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibxKEqxARkE&ab_channel=Netflix

As a video archivist investigates the secrets behind a mysterious fire, he becomes convinced he can save a young woman from the terrifying fate she met 25 years ago. A new supernatural thriller comes to Netflix on January 14th.

Some camera footage and spooky goings on. Remember the size of cameras years ago?

pixelburp · 06-01-2022 12:13pm

Hmmm that promotion was a touch more spoiler'y than perhaps it needed to be, but I'm in for this. Looks intriguing.

DenMan · 06-01-2022 4:22pm

Looks brilliant! Can't wait to see it.

Slydice · 14-01-2022 8:22pm

1: Well this show is creepy!

It's also a mystery for the moment.. or as the main character put it "What the ****"?!!? ... "What's happening"?!?!

The vibes I've been picking up are a mix of season one of Homecoming (Julia Roberts was in it) .. for the look and feel.. as well as season one of Dark for the mystery feel.

At this point I don't remember more from the trailer than I've seen in episode one. As it's a mystery, it feels like going in blind would be good.

Slydice · 14-01-2022 9:31pm

2: Oh...kay .. less creepy now I think.. maybe. Seems to be more about the mystery now.

Still not sure where it's going.

Now that she's still alive. Before I thought this might be some sort timeloop/timetravel thing but not sure now. Maybe just a story.

Haven't a clue what the story is with that statue or the ceremony. The show is definitely leaning into some religious symbology for sure though.

Slydice · 14-01-2022 11:25pm

3: That episode dragggggged out soooooo long. Getting the feeling, maybe.. depending on how the rest of the show goes.. that this might have been better a 6 episode than an 8 episode.

But yeah, the ending,

I'll givem this much, I jumped when the arm came outta the TV.

...

😲 What's that noise

in the bushes in the end credits?!!? 😱

Slydice · 15-01-2022 4:08pm

4: 😱

Beatriz! Noooo.. your face! 😱

This show getting well back into creepy land but

at the same time, I find myself trying to work out some kind of "how" for them to communicate past/present

I mean like.. it feels like that's a theme in the show.. not being able to communicate directly all the time.. like even when he's talking to his dude on the outside.. he only gets small amounts of communication and only if he takes certain actions

Richard Thomas (the LMG guy) seems to be doing a good job in his role. I still

can't figure out his intent.. good or bad or mixed or whatever

XVII · 16-01-2022 5:34pm

On the 5th episode so far, it's absolutely brilliant!

Slydice · 16-01-2022 9:34pm

5: Felt a bit two sided in this one.

Felt peak creepy not knowing what she was walking into in the addicts apartment.

Then it coasted along after that with kind of an uneasy feeling... but after a bit I started wondering why Dan hadn't appeared yet.

Then he did and yer man gave his story so now I'm confused. Should could go either way I guess.

Slydice · 17-01-2022 3:34pm

6: I don't know what's going on.. but I think maybe that's what they are aiming at.

At first I was like.. ah right.. maybe this is all some dodgy mold -ey type thing and they are aiming to wrap up with that

so I wasn't too bothered by the thing trying to get through the TV

that all kinda combined to make me think it was dragging on a bit and maybe 6 episodes instead of 8

but now he's found this basement and it looks like the Vos mansion and .. I dunno who even attacked him

... will see

Slydice · 17-01-2022 8:38pm

7: Hrmmm.. this could be building up to a season 2 or a wrap-up. If it's a season 2, then it'd need a pretty good hook for it.

At a guess, the brother.. of Samuel.. might be now trying to recreate that same ritual himself.. just without including people. Looks like Samuel used the addicts.. Iris Vos (1924) might have used her party guests.. but Samuels brother.. well.. the other camera restoring guy mentioned lots of blood. So maybe Samuels brother has a lot of blood collected for the ritual. Maybe that's all it needs.

Aside from that, it's still unclear what benefit they think they get from the ritual that they keep going back to it. Iris seemed to think it was a catch-all everything-power type thing.

Slydice · 18-01-2022 12:20am

Finished! Solid kinda creepy fantasy horror. The sound effects / background music work on this was very strong.

Maybe could've been 1 or 2 episodes less for the season but it felt fine in the end.

For story, the scariness of the monster and other world lessened for me as it went along.. but those sound effects/music kept the creepyness level up.

8: Well, I didn't see that coming! 😲

Dans either stuck in the past or the other world. I'm strongly leaning to him being in the past though because of the lack of.. shimmering? .. effect that was kind of the how-to-spot the other world.

So, by my reckoning.. Jess and Annabelle are in both timelines and aware, Davenport is awakening in 1994 and aware in the .. now? Dan is aware in 1994 and possibly Samuel too. Then in the future it's Melody and her Mom and Dans podcast guy.

Really does feel open to another season to see where the go from there.

Future: Well, I think there could be another season made.. or they could leave it there.

Like.. they could do something to show what happens with Dan next. Leaving it there though kinda does lend to the Horror as part of the horror show.

sydthebeat · 18-01-2022 12:26am

Recommended slydice??

Anything you'd compare it to?

Slydice · 18-01-2022 9:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118492380#Comment_118492380

I think the closest it reminded me of was the 90s show the Outer Limits.

Though at the same time, I think there was a show called the Twilight Zone which I didn't really watch. I think it might have leant more into horror. So maybe it's closer to that one.

I'm not mad for horror shows so I can't say for sure where to place this one. I let myself get drawn into it and so the sound and visuals worked well on me early on.

The overall story was properly thought out. Just nothing mind blowing.. yet.

sydthebeat · 18-01-2022 9:41pm

Excellent, I loved the outer limits.

Where that was a different story every episode, I'm assuming there's some arching storyline here through the season?

Slydice · 18-01-2022 9:48pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118496919#Comment_118496919

Yes! That's the one and it might have done better to have been 1 or 2 less. I dunno.

Pawwed Rig · 19-01-2022 1:18am

Just finished episode 4. The ending of episode 3 was brilliant and it has really picked up in episode 4. Looking forward to the next few nights

ejmaztec · 21-01-2022 1:20am

I thought it was very good. It was noticeable that Matt McGorry hasn't had a lot of exercise since he played Asher in How To Get Away With Murder, he should probably get a Fitbit 🙃

pixelburp · 23-01-2022 9:12pm

Watched the first episode and liked it; creepy without resorting to jump scares, while there was a good use of soundscapes to accentuate that sense of an unsettling atmosphere. There's enough intrigue with the central mystery to make me want to know more for sure. Feels like it has the potential to be an excellent slow burn.

Liberty_Bear · 25-01-2022 12:14am

I feel that this series being the slow burner that it is needs more prominence. Friends have watched the first episode finding it a slow burner. Nothing in it is ground breaking. Where it stands out is the complex plot that knits together so well as the story comes to a crescendo. Turn off the lights and immerse yourself on a cold winters day. Kind of mixes all sorts of genres - sci fi, fantasy and mystery. Firm 7/10 from me but needs to be stuck with.

Cotts72 · 01-02-2022 4:17am

Finished it today and loved it. Defo worth the watch. Perfect blend of supernatural,creepy and thought provoking episodes. Fingers crossed for a season 2

NIMAN · 01-02-2022 4:26am

Its ok, nothing special. Maybe 6/10 for me.

Pawwed Rig · 01-02-2022 7:50am

There is so much junk around that 6 out of 10 is a good score at this stage

pixelburp · 20-02-2022 9:14pm

Episode 3 and this is solid stuff. Unspectacular, especially when something like Mike Flanagan's output is the high watermark for Netflix spooky tales - but this ain't half bad either. The central question mark has me wanting to know more of what's going on.

I do think there's something more they could be doing with the VHS format, but damned if I can put my finger on it. Analogue footage is so grainy, so lo-fi there's an inherent mystery and unknown in staring into the white noise. So far it remains unused as a device.

pixelburp · 25-03-2022 3:23pm

Boo, this has been cancelled.

GLaDOS · 25-03-2022 3:34pm

That's a pity, it had its flaws but I enjoyed it and definitely would have watched a second season.

Homelander · 28-03-2022 2:30pm

It started off really good but ran out of steam by the last episode or two. I'd still say it's worthwhile, but like a lot of things, a compelling mystery is easy to build up - providing the answer/resolution less so, and Archive 81 is definitely guilty of it.

I'd say 6/10 is about right. It works OK as a standalone with a twist rather than on an abrupt cliffhanger that renders the whole thing pointless now that it's been cancelled.

gmisk · 28-03-2022 9:49pm

I was really interested in watching this but now I know it ends on a cliffhanger and has been cancelled....kinda pointless

DenMan · 29-03-2022 12:05am

Feck them anyway, I really enjoyed Archive 81. Hopefully, like Manifest it will be picked up by another network. Oh and Netflix is going up in subscription next month!

gmisk · 29-03-2022 9:28am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118849613#Comment_118849613

Netflix don't seem to like letting other channels pick up there shows even when cancelled.

Manifest was originally on NBC before Netflix.

pixelburp · 29-03-2022 9:43am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118847070#Comment_118847070

Have to agree based on what I've been seeing; I think a big part of the problem is the mood has been constantly ruined by the Thing in the TV. It has been far too goofy looking for my tastes, the not-entirely-great CGI robbing the atmosphere out of scenes when it appeared. Sometime the biggest mistake a story can do is show the monster.

Archive 81 [Netflix]

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