Hulu’s Into the Dark Episode 2 ‘Pilgrim’, A Truly Creepy, Unsettling Thanksgiving – HF Review

Nov 1
The HorrorFatale

Director: Marcus Dunstan
Cast: Kerr Smith, Reign Edwards, Peter Giles, Courtney Henggeler, Taj Speights, Antonio Raul Corbo

Just stick to inviting that crazy ass bragging uncle that gets on your nerves to dinner, ok can we folks?

Episode 2 of Blumhouse’s Into the Dark, Pilgrim, is currently streaming on Hulu. Of course, it’s the Thanksgiving themed episode of the season. And honestly, it is dark, and it pretty much stays that way throughout the episode.

Inspired by true events: In an attempt to remind her family of their privilege and help them bond, Ms. Anna Barker invites Pilgrim reenactors to stay with them over Thanksgiving. When the “actors” refuse to break character, the Barker family learns that there is such a thing as too much gratitude.

If this episode and last month’s episode ‘Uncanny Annie’ are any indication this is going to be a true horroresque season. Pilgrim is bloody and it has a pretty hefty body count – and even a decapitation. The entire episode is creepy, especially when we are introduced to the Pilgrims. The writers (Marcus Dunstan and Noah Feinberg) do a good yet subtle job of reminding us how truly fucked up the actual origins of Thanksgiving are.

Into The Dark — “Pilgrim” – Episode 114– Inspired by true events: In an attempt to remind her family of their privilege and help them bond, Ms. Anna Barker invites Pilgrim reenactors to stay with them over Thanksgiving. When the ÒactorsÓ refuse to break character, the Barker family learns that there is such a thing as too much gratitude. Patience (Elyse Levesque), shown. (Photo by: Patrick Wymore/Hulu)

The performances are pretty good by all involved, with the standouts being Peter Giles and Elyse Levesque as Ma and Pa Pilgrim (not their names, btw). These two convey puritanical façade turned sinister extremely well. As all the previous episodes have done, they try to insert a few moments of much needed levity and I am thankful – see what I did there? Overall, Pilgrim is a good episode. It’s a little darker than usual for the series and quite unsettling, primarily due Giles and Levesque buckled hat and bonnet dressed craziness.

In partnership with Blumhouse Television, Into The Dark is a horror event series from prolific, award-winning producer, Jason Blum’s independent TV studio. The series includes 12 super-sized episodes, with a new installment released each month inspired by a holiday and will feature Blumhouse’s signature genre/thriller spin on the story.

Blumhouse’s Into the Dark streams today November 1st, only on Hulu.