MARE OF EASTTOWN: Is HBO’s New Murder-Mystery Worth Watching?

With the final episode hitting this Sunday, we ask: is HBO’S new murder-mystery limited series Mare of Easttown with Kate Winslet and Evan Peters worth watching?

Let’s find out!

Also Read: 7 Scary New Horror Movies Coming to HBO Max (June 2021)

First, let’s get into the nuts and bolts of the show. It tells the tale of Mare Sheehan (Kate Winslet). She’s an office police investigator in a small Pennsylvania town who teams up with Evan Peters’ young hotshot detective to investigate a brutal murder. All while trying to keep her life from falling apart.

So, is it worth watching? Yes.

One of the best aspects of the show is the killer cast. In addition to Kate Winslet and Evan Peters, the show sports Guy Pearce (Prometheus) as Winslet’s new boyfriend and Jean Smart (Fargo S2) as Winslet’s mother. Plus Julianne Nicholson as Winslet’s closest friend, Angourie Rice (The Nice Guys) as Winslet’s daughter, and David Denman (Roy from The Office) as Winslet’s ex-husband. And let’s not forget Cailee Spaeny (The Craft: Legacy) as a teenage single mother.

Craig Zobel directs all 7 episodes. He’s a name you know as a horror fan – whether you know it or not. He’s helmed films like Compliance, Z for Zachariah, and Blumhouse’s The Hunt. Not to mention shows such as Outcast, American Gods, Westworld, and The Leftovers. Basically, the man’s been around the genre block a few times.

Now all of that said, the “horror” and “scary” aspects of the show are very few and far between. Make no mistake, this is a drama first, and a creepy horror-thriller second. Or even third. But still, it’s a solid murder mystery that I think you’ll dig. Especially if you liked True Detective. You can stream the first six episodes now on HBO Max.

Synopsis:
In the suburbs of Philadelphia, a detective named Mare Sheehan investigates the recent murder of a teenage mother while trying to keep her own life from falling apart. Mare is a local hero, having been the star of a high-school basketball championship game 25 years ago. She has also been unable to solve the case of another missing young girl for a year, leading many in the community to doubt her detective skills. Her personal troubles include a divorce, a son lost to suicide, and an ex-heroin addict daughter-in-law battling for custody of Mare’s grandson.

The HBO original limited series currently sports a killer 92% approval rating over on Rotten Tomatoes. The Critics Consensus: Grounded by a career-best Kate Winslet, Mare of Easttown’s ambitions at times exceed its reach, but its central mystery is supported by such strong sense of place and character it hardly matters.

Have you been watching Mare of Easttown? What do you think?

Let us know in the comments or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also talk with me on Twitter @MikeSpregg325. Dread Central is now on Google News!

Share: 
Tags:

Categorized:

Sign up for The Harbinger a Dread Central Newsletter