With many major movie releases being delayed in the wake of the global pandemic, Australian cable network Stan‘s latest series is here to give drama and thriller fans something to keep them going – and a whole new world to escape into.
You may be familiar with the original cult series Penny Dreadful, with which it shares its name and little else. Setting the scene in 1938 Los Angeles, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels is a twisting supernatural crime caper that combines the deeply infused social and political tensions of its setting with Mexican-American folklore and powerful otherwordly forces that threaten to tear the city apart. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
What’s it about?
When a grisly murder shocks the city of Los Angeles, Detective Tiago Vega (Daniel Zavatto) and his partner Lewis Michener (Nathan Lane) are thrust into the middle of one of the most nuanced and engaging stories ever told. As they are forced to dive headfirst into the city’s grim underbelly in pursuit of an unsettling truth. As wild twists and turns unfold, they become embroiled in the rich history of the still-developing city; from the construction of the city’s first freeways to its deeply rooted Mexican-American traditions, as well as the rise of radio evangelism and the dangerous espionage activities of the fast-rising Third Reich. Each new element plays a cryptic yet crucial role in both the murder mystery and in exposing the dark forces, supernatural and human alike, that endanger the lives of everyone involved.
So it’s not a continuation of Penny Dreadful then?
Definitely not! It has been described by the series’ writer and executive producer John Logan, who also served in the same role in the original series, as a ‘spiritual descendant’ of Penny Dreadful, meaning you can expect all of those elements that made the critically acclaimed series so freaking good – I’m talking horror, mystery, murder, detectives, stunning visuals, stellar cast, and a premium cable budget – but with a brand new universe and storyline to delve into. And with Logan remaining firmly at the helm, you know the Penny Dreadful legacy is in trustworthy hands. With the additional executive producer Michael Aguillar (Kidding, I’m Dying Up Here) adding black comedy nous, and Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) bringing Oscar-winning clout, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels has all the makings of a peak TV offering, and it absolutely flexes those muscles to deliver a series that seems set to surpass the OG.
Will there be horror/supernatural forces?
It wouldn’t be a Penny Dreadful without the supernatural, but this time, two of the coolest supernatural forces you’ll ever see are central to the whole saga!
At the heart of all the conflict waging war in the City of Angels is a sisterly battle between Magda, a supernatural demon who can take the form of anyone she chooses (played by absolute badass Natalie Dormer) and the Mexican deity Santa Muerte, the literal personification of death (a disturbing, occasionally death doll-stylized Lorenza Izzo) who use the pesky moral inhabitants of LA to do their bidding, so you can rest assured that the series has more than its fair share of horror, demonic possession and blood loss… You can see them both in their demonic glory in the action-packed trailer.
Who’s in it?
Joining the star-studded line up alongside Dormer, Izzo, Lane and Zavatto is Kerry Bishe as Sister Molly, a charismatic radio evangelist; Oscar nominee Adriana Barraza as Maria Vega, the matriarch of the Vega family; and Michael Gladis (of Mad Men fame) as Charlton Townsend, a councilman and head of the LA City Council’s Transportation Committee.
Why should you watch it?
If everything we’ve said above isn’t enough to convince you, the trailer just might do the trick – its sinister lighting, old-school gangster shots, old age Hollywood glamour, grizzled but dreamy detectives, explosions, horror, occult references, supernatural undertones and Natalie Dormer in countless iconic manifestations looks nothing short of epic… Basically, ‘Penny Dreadful: City of Angels’ is the demonic family feud/murder mystery/supernatural horror series we’ve all been waiting for, and the city of sinners is the perfect place for it to all go down.
Okay I need this in my life RN! How do I watch it?
The brand new series Penny Dreadful: City of Angels is now streaming, only on Stan, with new episodes premiering same day as the US. So start your 30-day free trial now.
