By Robert Scucci
| Printed 18 seconds in the past
They are saying that brevity is the soul of wit, and Two Sentence Horror Tales messes with this sentiment by reworking microfiction right into a bite-sized horror anthology sequence with blended outcomes. When you’re unfamiliar with the idea, you will discover a extra literal model of this sort of microfiction on the r/TwoSentenceHorror subreddit for some nice examples of the style achieved proper, in addition to some hilarious takes from a few of its extra unhinged customers.
Utilizing an identical framework for every episode within the sequence, Two Sentence Horror Tales performs out like a teen scream model of Black Mirror within the sense that every self-contained episode explores varied horror and sci-fi subgenres, leaning into how expertise and the supernatural can have profound results on human interactions dwelling throughout the fictions which are established.
As a jaded horror fan, Two Sentence Horror Tales is underwhelming. However it’s an amazing gateway sequence for a youthful viewers who could not essentially need to decide to your complete run, as every episode is a one-and-done expertise wherein their mileage could differ.
Narrative Framework Impressed By Reddit
Although Two Sentence Horror Tales was impressed by microfictions instructed on Reddit, every episode is an authentic work utilizing the format that had already been popularized on-line. Every episode within the sequence begins with a gap sentence on the display, and upon its conclusion reveals the second sentence that brings all the things round full-circle.
For instance, the “Teatime” episode involving a babysitter being laid low with an evil little lady who turns her topics into creepy dolls begins with the sentence, “Of all my toys, I really like this doll the very best…,” concluding with, “She solely cries a little bit after I damage her.”
What occurs in between these two sentences is a full episode that performs with the premise, offering the viewer with a 20-minute horror story that dietary supplements the 2 sentences in Two Sentence Horror Tales.
A Blended-Bag Idea Regardless of Its Ambition
The issue with Two Sentence Horror Tales is that on this case, brevity actually is the soul of wit.
Microfiction works properly as a subgenre as a result of it leaves all the things to the viewer’s creativeness, which most of the time is scarier than what performs out on-screen in an try to decorate what merely doesn’t have to be embellished in most situations. Season 3’s “Enamel,” for instance, facilities on werewolves and vampires. The stunning revelation after Cara has cause to consider that her girlfriend is an other-worldly being is that … her girlfriend is an other-worldly being, leaving little to the creativeness as a result of it’s all explicitly spelled out for you.
In different phrases, did we actually want 20 minutes of buildup to inform us what we just about already know? Embellishment of microfiction fully undermines what makes the style so interesting within the first place, and makes you surprise why episodes like this even exist.
Streaming Two Sentence Horror Tales
Nevertheless, there are some absolute bangers discovered all through Two Sentence Horror Tales’ three-season run that can make you need to poke via the catalog as a result of although its narrative framework leaves lots to be desired, a few of the tales are genuinely unsettling and value your time. If I needed to suggest a single episode to drive this level residence, it could be Season 3’s “Crush,” which tells a disturbing story about senile twin sisters dwelling in squalor who hate one another, however solely till they discover a frequent enemy who’s making an attempt to disrupt their lives for his personal profit.
Whereas Two Sentence Horror Tales might not be for everyone, it’s an amazing, low-stakes introduction to horror for youthful audiences who desire a buffet-style exploration of assorted subgenres in a single place. Like I mentioned earlier, consider this horror anthology sequence as a watered-down model of Black Mirror geared towards children who desire a good scare, however don’t need to be traumatized by the content material they’re consuming.
As of this writing, you’ll be able to stream Two Sentence Horror Tales on Netflix.
