The Boroughs Review: Alfred Molina Brings Vulnerability to a Fantastic Sci-Fi Creature Feature

The Boroughs Review: Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, and produced by The Duffer Brothers, the idyllic retirement home settings of The Boroughs are enough to make things feel eerie and unsettling, but the many secrets existing within its unassuming halls are what will keep viewers guessing.

Fresh off the disaster that was the Stranger Things finale, this Netflix sci-fi series is an unsettling and engaging affair, particularly as it surrounds themes of ageing, loneliness, morality and the desperation to hold on to time. The thought of growing old, and everything that comes with it, is terrifying enough, but with monsters to tackle, things get dangerously adventurous very fast.

The series has a runtime of 8 episodes, each with a runtime of around 50 minutes.

The Boroughs Review

Plot Overview: Retirement Community with Monstrous Secrets

The series follows a group of elderly residents of a picturesque retirement community, wherein a grieving newcomer bands together with other unlikely heroes to fight back against an unlikely danger that wants to steal something that none of them has – time. The series brings forth several interesting themes that not just terrify and intrigue but also get under your skin. At first glance, the series feels like it’s just another sci-fi show, but there’s a very interesting and terrifying undercurrent, even without the monsters.

On that note, the series creates an oddly comforting surrounding, filled with laughter and understanding, before jumping into the terrifying depths of monsters and death. The plot is fantastic, headed by a group of extremely talented actors who bring out the despair of old age and the terrors of finding monsters in their backyards.

The way it balances heavy themes surrounding morality, loneliness, regret and fading relevance with the supernatural elements makes you feel uncomfortable in your seats. The supernatural elements become a metaphor in this regard and help to elevate and bring home these terrifying points that feel so close to home yet so far away.

On that note, the supernatural side of the series is less focused on, and it’s more interested in looking into the emotional heaviness that the situations bring out. It’s nothing to complain about, but there might not always be answers that you are looking for.

Tone and Themes: Horror Through the Lens of Ageing

If dying isn’t horrifying enough, The Boroughs goes deep into the complexities of old age instead of just looking at it from a sentimental point of view. The elderly aren’t just treated as senile beings thrust into a retirement community and waiting to die. Sam and his gang are sharp, witty people who know what they are doing. With a shocking death, they get the purpose to do something with their lives. This makes them feel capable of taking on the monsters, instead of being mere punchlines.

The emotional dismissal and the fear of feeling overlooked are also interesting themes that the series focuses on. The way society oftentimes overlooks older people and doesn’t believe them when they talk about things bothering them feels personal because they are often assumed to be confused or mentally deteriorating. It’s an interesting and oftentimes heartbreaking watch, but one that does a great job bringing that feel to the screen.

Moreover, the series does a fantastic job of creating a vibe of wonder and fear that is famous in films like Cocoon, E.T. and Signs. The haunting isolation of the retirement home and its surroundings is as much a character as the monsters, and it’s not hard to feel a bit out of your depth in the huge nothingness of it all. As we wonder what people do with the little time they have left, it’s the emotional heaviness and vulnerability that make it stand out from others in the genre.

Performances: Veteran Actors Carry the Emotional Weight

The Boroughs is made so entertaining and engaging thanks to its central performances. Alfred Molina is simply magnetic as protagonist Sam, whose grumpy and grieving self gives way to someone who slowly opens his heart to embracing the time he has left. His deeply vulnerable performance is the pillar that holds everything together, and his journey is what gives the series stakes beyond just survival.

The other characters, including Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Bill Pullman, Clarke Peters and Denis O’Hare, add various flavours to the runtime and make the series more compelling. The chemistry between the ensemble is one of its strongest suits and it’s equally emotional and funny.

What Works & What Doesn’t

The themes, storytelling and the performances are fantastic. The idea of slowly losing yourself in your old age, feeling vulnerable and wanting to get back the time that we have left feels personal. It’s like a horrible dream that we all have, only it’s going to come real sooner rather than later. The performances bring out these feelings too well, and it’s not difficult to understand the undercurrent of emotions and the layered storytelling. Although its slow pacing might not be for everyone, it’s a deeply human story will intrigue fans who like their creature features to have heart.

Final Verdict

The Boroughs is oddly depressing and the series movies between melancholy drama, dark comedy, and creature horror without a thought. It’s a fantastic watch for anyone who like slow-paced horrors that tell a deeper tale. With fantastic performances and great storytelling, this one’s a must-watch.

What are your thoughts on The Boroughs on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!

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