Eli Roth and James Frey’s new animated series could be the next big thing — a serialized animated show for older kids that isn’t based on anything existing. Out on Hulu and Peacock now.
It’s been a hot second since DreamWorks put out a new serialized animated show not based on an existing film franchise. And in the wake of some bigger animated darlings like The Owl House ending, it’s the perfect time for the studio to flex. Fright Krewe, from horror director Eli Roth (Hostel) and YA science fiction author James Frey (I Am Number Four), is a bold swing, ready to step into the void with its horror-focused overarching plot and funky cast of characters. Just in time for Halloween, the new animated series has what it takes to be the next big thing — so long as it gets the time and attention for it all to mesh together.
[Ed. note: This post contains some slight setup spoilers for Fright Krewe.]
Fright Krewe follows a group of high school students who accidentally awaken a malevolent demon. In order to stop the villain from wreaking havoc across New Orleans, the five teenagers are blessed with powers from “voodoo queen” Marie Laveau and an assortment of loas, the spirit guardians that make up the voodoo pantheon. As it turns out, all the myths and legends about paranormal creatures in New Orleans are true, and the gang is thrust into a newfound supernatural world.
The framework of teens getting superpowers is tried, true, and totally fun. But in just the first four episodes, Fright Krewe especially excels at using those powers to highlight the characters’ distinct personalities and really fuel the delightfully dysfunctional dynamics between the group.
