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- HULU
- Mar 20, 2019
- HULU
- Mar 20, 2019
- HULU
- Mar 20, 2019
- HULU
- Mar 20, 2019
Where to Watch
Season Episodes
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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 27 User Ratings
7.3
74% Positive
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
19% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
7% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 27 User Ratings
7.3
74% Positive
20 Ratings
20 Ratings
19% Mixed
5 Ratings
5 Ratings
7% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
The Act Season 1 is very well done. The acting, writing, direction, and cinematography are superb. The action of the show ranges from creepy to downright horrifying, with the actors' realistic portrayal of the characters making you even more uncomfortable. The show really drives home that reality is often far more terrifying than any slasher horror film. Patricia Arquette really makes you hate her character, and Joey King does a good job of conveying the complex nature of her character, for whom you feel sorry but with whom you become quite annoyed and frustrated. Ms. King is a very talented and promising newcomer. The only thing this show does not have going for it is that it's always going to live in the shadow of American Crime Story; as one of the best shows on TV (in my opinion), ACS is a very tough act to follow.
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SEASON 1
I've been pleasantly surprised by this thus far. I watched the documentary, and was intrigued (but, hey, I love True Crime stuff). i don't usually go for the reenactments, but this has a great cast and fills in a lot of the gaps the documentary just couldn't. Patricia Arquette is really knocking it out of the park this past year. She was phenomenal in Escape at Dannemora, and she doesn't let up here. Chloe Savigny is always a pleasure (but I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a bit of prurient interest on my part. Don't get me wrong, she's amazingly talented, but I have a thing for her so I can't be trusted). The real surprise is Joey King. She does a great job as Gypsy. I had only seen her in passing in YA fare, but she's certainly holding her own in this Hulu original.
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SEASON 1
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.
Another example of a series that drags its feet (well in that case, wheelchair) and tries the patience of the viewer by revealing the end of the story (Death of the mom) right in the first episode and asking us to focus on the psychological development of the characters and, thereby, gain insights into the sado-masochistic mother/daughter relationship.
However, after about two episodes, this development stalls more or less. Then it follows the well-trodden path of the hundreds of similar average psycho-thrillers that have been the staple of middle-aged beach goers' literature and cinema over the last 60 years.
This show just helps kill time, just not very efficiently....
Plus point for the cinematography and the young actress though.
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SEASON 1
Compelling True Story Drama That Changes Mood & Tempo Too Many Times
After viewing Mommy Dead and Dearest, the HBO documentary on the same subject, it appears The Act is nothing but a money grab in retelling the exact same story with only updates since 2017. The Act omits major participants in the Gypsy Rose Blanchard story, omits character flaws of some participants and uses creativity to present people, places and things that are not fact. Therefore, look upon The Act as a TV-MA rated Lifetime dramatization.
You can always tell when a production has too many cooks stirring the pot, and The Act is no exception. The pace and intrigue are set early, leaving the viewer riveted to the story and waiting in anticipation-until we hit the halfway point of the story as both direction and rhythm completely change the feel of the story. The Act should garner another Emmy nomination for Patricia Arquette.
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SEASON 1
