X
- 2019
- TV-MA
- HULU
- 2019
- TV-MA
- HULU
- 2019
- TV-MA
- HULU
- 2019
- TV-MA
- HULU
The Act
Season 1 Premiere: Mar 20, 2019
73
7.4
Where to Watch
Where to Watch
All Seasons
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
73
82% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
18% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 17 Critic Reviews
73
82% Positive
14 Reviews
14 Reviews
18% Mixed
3 Reviews
3 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Terrifying performances from Patricia Arquette and Joe King pair mommy issues with musical cues that fellow Hulu shows should take a note from. It's one hell of a Mommie Dearest ride. [3/10 May 2019, p.90]
The virtues of The Act are often distinct from the details of its dramatic arc. It’s more a ready-made parable of toxic parenthood or a mass-cultural case study than a thriller. ... Arquette’s Dee Dee combines vigilant motherhood, complicated victimhood, and complete monstrosity. The character will be remembered as an icon of our era of grift, alongside the antiheroes of “Fyre Fraud,” “The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley,” and “The Apprentice.”
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 45 User Ratings
7.4
78% Positive
35 Ratings
35 Ratings
16% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
7% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 45 User Ratings
7.4
78% Positive
35 Ratings
35 Ratings
16% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
7% Negative
3 Ratings
3 Ratings
There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.
The Act rarely feels sensational—focused more on character than controversy—and Arquette and King are balanced by a very talented ensemble that includes Chloe Sevigny, Annasophia Robb, Dean Norris, and Calum Worthy.
The gratification of The Act is in the telling. And the show, spread out over 10 leisurely hours that greatly expand on Lifetime’s condensed treatment of the story in the recent TV movie Love You To Death, only gets more compelling with every new reveal.
The Act never seizes an opportunity to make us understand why Dee Dee manufactured this system of toxic codependency missing out on an "Aha!" moment that might've made The Act magical. But for plain old Mommy horror fun, The Act does its job nicely
The combination of subject and sequencing creates an eerie atmosphere, but pushing a bit further stylistically could have made this a campy treat instead of something caught between sincere storytelling and the bizarre true story. Still, after five of the eight total episodes, The Act is a satisfying exploration of one girl’s desperate bid for independence.
As engrossing as this story is, the Hulu series — which comes from Michelle Dean and Nick Antosca — starts to lag as it goes on.
Production Company:
- Writ Large
- Cool House
- Eat the Cat
- Universal Cable Productions
Initial Release Date: Mar 20, 2019
Number of seasons: 1 Season
Rating: TV-MA
Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
Satellite Awards
• 3 Nominations
Primetime Emmy Awards
• 1 Win & 2 Nominations
