watch later

Not interested / seen

Archive 81Archive 81

Archive 81

An unsettling thriller co-produced by horror veteran James Wan

Drama, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

7.5

show

United States of America
English
Binge-Worthy, Dramatic, Gripping
2022
Ariana Neal, Dina Shihabi, Evan Jonigkeit
53 min

Synopsis

rotten tomatoes
imdb
wikipedia
An archivist takes a job restoring damaged videotapes and gets pulled into the vortex of a mystery involving the missing director and a demonic cult.

Our Take

7.5
The Staff

This sci-fi thriller based on a podcast by the same name is about Dan (Mamoudou Athie), a video archivist who takes a job to restore a set of burned Hi8 videotapes. When he starts seeing the footage, he discovers that it is from a now-missing woman trying to document a cult in the ’90s. 

The events of the footage take place in an unassuming apartment building in New York City; after the building mysteriously burned down, many were left dead and missing in its wake. As Dan tries to understand what happened, he uncovers details about the woman filming and something that links even his own family to the fire.

The show is at times more of an unsettling horror than a supernatural thriller, but it features a stunning performance from Mamoudou Athie. It’s also notably co-produced by James Wan, co-creator of the Saw, Insidious, and Conjuring franchises.

Comments

What did you think? Who should watch it?

Next up

More like this in

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

best

8.3

An inspired revival of the fun, inspirational, episodic format that made Star Trek a phenomenon in the first place

Let’s Get Divorced

5.0

A toothless take on divorce, though with a promising premise and stunning views of Ehime

I’m a Virgo

best

8.0

This surrealist show about a 13-foot tall teenager uses its wacky premise to politically skewering effect

Skull Island

best

8.0

An exciting action adventure forcing explorers to survive on Skull Island or become its latest meal

Actress

7.6

Nonchalant vigilance is threatened by a unknown, omniscient antagonist

Shaitan (2023)

5.0

When the law fails, violence, revenge, and coups take over

Search

7.8

Exploring the fine line between community and cult in this Turkish mystery

See You In My 19th Life

7.5

A romantic reincarnation K-drama with a mysterious twist, grounded in modern times

Count Abdulla

best

8.0

A fresh spin on the horror genre and a welcome addition to TV’s growing roster of by-Muslims-for-Muslims comedies

Barracuda Queens

5.8

This loosely-based-on-a-true-story mini-series is just about good enough to while away an afternoon, but not for much else