Martin Carr reviews the fourth episode of Castle Rock…
Any programme that can comfortably incorporate early experimental Tom Waits and mainstream Roy Orbison alongside a hail of bullets must be worth watching. Imbued with a solid sense of self like all great works of fiction Castle Rock continues its unfettered run into darkness. Middle Eastern torture stories meld seamlessly with dour house sales which are reminiscent of American Beauty without the humour. Alan Ball influenced moments of real estate wrangling give way to home truths, gunshot wounds and solid character segues.
My only regret with Castle Rock has nothing to do the construction, dialogue, production or acting on display more a lack of knowledge. Having read a few short story anthologies, a few major works and his own book On Writing, an appreciation for the constant reader easter eggs is sadly lacking for me. That aside there is still much to enjoy here as both Scott Glenn, Andre Holland and Sissy Spacek get to create, broaden, react to and off each other whilst moving things along. Shades of grey over motivations, minor details which keep being brought back up combine with flashbacks, which might be remembered memory or traumatic recollection.
As Henry Deaver digs deeper into the injustice of that Shawshank prisoner it becomes apparent they share more than a little in common. Obvious lies apparent to all sit alongside more disturbing details which feed into this increasing spiders’ web of suspicion. Bodies brought back into town stir up memories as yet unrevealed, spark recollections too deviant for consumption and raise questions best buried deep. This slate grey town with its murder statistics, prison pension plan and Crystal Lake overtones feels forever cursed, its occupants balanced on a knife edge between redemption and condemnation. There are those who accept it, live with it and exist within it without complaint, while those who rally against the forces here succumb to darker urges.
Rich in atmosphere, subtle in exposition and broad on character arc Castle Rock is a rare animal. Original, lived in, engaging and fully realised from episode one this first dip into the fictional world of Stephen King has fast become essential viewing. There are more things at work here than simple narrative threads, structural necessities or simple fan favourite fiction tricks. Behind the doors of any house in Castle Rock you are convinced there is a story. Not one for the faint hearted or those looking to sleep easy, but for others who like an idea to linger after lights out. For any fan of good writing, instinctive imagination and television with depth there can be no higher recommendation from this reviewer than to ask that you simply watch.
Martin Carr
Originally published August 2, 2018. Updated January 8, 2019.
