The devil is in the details, and in the case of Hysteria!, a local heavy metal band.
hysteria! This is one of two original series Peacock has prepared for audiences this Halloween.
The other is “Teacup,” an adaptation of Robert McCammon’s 1988 science fiction horror novel “The Stinger,” which is set to premiere on October 10.
Horror icon Bruce Campbell guest stars in “Hysteria”! As the town’s police chief, so you know it’s going to be good.
Here’s everything else we know about hysteria so far!
What is Hysteria about?
Set in the fictional town of Happy Halloween in Michigan in the 1980s, “Hysteria!” Explore the “Satanic Panic” of that era.
The story follows a group of high school students who decide to go all out and rename their heavy metal band Satanic Metal.
Why would they do such a cruel thing?
They’re a struggling local band hoping to propel themselves to the top by capitalizing on a sudden interest in the occult that follows the disappearance of a popular varsity quarterback in town.
Unfortunately for them, they also happen to be the “outcasts” of the town.
So when weird things start happening on Happy Halloween, like murders, kidnappings, and other “paranormal activity,” all the townspeople’s eyes turn to them.
They were “devils” before, but now they play the devil’s music and become the first targets when political persecution begins to trample evil.
What is the Satanic Panic?
The history of the “Satanic Panic” is too complex to detail here, but here’s the short version:
In the 1980s, a serious conspiracy swept the United States, with people believing that a Satanic cult was infiltrating every aspect of American life.
The trend was spurred by the 1980 publication of “Michelle Remembers,” co-authored by Canadian psychiatrist Lawrence Spazder and his patient-turned-wife Michelle Smith development.
Smith claims she was subjected to satanic ritual abuse as a child by the Church of Satan through a now-discredited form of memory recovery therapy.
It’s a bit like the “recovered memories” of people who claim they were abducted and probed by aliens
Following the publication of the book, similar ritualistic abuse was reported across the country, particularly in California day care centers.
The devil was everywhere, including music, games, movies, and even Procter & Gamble’s original moon logo.
Those Parental Advisory labels (“Tipper Stickers”) that often appear on certain music are a direct result of this hysteria, thanks to Tipper Gore and the Parent Music Resource Center she helped found in 1985.
It took P&G decades (and several lawsuits) to shake off the false claim that the company “sympathizes with the devil.”
This fear was fueled by sensational coverage of this “problem” in the media, including the tabloids and talk show hosts like Geraldo Rivera, who brought the cult into the living rooms of the American public.
Over 12,000 unsubstantiated accusations of ritual abuse were reported during this period, but eventually, skepticism set in, the accusations were proven false, and the “panic” eventually dissipated.
Who is the production team of “Hysteria”?
The series was created by Matthew Scott Kane, who also serves as executive producer and showrunner.
Kane was a writer on an episode of “Stitchers” (2015) and has worked on “Annabelle Comes Home” (2019) and “American Horror Story” (2011).
David A. Goodman, whose credits include “The Orville,” “Futurama” and “Family Guy,” serves as writer and executive producer.
Other executive producers include:
- Jordan Vogt-Roberts (“Kings of Summer,” “Kong: Skull Island”)
- John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein (Dungeons and Dragons, Game Night)
- Good Fear Content by Chris Bender and Jake Weiner (My Spy, Mulan, Under the Silver Lake)
Scott Stoops of Good Fear Content serves as executive producer.
Who stars in Hysteria!
“hysteria!
Campbell is, of course, best known for playing Ash Williams in the Evil Dead film series and its spin-off TV series Ash vs. Evil Dead.
In “Hysteria!”
Will he pull out his shotgun and destroy evil? Who knows, but if he did it would definitely be a blast!
Julie Bowen is best known for her role as Claire Dunphy on the long-running hit comedy series Modern Family, where she played Linda Campbell (somewhat ironically, No?
Linda is the mother of Dylan Campbell, one of the town’s “outcasts” and a member of the Satanic metal band Dethkrunch, which came under suspicion during the “Satanic Panic”.
After experiencing a series of supernatural disturbances, Linda begins to question everything she knows about her son, and the growing “threat” of Satanism in “Happy Halloween.”
Anna Camp (“Creepshow,” “You,” “Perfect Harmony,” “True Blood”) plays Tracy Whitehead, who seems to be the “villain” of the show.
Tracey was a crusading mother who had long been ridiculed by her community for her extreme religious beliefs
But after a series of seemingly mysterious crimes and disturbances, Tracy becomes the dangerous and unlikely leader of Happy Halloween.
I bet she led the witch hunt against Dethkrunch!
Emjay Anthony (Physics, Council of Dads) stars as Dylan Campbell, Chiara Aurelia (Cruel Summer, Fear Street Part 2 – 1978, Tell Me Your Secrets) stars as Jody, Kezii Curtis (“Dolemite Is My Name,” “Secret Headquarters”) plays Spud.
The trio were “outcasts” who renamed their heavy metal band Dethkrunch the Satanic Metal Band after the “Satanic Panic” hit Happy Hollow.
Once they realize that they have become the main targets of the town’s witch hunt, they make a big mistake!
Other stars include:
- Nikki Hahn (American Horror Story, Pretty Little Liars) stars as Faith, a sheltered teen whose life is forever changed by a shocking and traumatic crime.
- Millie Shapiro (“Hereditary”) stars as Ingrid.
- Jessica Luza (Johnson) stars as Cassie Dandridge.
- Eric Tiede (“The Walking Dead”) plays Bob.
- Jeanne Paige (“Love and Death”) stars as Abigail.
- Alison Scagliotti (Stitchers, The Vampire Diaries) as Officer Orson
- Kevin Sanders (Atlanta) stars as Gilbert.
- Brogan Hall (The Goldbergs) stars as Isaiah.
- Annemarie Gideon (“The Resident”) stars as Martha.
How many episodes of hysteria are there! Will there be one?
hysteria! There will be eight one-hour episodes, so there’s plenty of time to tell a decent story, tease out the characters, and the madness of the “Satanic Panic” that envelopes Happy Halloween.
When hysteria! Premiere?
All eight episodes will air on Peacock on Friday, October 18, making it the perfect time to binge your Halloween
The first episode will also air on USA Network and SYFY on the same day. The USA Network will air new episodes every Friday.
Is there a hysterical trailer!
Why, yes, there is!
You can check it out below.
The trailer doesn’t give too much away, but we do see Linda Campbell (Julie Bowen) in her kitchen before strange things begin, singing along to Belinda Carlyle’s “Heaven Is on Earth” A place to dance.
Apparently Happy Halloween isn’t the heaven on earth Linda imagined, especially after she sees the reflection in the microwave!
It seems quite the opposite!
What do you TV fanatics say?
Will you tune into the hysterics? Halloween hysteria?
Let us know in the comments below!
