The Clearing: Season 1

Cast View all

	Ras-Samuel Welda'abzgi	Mo
	Guy Pearce	Dr. Bryce Latham
	Miranda Otto	Adrienne Beaufort
	Teresa Palmer	Freya Heywood
	Erroll Shand	Henrik Wilczek
	Anna Lise Phillips	Hannah Wilczek
	Xavier Samuel	Colin Garrison
	Hazem Shammas	Yusuf Joe Saad
	Flynn Wandin	Billy Heywood
	Kate Mulvany	Tamsin Latham
	Mark Coles Smith	Wayne Dhurrkay
	Doris Younane	Christine
	Miah Madden	Max Dhurrkay
	Julia Savage	Amy Beaufort
	Lily LaTorre	Sara
	Bruce Hughes	Cohen
	Harry Greenwood	Anton Beaufort
	Jeremy Blewitt	Anton Beaufort
	Sebastian Sero	Aaron
	Audrey O'Sullivan	Annabelle
	Theo Settle	Adam
	Cassie Robb	Angela
	Gary Sweet	Wilkes
	Kristof Kaczmarek	Ari Herzog
	Spencer Ellis Anderson	Tyler

Crew View all

Director	Jeffrey Walker
	Gracie Otto
Writer	Matt Cameron, Elise McCredie, J.P. Pomare, Osamah Sami
Producer	Jude Troy, Elizabeth Bradley, Alexandra Cameron, Matt Cameron, Richard Finlayson, Elise McCredie, Anna Molyneaux, Jeffrey Walker
Musician	Mark Bradshaw
Photography	Katie Milwright, Campbell Brown

Trailer

Edition details

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Notes

My quick rating - 5.0/10. This show attempts to unravel a sinister cult story while exploring the psychological trauma of its protagonist, but it ultimately stumbles over its narrative choices. While the acting performances, particularly those of Teresa Palmer and Guy Pearce, stand out as the show’s highlights, the overall experience is marred by clumsy storytelling and frustrating characters. The premise of confronting past horrors to prevent present atrocities is compelling. Palmer’s performance as a deeply flawed, emotionally scarred woman carries much of the emotional weight, though her character’s unwillingness to communicate and her baffling choices make her difficult to root for. Pearce, as expected, shines his role and offers a steadying presence in an otherwise chaotic narrative. However, the storytelling is where this one falters. Flashbacks, often a powerful tool in unraveling complex backstories, are poorly executed here. Instead of providing clarity or enriching the plot, they create confusion and detract from the pacing. One particularly key revelation is mishandled through these disjointed flashbacks, robbing it of emotional impact. The show starts strong, promising a gripping cult-centered mystery, but the erratic behavior of the characters becomes increasingly distracting. The younger versions of the characters are more engaging, suggesting that the show might have benefited from a tighter focus on their stories. While the show has its moments and could appeal to viewers drawn to cult-themed dramas, its uneven execution and frustrating character dynamics make it a challenging watch. This is a series I wouldn’t revisit, and I’d only recommend it to those deeply invested in the genre and willing to overlook its flaws.

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