Hey, did you know that Sissy Spacek is a talented actor? Well, in case you were living under a rock, or simply forgot, this week’s episode of Castle Rock is here to remind you.
Fittingly titled “The Queen,” the seventh episode of this horror anthology series is one of its most unsettling hours so far, with frightening imagery and an effective ending. But, despite al the great creative decisions the showrunners made, the series can’t help but feel somewhat meandering as it approaches the final stretch of episodes.
Spacek, of course, has a special history with Stephen King; if it weren’t for Carrie, she may not have ever become the Oscar-winning legend she is today. While the years have not been kind to her debut film – the Brian de Palma thriller is more fun when viewed as a campy comedy these days – there is something haunting about Spacek’s portrayal of the bullied telepath who gets revenge on her cruel peers.
But, over the years, Spacek has developed an enviable resume, winning an Oscar for her portrayal of country singer Loretta Lynn, appearing in classics like Missing and 3 Women, and even having a recent revival of sorts with an Oscar nominated turn in In the Bedroom and a memorable appearance in blockbuster drama The Help. But “The Queen” is the best showcase of her talent in years, and she owns it.
This surreal episode of Castle Rock finds the dementia-ridden Ruth wandering through her memories, seamlessly bouncing between disturbing moments from her past and unsettling events currently happening under her roof. This leads to some very effective moments that also provide minor clues towards the season’s main mystery. Spacek is wonderful throughout the hour, which she appears in almost every shot of – an impressive achievement in and of itself. But, perhaps the best thing about her work in “The Queen” is that she’s not asked to fly over the top or camp it up for the camera.
American Horror Story, Castle Rock’s closest comparison, frequently casts legendary actresses as well, but gives them over-the-top characters to play and asks them to milk every line of dialogue for all its worth. That’s all fine and good, but it’s a breath of fresh air for a horror series to let its lead actress give an understated performance.
But, while this episode is fine on its own, Castle Rock still exhibits some major storytelling problems. With only three episodes left to go, this series still feels like it’s just idly spinning its wheels. The story continues to ask more questions, without providing answers, with many of the show’s creepiest images an characters feeling like afterthoughts. This also leads to some confused performances – while Bill Skarsgard, for example, has an obvious hint of menace in his performance, the lack of information about his character is starting to make his appearances less interesting. Meanwhile, talented performers like Melanie Lynskey and Jane Levy are given nothing to do. For all its best elements, Castle Rock can’t seem to find a way to meld these interesting concepts into a coherent show.
That being said, “The Queen” stands on its own as an entertaining, spooky hour of television. The Emmys have not been kind to horror series in the past (unless its produced by Ryan Murphy, of course), but it would be nice to see Spacek be honored for her work here. It’s quite impressive.
Overall rating: 7 out of 10
Castle Rock’s seventh episode, The Queen is currently streaming on Hulu.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXsKCQenpt0&t=1s
