Entertainment
Netflix’s Ambitious 8-Part Supernatural Horror Series Is a 10/10 Binge
Cracow Monsters has been described as the “perfect series” for those who love the horror genre, and although it is not immediately obvious why, as soon as you sink your teeth into the series, it grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. Effortlessly, it blends the supernatural viciousness of demons with a sultry sense of intrigue that reflects the gloomy streets of its setting. Due to its serial format, it isn’t restricted to focusing on one antagonist, choosing to have a primary villain who brings and revives other demons into the world. This allows the show to explore creature design in an indulgent way that horror fans will love sinking their teeth into.
Outside the horror elements, the show utilizes a small ensemble of close-knit students, who, as the protagonist Alex (Barbara Liberek) begins to trust them, add a real sense of community to the story. Each has a distinct persona as well as a unique ability that creates this Scooby-Doo-esque team at the center of all the horror. It adds moments of lightness but, more importantly, plays into the aspect of horror cinema where there is often a core friendship group for the viewer to root for. The core difference here is that the extended runtime means they aren’t picked off one by one instantly, and you are given time to get to know and care about them.
What Is ‘Cracow Monsters’ About?
Cracow Monsters centers around Alex, a college student who is haunted by troubling visions that relate to her past. Her mother had similar hallucinations, and Alex believed her to be schizophrenic. However, her view shifts after Alex’s professor recruits her for a group of students who study and hunt demons. Although the series starts slowly, as Alex is understandably confused and wary of their intentions, after coming face-to-face with one of the creatures, she joins the group. The group’s abilities include foresight, which means the show offers snippets of what is to come without any context, allowing the viewer to attempt to piece together the mystery. It turns Cracow Monsters into something all-consuming that doesn’t just get under your skin because of the creatures, but also because of the intensity of the intrigue.
Unlike a horror movie, which usually features a cold open to immediately reel the audience in, Cracow Monsters takes a slow burn approach, instead choosing to start the series in a sweaty, illuminated nightclub. It instantly sets the mature, sexy tone of the series, but shows a confidence that the show isn’t relying on creature design or special effects as the primary source of intrigue. Rather, protagonist Alex is drenched in mystery, and the allure of her presence throughout the season is akin to the final girl trope, albeit darker and less idealized.
‘Cracow Monsters’ Biggest Strength Is Its Creature Design
Despite the obvious strength of the tone Cracow Monsters delivers, the creatures are the major appeal for any horror fan. The show experiments with different styles of demons, from human-presenting, sexual creatures to giant, brutish beasts. However, it is the way the show weaves in Slavic mythology that makes these creatures feel so developed and tangible. The show takes time to indulge in folklore and art due to its academic setting, and its characters don’t just care about defeating these creatures; they actually want to understand them. The library montages where characters attempt to uncover the truth are a popular trope within horror movies, and they often feel like a plot device for an exposition dump. However, in Cracow Monsters, the discoveries are earned and spread throughout the series, which makes it much more engaging for a horror audience. The books themselves are decadent in design, with gorgeous illustrations that make them feel like old scripture and give so much more personality to the already embellished creatures.
Yet, what is most impressive about the variety of creatures in the show is their physical design. Each has a distinctive appearance and unusual manners of movement that make every single one unpredictable. The one element they all have in common is their bloodthirsty nature, which keeps the body count high. There is a creature for fans of every horror subgenre, as the series seamlessly blends zombies, the occult, and folk horror. Cracow Monsters intertwines beings that feel like they can’t co-exist and finds a way to integrate them into the story. Although the big bad being a small child sometimes requires a suspension of disbelief, the creatures he pulls from the earth don’t require any at all – they are terrifying by nature.
‘Cracow Monsters’ Is Based on Real Folklore
Image via Netflix
The show doesn’t just pick pockets of folklore for the sake of its creature design, but threads it through the whole narrative, bringing elements of the occult subgenre into a modern, urban setting. Alex is given sage as a part of a cleansing ritual by one of her fellow students, and the group uses symbols of demonology to perform an exorcism. If your favorite aspect of horror is the creation of a rich sense of lore and history, Cracow Monsters provides that at the highest level. This is mostly due to its connection to real Slavic folklore.
The core group that Alex is initiated into provides the show something to ground itself in, giving it the use of unorthodox techniques and areas of study to feel more integrated. Having Alex as the audience surrogate entering an environment where the characters are already well-versed in the art of the supernatural allows the show to have a natural flow and gives horror lovers what they want to see without focusing too much on exposition and character discovery. The use of unusual medications or practices doesn’t come with any jeopardy, as the cast are already familiar with them. It allows the show to concentrate on the dynamics of the group, providing a balance between the supernatural side of the show and the more warm community feel.
In eight episodes, Cracow Monsters brings numerous components for horror movie lovers to feast on. Not only does it indulge in detailed creature design, giving audiences diverse and unpredictable antagonists, but it crafts an extremely likable group of heroes to engage in the mystery as well as provide moments of genuine heart. It is a slow-burning story, but any horror lover should stick with it and reap the rewards.
Cracow Monsters is available to stream on Netflix in the U.S.
- Release Date
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2022 – 2022-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Kasia Adamik
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Barbara Liberek
Aleksandra “Alex” Walas
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Andrzej Chyra
Profesor Jan Zawadzki
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Stanisław Linowski
Lucjan “Lucky” Szczęsny, asystent Zawadzkiego
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