In recent years, Fantastic Fest has opened its lineup to include television series that fall under its genre label. This year, I attended screenings for two TV shows, one of which was Teacup. One thing that caught my attention about Teacup was that one of the executive producers is James Wan (Saw, Insidious, The Conjuring). On top of that, I was further intrigued by the fact that director E.L. Katz (Cheap Thrills) was also involved in at least the first two episodes of the show. And that is exactly what was screened at this year’s Fantastic Fest–the first two episodes. I went in knowing nothing about the source material (the novel Stinger by Robert R. McCammon), or what exactly what the show is about, but I left the screening wanting to see more.
And I mean that in a good way. I was so captivated by this small taste of the show that I intend to continue watching. The show takes place on a usually quiet ranch in Georgia where the Chenoweth family live and make a living. Maggie Chenoweth (Yvonne Strahovski) works as the area veterinarian who operates an animal clinic on their property. The family also consists of patriarch James (Scott Speedman), grandmother Ellen (Kathy Baker), daughter Meryl (Émilie Bierre) and youngest child Arlo (Caleb Dolden). On one bizarre night, a strange phenomena takes place when the Chenoweth homestead loses power, setting the stage for an intriguing and mysterious plot.
As it turns out, the same problem has affected some of their neighbors. Though it initially seems like it’s just another run-of-the-mill power outage, some extraordinary, seeming supernatural occurrences take place, leaving the Chenoweth’s and their neighbors trapped on the property. It also seems like this crazy situation has affected Arlo, who begins suffering from convulsions and begins speaking what seems like utter gibberish. When one of the neighbors gets killed when attempting to leave the property, everyone remaining on the Chenoweth property realizes that they are in trouble.
While this two episode introduction did not reveal too much, I found myself nevertheless engrossed in this insane situation. The solid writing, skillful direction, and the performances by the talented cast, which are nothing short of exceptional, works its magic and left me wanting to follow this series. Katz and his crew does a fantastic job creating a mood of utter dread and bewilderment (in a good way). The way they slowly and deliberately build the mystery and tension has a way of sinking its teeth into you.
The entire cast of Teacup deserves nothing but praise for their exceptional work. Each member, including the young actor Caleb Dolden, who portrays a distinctive and intelligent young boy undergoing what seems to be a type of possession, and Yvonne Strahovski, who plays the stoic and intelligent mother Maggie, delivers standout performances that are sure to impress and engage the audience.
Teacup is now available for streaming on Peacock, making it easily accessible for viewers. I recommend checking out the first two episodes to get a taste of this intriguing series. I plan to continue watching what unravels and what happens next. Hopefully, this fascinating series (so far) will not disappoint.