Into the Dark (TV series)

Into the Dark is an American horror anthology web television series produced for Hulu. The first season premiered on October 5, 2018, and consists of twelve feature-length episodes. Into the Dark was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 4, 2019, and also consists of twelve episodes.

Not to be confused with In the Dark (American TV series).

Into the Dark
Genre	Horror Anthology
Country of origin	United States
Original language(s)	English
No. of seasons	2
No. of episodes	22 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s)	John Hegeman Alexa Faigen Alexander Koehne Lauren Downey Jason Blum
Producer(s)	Tevin Adelman Scott Fort
Running time	81–93 minutes
Production company(s)	Blumhouse Television
Release
Original network	Hulu
Original release	October 5, 2018 (2018-10-05) – present (present)
External links
Official website

The series is produced by the television branch of Blumhouse Productions, with founder Jason Blum executive producing every episode. Each episode features its own ensemble casts and director, with directors including Patrick Lussier, Nacho Vigalondo, Sophia Takal, Daniel Stamm, James Roday and Gigi Saul Guerrero contributing installments.

Into the Dark was ordered in January 2018, and has been met with a positive response from critics upon its premiere. Each episode has starred different actors, including Tom Bateman, Dermot Mulroney, Nyasha Hatendi, Suki Waterhouse, Matt Lauria, Jimmi Simpson, Keir O'Donnell, Israel Broussard, Aurora Perrineau, Clayne Crawford, Martha Higareda, Corey Fogelmanis, Jahkara Smith, Adalaide Kane, Reign Edwards, Britt Baron, Giorgia Whigham, Felicia Day, Tina Majorino, Judy Greer, and Barry Watson.

Premise

The theme of each episode is inspired by a holiday during the month of its release.[1]

Episodes

Season 1 (2018–19)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Holiday	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
1	1	"The Body"	Halloween	Paul Davis	Paul Fisher & Paul Davis	October 5, 2018 (2018-10-05)
A professional hitman transports his latest victim in plain sight, assuming that Halloween revelers will think that the body is part of an elaborate costume. On his way to dispose of the corpse, however, the killer becomes involved with some admirers.[1] Cast : Tom Bateman as Wilkes, Rebecca Rittenhouse as Maggie, Aurora Perrineau as Dorothy, David Hull as Alan, Ray Santiago as Jack, Harvey Guillén as Nick, Max Adler as Officer Freer
2	2	"Flesh & Blood"	Thanksgiving	Patrick Lussier	Louis Ackerman	November 2, 2018 (2018-11-02)
One year after the murder of her mother, an agoraphobic girl begins to believe that danger lurks within her house.[1] Cast : Dermot Mulroney as Henry Tooms, Diana Silvers as Kimberly Tooms, Tembi Locke as Dr. Helen Saunders, Meredith Salenger as Rose Tooms
3	3	"Pooka!"	Christmas	Nacho Vigalondo	Gerald Olson	December 7, 2018 (2018-12-07)
An actor takes a job as the mascot for a toy called Pooka, until discovers a malevolence side effects within the costume that begins to affect him and those around him.[2] Cast : Nyasha Hatendi as Wilson, Latarsha Rose as Melanie, Jon Daly as Finn, Dale Dickey as Red, Jonny Berryman as Ty
4	4	"New Year, New You"	New Year's Eve	Sophia Takal	Story by : Sophia Takal & Adam Gaines Teleplay by : Adam Gaines	December 28, 2018 (2018-12-28)
A group of former childhood friends get together, and find that they have not left their past behind entirely where one of them plans revenge on the other for driving a babysitting client of hers to commit suicide.[3] Cast : Suki Waterhouse as Alexis, Carly Chaikin as Danielle Williams, Kirby Howell-Baptiste as Kaela, Melissa Bergland as Chloe
5	5	"Down"	Valentine's Day	Daniel Stamm	Kent Kubena	February 1, 2019 (2019-02-01)
Two office workers become stuck in an elevator. Romance appears ready to blossom, until events take a dark turn.[4] Cast : Matt Lauria as Guy / John Deakins, Natalie Martinez as Jennifer Robbins, Arnie Pantoja as Eddie, Christina Leone as Ruby, Diane Sellers as Jennifer's Co-Worker
6	6	"Treehouse"	International Women's Day Ides of March[5][6]	James Roday	James Roday & Todd Harthan	March 1, 2019 (2019-03-01)
Faced with a wave of bad press, a bullying celebrity chef retreats to his remote vacation home, where he finds the debts that he has incurred by his mistreatment of women will be repaid by those who know them.[5] Cast : Jimmi Simpson as Peter Rake, Mary McCormack as Lilith, Shaunette Renée Wilson as Marie, Maggie Lawson as Becca Wheeler, Stephanie Beatriz as Elena, Julianna Guill as Kara Wheeler
7	7	"I'm Just F*cking with You"	April Fools' Day	Adam Mason	Gregg Zehentner & Scott Barkan	April 1, 2019 (2019-04-01)
A traveler, who is secretly an Internet troll, encounters a motel manager who torments him with escalating practical jokes.[7] Cast : Keir O'Donnell as Larry Adams, Hayes MacArthur as Chester Conklin, Jessica McNamee as Rachel Adams
8	8	"All That We Destroy"	Mother's Day	Chelsea Stardust	Sean Keller & Jim Agnew	May 3, 2019 (2019-05-03)
In an attempt to prevent her son from becoming a serial killer, a geneticist creates clones in order to allow him to repeatedly experience the same murder.[8] Cast : Israel Broussard as Spencer Harris, Aurora Perrineau as Ashley Prime, Dora Madison as Marissa Cornell, Frank Whaley as Parker, Samantha Mathis as Dr. Victoria Harris
9	9	"They Come Knocking"	Father's Day	Adam Mason	Shane Van Dyke & Carey Van Dyke	June 7, 2019 (2019-06-07)
A man and his two daughters take a road trip, and are attacked by inhuman forces.[8] Cast : Clayne Crawford as Nathan, Josephine Langford as Clair, Lia McHugh as Maggie Singer, Robyn Lively as Val
10	10	"Culture Shock"	Independence Day	Gigi Saul Guerrero	James Benson, Efren Hernandez and Gigi Saul Guerrero	July 4, 2019 (2019-07-04)
A young woman illegally crosses the border from Mexico into the United States, where her American Dream turns into a nightmare where she is unaware that she and her fellow illegal immigrants are in a simulation.[8] Cast : Martha Higareda as Marisol Ramirez, Richard Cabral as Santo Cristobal, Shawn Ashmore as Thomas, Barbara Crampton as Betty, Creed Bratton as George Atwood
11	11	"School Spirit"	First day of school	Mike Gan	Patrick Casey & Josh Miller and Mike Gan	August 2, 2019 (2019-08-02)
A group of social outcasts earn themselves weekend detention, during which they discover the truth behind urban legends that haunt their school.[9] Cast : Corey Fogelmanis as Brett, Annie Q. as Erica, Jessi Case as Lizzy, Julian Works as Vic, Philip Labes as Russ, Hugo Armstrong as Mr. Armstrong
12	12	"Pure"	Father–Daughter Day	Hannah Macpherson	Story by : Paul Fischer and Paul Davis Teleplay by : Hannah Macpherson	September 6, 2019 (2019-09-06)
In this female coming-of-age horror story, several teen girls perform a secret ritual at a "purity retreat" and, when one of them begins to see a supernatural entity, the terrifying question emerges, what is more dangerous: the demon they’ve unleashed, or the pressure to conform to their fathers’ expectations.[10] Cast : Jahkara Smith as Shay, McKaley Miller as Jo, Scott Porter as Pastor Seth, Annalisa Cochrane as Kellyann, Ciara Bravo as Lacey, Jim Klock as Kyle, T.C. Carter as Gabe

Season 2 (2019–20)

No. overall	No. in season	Title	Holiday	Directed by	Written by	Original release date
13	1	"Uncanny Annie"	Halloween	Paul Davis	Alan Blake Bachelor and James Bachelor	October 4, 2019 (2019-10-04)
A group of college students become trapped in a board game that brings forth their darkest secrets and fears. To escape, they must play; to survive, they must win.[11] Cast : Georgie Flores as Eve, Adelaide Kane as Wendy, Paige McGhee as Grace, Jacques Colimon as Craig, Dylan Arnold as Michael, Evan Bittencourt as Peter, Karlisha Hurley as Annie
14	2	"Pilgrim"	Thanksgiving	Marcus Dunstan	Marcus Dunstan and Noah Feinberg	November 1, 2019 (2019-11-01)
So that her family may better appreciate each other and their privilege, a woman invites historical re-enactors playing Pilgrims to spend Thanksgiving with them. However, the re-enactors may be too dedicated to their characters. Inspired by actual events.[12] Cast : Kerr Smith as Shane, Reign Edwards as Cody, Peter Giles as Ethan, Courtney Henggeler as Anna Baker, Taj Speights as Finn, Antonio Raul Corbo as Tate
15	3	"A Nasty Piece of Work"	Christmas	Charles Hood	Paul Soter	December 6, 2019 (2019-12-06)
After a businessman discovers that he will be receiving neither a Christmas bonus nor a promotion from his corporate employer, his boss offers him an alternative opportunity for advancement—one that involves a violent competition against a rival employee.[13] Cast : Kyle Howard as Ted, Julian Sands as Steven, Dustin Milligan as Gavin, Angela Sarafyan as Tatum, Molly Hagan as Kiwi, Natalie Hall as Missy
16	4	"Midnight Kiss"	New Year's Eve	Carter Smith	Erlingur Thoroddsen	December 27, 2019 (2019-12-27)
A group of male, gay friends, along with a female friend, gather to a beautiful desert resort on New Year's Eve, and play a game called Midnight Kiss, as is their tradition. The purpose of the game is for each of them to find someone with whom to start the new year. When a killer tries to join in, relationships that are already stressed are further tested, and life itself becomes the prize.[14] Cast : Augustus Prew as Cameron, Scott Evans as Joel, Ayden Mayeri as Hannah, Lukas Gage as Logan, Chester Lockhart as Zachary, Adam Faison as Dante
17	5	"My Valentine"	Valentine's Day	Maggie Levin	Maggie Levin	February 7, 2020 (2020-02-07)
Three people—a pop singer, her former manager/ex-boyfriend, and his new protégée/girlfriend—are locked in a small concert hall together. An airing of the grievances and emotional abuses of the past… until things turn violent.[15] Cast : Britt Baron as Valentine Fawkes, Anna Lore as Trezzure, Benedict Samuel as Royal Briggins, Anna Akana as Julie Voccola, Ally Maki as Allison, Sachin Bhatt as Eddie
18	6	"Crawlers"	Saint Patrick's Day	Brandon Zuck	Story by : Catherine Wignall Teleplay by : Catherine Wignall and Mike Gan	March 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)
Three unlikely friends try to work together to save a college town from a dangerous horde of body-switching aliens.[16] Cast : Giorgia Whigham as Shauna Shore, Pepi Sonuga as Misty Carpenter, Cameron Fuller as Aaron Hampton, Olivia Liang as Yuejin, Jude Demorest as Chloe Willis
19	7	"Pooka Lives!"	Easter Pooka Day[lower-alpha 1]	Alejandro Brugues	Ryan Copple	April 3, 2020 (2020-04-03)
As part of a sequel to "Pooka!", a bunch of friends who knew each other from high school create their own holiday and a viral challenge revolving around the toy Pooka, the history of its creation, and the urban legend revolving around the homicide of its creator who was fired from the toy company that she worked at. When Pooka Challenge goes viral on the internet, until events turns into a living nightmare as a murderous versions of Pooka start to come to life.[17] Cast : Felicia Day as Molly, Wil Wheaton as David, Malcolm Barrett as Derrick, Rachel Bloom as Ellie Burges, Jonah Ray as Matt, Lyndie Greenwood as Susan, Gavin Stenhouse as Bennie
20	8	"Delivered"	Mother's Day	Emma Tammi	Dirk Blackman	May 8, 2020 (2020-05-08)
A mother-to-be's life is turned upside down when she comes to realize that somebody she knows has terrible plans for her unborn baby.[18] Cast : Tina Majorino as Jenny Booth, Natalie Paul as Valerie Coates, Michael Cassidy as Tom, Micah Parker as Riley, Rosslyn Luke as Instructor
21	9	"Good Boy"	Pet Appreciation Week	Tyler MacIntyre	Aaron Eisenberg and Will Eisenberg	June 12, 2020 (2020-06-12)
A woman fed up with dating around decides to get an emotional support dog to help with her anxiety, but when she takes the dog home, people who are mean to her start turning up dead.[19] Cast : Judy Greer as Maggie Glenn, Steve Guttenberg as Don, Ellen Wong as Annie Powell Morris, Elise Neal as Dr. Linda Johnson, Maria Conchita Alonso as Bea Rodriguez, McKinley Freeman as Nate, Chico the Dog
22	10	"The Current Occupant"	Independence Day	Julius Ramsay	Alston Ramsay	July 17, 2020 (2020-07-17)
An amnesiac man who is trapped in a psychiatric asylum suspects that he is actually the President of the United States and plans to get out.[20] Cast : Barry Watson as Henry Cameron, Sonita Henry as Dr. Larson, Marvin "Krondon" Jones III as Orderly, Lilli Birdsell as Helen, Kate Cobb as Eliza, Ezra Buzzington as The Administrator, Joshua Burge as The Emperor

Production

On January 9, 2018, it was announced that Hulu had given the production a series order to consist of a first season of twelve episodes. Each episode was set to be released one month apart beginning in October 2018. The series' first twelve episodes were expected to function as standalone stories though some narrative device or structural device was expected to connect them.[21][22][23][24][25]

On May 2, 2018, it was announced that the series had been titled Into the Dark and would premiere on October 5, 2018. Davis and Fisher were announced as producers and Alexa Faigen executive producer.[1][26][27] On October 11, 2018, production designer Cecil Gentry revealed in an interview with Dead Entertainment that he was working on ten out of twelve episodes of the series.[28]

In August 2019, Into the Dark was renewed for a second season.[29] Hulu ordered nine further episodes in addition to the fifteen already ordered, bringing the total to 24 episodes. Alexander Koehne and Lauren Downey were announced as the co-showrunners and executive producers. The twelve-episode second season premiered on October 4, 2019, and will run through to September 2020, after the first season concluded in September 2019.[30]

Release

Marketing

On September 13, 2018, the first trailer for the series was released.[31]

Premiere

On September 21, 2018, the series held its world premiere during the annual LA Film Festival in Los Angeles, California with a screening of the episode "The Body" at the Writers Guild Theater.[32] The episode "I'm Just Fucking with You" held its world premiere during the 2019 South by Southwest film festival in Austin, Texas as a part of the festival's "Narrative Spotlight" series of screenings.[33]

Distribution

On October 11, 2018, it was announced that Sony Pictures Television had acquired the international rights to the series. Sony was expected to take the series out for sale internationally and begin its sale effort at the Mipcom market in Cannes the following week.[34]

Reception

The series has been met with a positive response from critics upon its premiere. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds a 73% approval rating.[35]

The first season holds a 73% approval rating with an average rating of 5.85/10 based on 8 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Into the Dark is a worthy horror anthology, offering viewers a selection of frightening and witty gothic tales like a tray of cobwebbed bonbons, making for a spooky Halloween treat."[36] The second season holds an 74% approval rating with an average rating of 6.08/10 based on 85 reviews.[37]

Into the Dark (season 1): Critical reception by episode

Season 1 (2018–19): Percentage of positive reviews tracked by the website Rotten Tomatoes[36]

Into the Dark (season 2): Critical reception by episode

Season 2 (2019–20): Percentage of positive reviews tracked by the website Rotten Tomatoes[37]

Notes

1. An in-universe holiday started by Pooka's cult that mirrors the Easter miracle.

References

1. Sprague, Mike (May 2, 2018). "Must-Read: Hulu and Blumhouse's Year-Round Horror Series Gets Tons of New Info - Dread Central". Dread Central. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
2. Eddy, Cheryl (December 7, 2018). "Into the Dark's Christmas Episode Is a Total Crack-Up, Thanks to Its Visionary Director". io9. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
3. Kohn, Eric (December 7, 2018). "Blumhouse Finally Hires a Woman Director: Sophia Takal's All-Female Horror Movie". IndieWire. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
4. Miska, Brad (December 18, 2018). ""Into the Dark": Hulu Celebrates Valentine's Day with the Director of 'The Last Exorcism' - Bloody Disgusting". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
5. Miska, Brad (December 18, 2018). "Hulu Collects Debts When "Into the Dark: Treehouse" Streams Next March". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved December 31, 2018.
6. Donato, Matt. "Treehouse May be the Best (and Certainly the Most Topical) 'Into the Dark' Entry Yet". SlashFilm. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
7. Donato, Matt (April 3, 2019). "Hulu's 'Into the Dark' Puts a Dark Twist on April Fools' Day With 'I'm Just F*cking With You'". SlashFilm. Retrieved March 25, 2020.
8. "Hulu's Spring/Summer 2019 Programming Slate". The Futon Critic. April 12, 2019.
9. "Development Update: Wednesday, June 5". The Futon Critic. June 5, 2019.
10. Maas, Jennifer (July 15, 2019). "Hulu Sets Female Coming-of-Age Horror Story "Pure" as September's Into the Dark Movie (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
11. Petski, Denise (September 15, 2019). "'Into The Dark': Halloween-Frame Installment Of Hulu/Blumhouse Series Sets Cast & Premiere Date; Unveils First-Look Teaser". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 15, 2019.
12. Ramos, Dino-Ray (September 27, 2019). "'Into The Dark': Kerr Smith, Reign Edwards Among 6 Set For 'Pilgrim' Installment Of Hulu Horror Event Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 5, 2019.
13. Petski, Denise (October 16, 2019). "'Into The Dark': Kyle Howard, Julian Sands, Angela Sarafyan Among 6 Cast In Installment Of Hulu Event Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 21, 2019.
14. Ramos, Dino-Ray (November 8, 2019). "'Into The Dark': Augustus Prew, Scott Evans, Ayden Mayeri Among 6 Cast In New Year's-Themed 'Midnight Kiss' Installment Of Horror Anthology". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 14, 2019.
15. Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 8, 2020). "'Into The Dark' Sets Britt Baron, Anna Lore, Benedict Samuel, Anna Akana For Valentine's Day-Themed Installment Of Horror Anthology". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
16. Maas, Jennifer (February 14, 2020). "Hulu's 'Into the Dark' Sets Body-Switching Aliens Thriller 'Crawlers' as March Movie (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
17. Rico, Klaritza (March 11, 2020). "TV News Roundup: Adult Swim Releases 'Three Busy Debras' Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
18. Maas, Jennifer (April 16, 2020). "Hulu's 'Into the Dark' Sets Pregnancy Horror Story 'Delivered' as May Movie (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
19. Turchiano, Danielle (April 29, 2020). "Judy Greer, Steve Guttenberg Among Cast for Blumhouse Television's 'Into the Dark: Good Boy' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
20. Turchiano, Danielle (April 29, 2020). "Judy Greer, Steve Guttenberg Among Cast for Blumhouse Television's 'Into the Dark: Good Boy' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
21. Holloway, Daniel (January 9, 2018). "Hulu Orders Monthly Horror Anthology From Blumhouse TV (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
22. Mudano, Mike (January 9, 2018). "Hulu Orders New Monthly Horror Anthology Series From Blumhouse Television". Paste. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
23. Crucchiola, Jordan (January 9, 2018). "Hulu and the Studio Behind Get Out to Haunt You With New Horror Anthology Series". Vulture. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
24. Baxter, Joseph (January 9, 2018). "Hulu Orders Horror Anthology Series from Blumhouse Productions". Den of Geek. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
25. Squires, John (January 9, 2018). "Hulu and Blumhouse Partner for Unique Monthly Horror Anthology Series - Bloody Disgusting". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved February 10, 2018.
26. Patterson, Adreon (May 2, 2018). "Hulu Renews The Handmaid's Tale, Announces Three New Shows". Paste. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
27. Villarreal, Yvonne (May 2, 2018). "Hulu gives series order to Mindy Kaling's 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' TV adaptation — and unveils other programming news". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
28. Morse, Chris (October 11, 2018). "Interview: A Look into the World of Hulu's Into the Dark". Dead Entertainment. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
29. https://www.vulture.com/2019/08/into-the-dark-hulu-renewed-season-2.html
30. "'Into the Dark' Anthology Series Renewed for Season 2 at Hulu". August 21, 2019.
31. Miller, Liz Shannon (September 13, 2018). "'Into the Dark' Trailer: Blumhouse Teases A Year's Worth of Horrific Holidays on Hulu — Watch". IndieWire. Retrieved October 6, 2018.
32. McNary, Dave (August 22, 2018). "Tiffany Haddish-Ike Barinholtz Comedy 'The Oath' to Premiere at LA Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
33. N'Duka, Amanda (January 16, 2019). "SXSW: Seth Rogen/Charlize Theron Comedy, Matthew McConaughey's 'The Beach Bum' Among 2019 Feature Lineup". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
34. Clarke, Stewart (October 11, 2018). "Sony Snags Blumhouse's Hulu Anthology Series 'Into the Dark'". Variety. Retrieved December 23, 2018.
35. "Into the Dark". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
36. "Into the Dark: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
37. "Into the Dark: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 9, 2020.

External links

• Official website
• Into the Dark on IMDb