Deadwax

Deadwax, also stylized deadwax, is a 2018 American television series that was directed and written by Graham Reznick, who co-wrote the horror video game Until Dawn.[1] The series began streaming on the video on-demand service Shudder on November 15, 2018, and premiered at Fantastic Fest earlier that year on September 23.[2][3] It stars Hannah Gross as a young woman who is hired to track down a rare vinyl record rumored to have the capability of killing those who listen to it.

Deadwax
Series poster
Written byGraham Reznick
Directed byGraham Reznick
Starring
Composer(s)Graham Reznick
Country of originUnited States
Original language(s)English
No. of episodes8
Production
Producer(s)Barrel Productions
DistributorShudder
Release
Original releaseNovember 15, 2018[1]

The show's title refers to the space between a record label and the final track, where no audio can be recorded.[4]

Synopsis

Note - the synopsis is told in chronological rather than episodic order.

During one of his shows, young college DJ Tuck Weston informs a listener that his radio station used to own a strange record - the Lytton lacquer - created by renowned sound engineer Lyle M. Lytton, who died during the making of the record. As such, the record captured the sound of Lytton transcending to the next plane of existence, the sound of death itself. Listening to the record in its totality has the capability of killing those who hear it; however the listener jokes that listening to it backwards may be a cure. After the show a strange woman (revealed as Lily Child in later episodes) invites him to listen to the record on behalf of a collector she refers to only as 'null and void'. Unable to resist, Tuck meets Lily and listens to a split second of the record. Later describing the sound as the sound of 'null and void', Tuck is driven insane by strange phenomena.

Many years later, an elderly man listens to the Lytton lacquer and is found dead the following day, mummified. The record is taken into evidence by Len, who listens to a portion of the record before bagging it as evidence. His decision is later ridiculed by his co-worker Daryl, who believes the record to have no relevance to the man's death. After being sent off for coffee, Len begins to experience the same phenomena as Tuck and passes out. When he wakes, he discovers that Daryl has been killed in an extremely gruesome fashion. Len is questioned by Detective Kenny Rhodes, who later lets him go after viewing the building's security tapes.

Meanwhile, record finder Etta is informed by one of her clients about a rare grouping of records created by Lytton, three Key records and the Lytton lacquer. If played simultaneously, the Key records are said to produce sounds that have previously gone unheard by any living person. These records can be identified via strange markings etched into the wax located on the deadwax - the space between the grooves and the label. Intrigued, Etta begins investigating despite misgivings by her girlfriend Lana and her mentor Ian warning her that the record will be nearly impossible to locate and that even listening to a portion of the record drives a person insane. Her investigation leads her to Len, revealed to be Etta's former lover. She agrees to stay over at his house, as he is clearly distraught by his experiences, and that night Etta watches Len undergo inexplicable supernatural phenomena. The two travel to meet Tuck, now much older and living in a secluded cabin in the woods. They question him over the Lytton lacquer and ask him if he owns a Key record, which enrages him and prompts him to chase them out of the cabin. Tuck follows after them and is killed by Len via a rock to the head. Afterwards, the two discover a hidden briefcase that contains a notebook with markings that lead them to Lily Child. Lana is able to produce an address for Lily; however when Etta goes to consult Ian, she discovers gruesome remains everywhere and assumes that he died in the same manner as Len's partner.

After arriving at her address, Lily details her family's past running a company that tends lac insects that produce lacquer that can make records of superior quality. She notes that they never had a chance to refine the process, so synthetic products became more popular. Lily apologizes for what Len is going through and states that the Lytton lacquer was never meant to be listened to by itself and that its true purpose has been ignored. She takes Etta and Len to a room where they are prompted to listen to the Key records on perfectly tuned record players and remain in a circle in the center of the players, noted to be the best place to listen. Once they start to experience strange phenomena, they panic, leave the circle, and unsuccessfully try to stop the music before passing out. After passing out, it's revealed that Ian did not die and that he is in league with Lily. Etta wakes later and finds that she has been restrained. Looking over, she sees a restrained Len be devoured alive by carnivorous lac insects. She passes out again but wakes to find Ian, who says that Len's death made it possible for the insects to become perfectly tuned and produce quality lacquer and that they will retune the world together before drugging her into unconsciousness. She's discovered by Detective Rhodes, who followed her there, only to watch Lily murder him. Etta escapes after killing Lily, but is contacted by Ian, who tells her that she is out of tune with the world and that once she hears the Lytton lacquer, she will understand his actions. He also implies that Lana has listened to the Lytton lacquer without first listening to the Key records, which would kill her. Etta returns home to discover the Lytton lacquer on her record player. Lana is shown in the background, but it is never clarified whether she listened to the lacquer or not, as her body is never clearly seen. Etta places the record on the turntable and briefly hesitates, leaving it up to the viewer if she will listen to the record or not.

Cast

Development

Inspiration for the show came from the record technique of backmasking, where hidden messages are or were believed to have been recorded backwards on a track.[4] Writer and director Graham Reznick was also interested with the impact sound design could have on viewers, as it allows him to alter their perception without having to give visual story clues.[5] Reznick has stated that if the series is continued, he has plans on how to expand the story universe.[5]

Reception

/Film reviewed Deadwax, praising the sound and visuals while criticizing what they saw as a "lack of engaging character development".[6] Character development was also noted in a video review by Bleeding Cool, whose reviewer noted that Etta was a "generic ye olde grizzled detective that we've seen a hundred thousand times before" and that while they liked the premise of the series and the actress, the character needed to be rounded out more.[7]

A review by Bloody Disgusting for the first four episodes of the series was more positive, as they felt that the characters were developed enough for viewers to care about them and that the series' story and visuals thus far were well done.[8]

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References
  1. Long, Christian. "DEVELOPMENT ROUNDUP: DEADWAX SPINS A PREMIERE DATE; TIMELESS SETS ITS 2-HOUR FINALE". SyFy. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
  2. "DEADWAX". Fantastic Fest. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  3. Long, Christian (2018-10-26). "Development roundup: Deadwax spins a premiere date; Timeless sets its 2-hour finale". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  4. Weiss, Josh (2018-09-13). "Teaser for horror series DEADWAX looks like The Ring was re-made by a hipster". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  5. Long, Christian (2018-09-24). "Fantastic Fest: Deadwax creator Graham Reznick on using sound to manipulate his audience". SYFY WIRE. Retrieved 2019-01-10.
  6. "Deadwax Review: A Sinister Series with Killer Sound /Film". /Film. 2018-09-30. Retrieved 2019-01-11.
  7. Flook, Ray. "Tribeca TV Festival: Pagan Peak is On Point, Patricia Moore has Bite, Deadwax Skips a Beat (REVIEW)". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 2019-01-11.
  8. "[Review] "Deadwax" Has An Eerie Atmosphere And Killer Sound - Bloody Disgusting". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 2019-01-11.

Deadwax- Graham Resnick feature interview in YRB Magazine by Jonn Nubian

https://yrbmag.com/feature-deadwax-interview-with-graham-resnick-shudder-grahamreznick-tribeca-peterphok-tedraimi-theevangamble-hannahgrossfans/

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