WonderCon 2013: “Hemlock Grove” Panel Recap!

At WonderCon this past weekend, attendees were treated to a sickenly sweet clip (embedded at the bottom of this page) from the upcoming original Netflix show, Hemlock Grove. That clip was just one tasty tidbit from the panel for the series. In attendance was executive producer Eli Roth, Mark Verheidon, Lee Shipman, Deran Sarafian, and Brian McGreevy (who also wrote the novel that the series is based on). The lead actors were also on the panel and included Famke Janssen, Dougray Scott, Bill Skarsgård, Landon Liboiron, Penelope Mitchell, Freya Tingley, Aaron Douglas, and Kandyse McClure.

If the quality and success of House of Cards is any indication of what Netflix original programs can bring, then it looks like Hemlock Grove will be a must see for horror/thriller fans. The show’s plot is simple, yet intriguing: a young girl is murdered and everyone in this small town is a suspect. However, how do you find a killer when everyone has a monster within?

When a show or film is based on existing material, the question is always revolves around just how loyal this new adaptation will be to the original? If it is exactly the same, one might wonder why bother remaking it in the first place? Then, if the reincarnation takes the content in a new direction, it’s as if the universe of the story has expanded (or fans hate it because it is not JUST like the original). For those who read the book, Shipman said, “[there will be] surprises for fans of the novel”. McGreevy mentioned that they tried to “cinematize the novel” and that this show follows after Game of Thrones (another show based on a series of books). Roth then spoke about the manuscript from the novel and stated that, “[it]…got to the root of monster mythology.”

All thirteen episodes will be released on April 19th. Watching television shows on Netflix has changed how fans consume their favorite content. No longer do you have to wait for commercials, the next episode, or even next season (sometimes). Verheidon commented on this style of “binge watch[ing]” and mentioned that it’s exactly how they approached the making of the show. It can be viewed as one long movie, because you can “watch more than one at once” (Verheidon) or you can simply go for one at a time. Douglas noted that as an actor, it was “similar to shooting a regular show” but it was less constricting in regards to the use of language, content, and length of the final product. However, that does not mean everything is fair game. Roth said they were still held to the restrictions of what kind of films are currently on Netflix, so nothing too extreme made the final cut.

But not to worry horror fans, the special effects still look bloody awesome! Roth told the audience that his “instincts are to go practical first”. Personally, I prefer practical effects, and they can even be enhanced with computer generated imagery, but when things are only CGI, they tend to just look fake. The effect does not seem to exist in the world with the characters, and that breaks the illusion. In regards to the werewolf transformation, Roth said he wanted it “…violent, visceral…I want the kids who watched Twilight to be horrified”. Most monsters and monster transformations lately seem to glamorize the process and the lifestyle. Monsters are no longer disturbing and something to be feared; rather they are something that can sparkle and be your boyfriend (or girlfriend).  Speaking of the werewolf transformation, they said it was “shot bit by bit by bit” because they wanted it to “look seamless” and they also wanted to “pay homage in a way [to prior werewolf transformations like American Werewolf in London] and be something different” (Sarafian). It is “like a medical condition” (Roth), it “hurts so good” (Sarafian), and a fun descriptive word by Roth, it is a “weregasm”.

Famke explained that what drew her to the project was that it is a “character piece”, and that it has mystery like Twin Peaks. A story that is driven by its characters needs a spectacular cast and Shipman felt they had just that, and expressed that he believed this perfect casting “…will never happen again”. Yes, there will be monsters but this show’s theme according to McGeevy, is about “outsiders finding community”. That is something that could connect with fans across genres.

Hemlock Grove will be available to all Netflix subscribers on April 19th, and hopefully new viewers will join the ranks of horror enthusiasts and enjoy this incredible looking show. Let us hope more shows of this caliber will continue to be made by people who love the content, and that want to bring viewers the best possible experience that they can.