What I liked
I was surprised by how funny it was! It gave me the feeling of nostalgia of returning to a beloved fanfic after years of being away from the material. I wasn’t sure at times if it was meant to be satirical, but I appreciated the humor in it regardless. The ending was very creative.
What I didn't like
The show needs a content warning for violence, flashing lights, and mild sexual content. Personally I don’t think it’s appropriate for 13+ audiences, maybe 16+, and that’s not because of the horror element but because of the predatory professor. I think the character of Otis deserves to be fleshed out more. In this version, the way his disability is portrayed read as more of a plot device than anything else, and risks perpetuating harmful stereotypes without further development and purpose.
My overall impression
Academia romance meets the Dark Pictures anthology, Kate Shaefer’s ambitious debut packs a lot of plot and characters into its short runtime, and while the story may be better suited to a screenplay, miniseries, or interactive format, it’s still an entertaining show. There are moments of good dramatic tension and some really witty dialogue, but the need to push the plot forward (again due to the constraints of the runtime) doesn’t let us spend much time getting to know the characters deeply. Despite this, the show has a talented cast and some really creative technical components. I very much felt this script was written with the screen in mind, not the stage, especially because of how short the scenes are and the continuous need for “extras” during the bonfire, parties, police investigations etc. If you want a fun, fast, spooky (and sometimes silly) night of theatre, this is for you.
