I discovered this after enjoying Inside No 9. (Not a fan of The League.) Psychoville has twisted and memorable characters. The plot is gripping and successfully combines horror with humour. Also, Reece and Steve constantly homage their favourite films. One episode is set entirely in one location, reminding me of how No 9 works. Their commentaries on the DVDs are entertaining and informative. It is a shame Series 3 didn't go ahead, but there aren't any loose ends. I especially loved Reece's characters which include a bitter clown and an obsessive librarian. Dawn French is fabulous. Steve's best character is the man-child, David. There are no weak performances. The music adds to the atmosphere perfectly. Nothing is predictable. The Halloween Special is certainly the best I've seen. For the whole, Psychoville is a delicious treat at any time of the year!
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Growlyted1 February 2015
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chrisrobertbowman301012 February 2014I had better start this review by saying I was/am a fan of the league of gentleman. However I wouldn't describe myself as a huge fan boy and not a lover of all of their work. I found the film to be a disappointment. The point Im trying to make is this review is fair and not just from a fan who will love anything........Plus i happen to think this is better than their previous work! We get to meet a vast amount of characters over two series and a Halloween episode, some that stand out for me are David, Mr Jelly and of course the silent singer. However I think all the charachetrs warrant a place in this excellent series.
What sets this apart from the league of gentlemen is the depth of both the story and the character arks. The tone remains the same but the whole journey just seems meatier and more fulfilling.
i wont go into how the story twists and turns through a serious of dark plots and I shall keep this short - ITS A MUST WATCH -
Psychoville is the TV series actor/writers Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton devised between The League of Gentlemen and Inside No. 9. Like those others it also has that very specific mixture of black comedy and horror that these guys are so at home with. For my money though, Psychoville is probably the lesser of the three series, although it is still very good. Despite what its title initially suggests, and unlike 'League', its characters are located in various places around England and the action is not confined to a single location. The title seems to refer more to a state of mind than anything geographic. Anyway, the cast of disparate characters are slowly drawn together by an ominous secret from their past which is initially communicated to them via mysterious sinister letters.
First off, this is another bit of work that once again showcases Shearmsith and Pemberton's considerable abilities as character actors as well as writers. They both play a selection of very different people who populate this dark story. They are even joined by former 'League' colleague Mark Gatiss in what to me was the best episode of all, 'David and Maureen', which pays very direct homage to Alfred Hitchcock's experimental thriller Rope (1948), in that it shares the conceit of having its whole story told in one single unbroken take. The series also references other films too, such as another Hitchcock classic Strangers on a Train (1951), in less obvious ways.
Of the three series Shearsmith and Pemberton have done, this is the most story-based. It has a mystery underpinning it and the characters do have story arcs that progress in a more traditional manner. The first season probably did this best, in that we knew less of what was going on, so the element of surprise worked more strongly in the series favour. As it progressed I felt it sometimes gave the impression of running out of strong ideas though. The characters are a strong point as you would expect, however, with, amongst others, a misanthropic clown, a psychologically damaged midwife and a sinister manifestation of the mind known as the Silent Singer. The ending to season two quite clearly looks to have been devised with the hope of winning a third season, as it is not really a proper ending at all, with certain plot threads left in the air and the finale really no more than a cliff-hanger of sorts. Evidently the BBC thought otherwise and that was it as far as Psychoville went. -
steven-22211 November 2011Psychoville is the brainchild of two League of Gentlemen members, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton. If you like this sort of thing...comedy that plays off the grotesque and horrific...don't bother reading any reviews, just get your hands on this series and watch!
Season One has many memorable moments, but perhaps none more than the episode that pays homage to Hitchcock's movie Rope, being filmed in one long, continuous take without edits. It's brilliant stagecraft, and includes a guest appearance by fellow Leaguer Mark Gatiss.
The Halloween Special follows, a one-off that can be watched independently, but also links the two full seasons. It's an homage to those cheesy horror anthology movies of the 1970s, with horrific vignettes featuring the Psychoville characters. Brilliantly done.
And Season Two is even better, with a corker of a plot that steadily builds to a stunning climax. Imelda Staunton joins the cast and creates an indelible impression as the high-tech villain. She's got to be one of the greatest actresses in the English-speaking world.
Alas, the latest word has it that there will be no Season Three, and Psychoville has come to an end. But what a wild ride it was! -
Freethinker_Atheist2 January 2015Maybe it's not as funny as The League, but it's brilliant! If you really are a fan of dark comedy, then nothing can please you more than Psychoville. It's the darkest and weirdest comedy I have ever seen! It never gets boring, since it's full of surprises. You never know what is going to happen next. So, apart from being funny, it's suspenseful as well. Amazing how many ideas two comedians can have. Rece's and Steve's abilities to play different characters are astonishing. I bet most actors can't change that much.
Production values are very high, it's movie quality. Pity it lasted only two seasons. -
dashnicholson29 February 2020Brings me back to the days of Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected. No other shows have that effect, that underlying menace, the unknowing, the uncertainty of where you're being dragged. Love it. Same with Inside No 9.
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darrell-1924 June 2009I know that is a harsh title for my comment, but I felt hugely let down by The League of Gentlemen. After a hilarious, and frankly genius first series, the show went quickly downhill with a messy second series that was neither comedy nor horror, and a third that relied on a format change as a rescue attempt. As for the movie - don't get me started.
If you felt like me, then even the title of 'Psychoville' may have conjured up the idea of a desperate attempt to be funny and scary at the same time.
Thankfully, 'Psychoville' IS funny. The weirdness is there, and it still makes you feel uncomfortable, but it is always played for laughs, and after 30 minutes you feel like you actually watched a comedy show. Yes I DO understand the concept of black comedy - but the balance has to be right, and so far (2 episodes in) this show is getting it right. Where 'League' struggled to decide what kind of show it was going to be, it's successor looks set to be the kind of show the writers always wanted. -
bobphunt22 June 2019Fantastically original and absolutely hilarious. Really enjoyed both series. Great cast and well written storyline. Watched this after seeing Inside #9, which was generally very good.
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copperncherrio13 March 2011Where the Psychos are the fledging anti-heroes in a show. They each mysteriously receive a letter saying " I KNOW WHAT YOU DID." Frightened for what's to come, they each act accordingly to their own taste. But first you find out what their daily rituals of being creepers. AND I do mean creepers.
The concept is unique and fun, because they do not limit themselves in the horror of it all. This is a great watch for Halloween or anything for that matter. I was not empathic towards any of the main characters (except for the clown at one point)
Overall, this is not your typical Dexter these people are mentally deranged with a multitude of problems, and there is no justification for what they do, other than being victims of their own past or mind. I say this is a great watch!
Conceptually brilliant, I see HBO or Showtime doing their own version of it to the step of HBO's Carnivale. -
jack-115-8535993 March 2022I fell in love with Shearsmith, Gatiss & Pemberton with the deliciously twisted "League of Gentlemen" earlier. This wonderfully black series does NOT disappoint with such stalwart guests as Dawn French, Daniel Kaluuya & the incomparable Eileen Atkins!!!! Eeeeeeeexcellent!
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As actors, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith are chameleons - they have a gift for transforming themselves into a variety of characters, young and old, male and female. Few, if any, of their characters are very appealing, though. As writers, they love the bizarre, the grotesque, the offensive - not necessarily a bad thing, but this show is often more bizarre and grotesque than it is entertaining. Still, the plot is tangled enough to keep you watching. The second season plays more like a slasher film, with the main characters of the first season getting eliminated one-by-one, and it feels disjointed, but they do manage to pull it all together with a good twist at the end. It's hard to recommend (or not) this show because it's for specialized tastes only, maybe the best advice would be to watch one or two episodes to see how it tastes to you. **1/2 out of 4.
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quinny66620 June 2009OK. So it's not the League, but it maintains all the best bits and continues to disgust and mesmerise as if it is being beamed into your skull from a malign planet of terror.
The first episode opens with some of the most delightful characters; a hook-handed clown who arrives at the kids bash in a hearse, the midwife who delights in the pain of childbirth and many more sikos. Where does the humour come from? I'm sure it comes from being unbalanced by a knowledge that I've met these people in rural England.
The performances are strong and suited, the script and comedy timing is near perfect, mostly because it all been lifted from other successful hits like Murder Most Horrid, League of Genltemen and the premise of I Know What You Did Last Summer. This is why I recommend you get a return ticket to PSYCHOVILLE!!!!! Mooohahahahahaha. -
heratyplant24 July 2022S1 - 8/10 S2 - 4/10
Series one & the Halloween special are both very entertaining rides, with a host of the boys typically odd & often funny loonies.
However series two is all over the place, with dead end characters a plenty & early dead ends for previous characters, as I'm guessing the actors weren't expecting there to be any more. If you're prepared to totally suspend any disbelief you have & forgive the boys for agreeing to do a second series, there is fun to be had, but it all feels very forced with a desperation to get everything to tie up & make sense. I can only imagine the fun they had coming up with the most outrageous, silly story ever, knowing that this was end of the show. -
nathanjayremixes24 March 2018What is the point of this? Who is it for? Should a comedy make you laugh? How about smile? By episode 4 I realised I was watching nothing more than a few mates dressed up in silly outfits, acting like morons. There's more drama, laughs and compelling stories in an episode of The Bill on YouTube than in four shows of this dispiriting waste of time.
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From the opening credits I was hooked. The story-line is perfectly written,the actors are second to none.
The characters are funny, weird and clever and you find yourself feeling In twined with all these strange people who have great depth. For me there is exactly the right portion of comedy and horror combined. I laughed and cried a bit, then laughed again throughout.
I have already recommended this repeatedly to all my friends and family, it's definitely a must see and will put you in a very strange yet satisfying place while watching it! A genius bit of TV! -
alsmess7 November 2018From two of The League Of Gentlemen comes this blacker than black comedy much in the same vein as the latter.There are scenes in this series that genuinely had me laughing out loud.I can't watch or listen to Tina Turner after this without having a little giggle.Just watch it.
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jboothmillard18 January 2015I never saw The League of Gentlemen, I have only ever seen bits and pieces of it, so I decided I would give the same stars and writers, Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, a chance in this new series. Basically the series is set in different parts of England and revolves are five different character story lines: serial killer-obsessed man-child David Sowerbutts (Pemberton) who still lives with his mother Maureen (Shearsmith); embittered one-handed children's entertainer Mr. Jelly (Shearsmith), blind millionaire Oscar Lomax (Pemberton) who collects Beanie Baby stuffed toy animals, midwife Joy Aston (Dawn French) who treats a practise baby doll as if was a real child, and (for the first series) pantomime dwarf Robert Greenspan (Jason Tompkins) in love with his Snow White who has the power of telekinesis. The five characters are connected by a mysterious blackmailer, they are all brought together by a message, and then they find out they were all once in the same institute under the watch of Edwina Kenchington (Eileen Atkins) for their conditions, the second series and Halloween special follow their exploits after as Grace Andrews (Imelda Staunton) tries to bring most of them together as part of a dark conspiracy plot. Also starring Daniel Kaluuya as Tealeaf, Daisy Haggard as Debbie, Lisa Hammond as Kerry, Daniel Ings as Kelvin, Mark Bonnar as Detective Finney, Adrian Scarborough as Mr. Jolly, Miranda's James Holmes as Simon, Christopher Biggins, David Bamber as Robin, Miranda's Dominic Coleman as Colin, EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy as Lorraine, Mark Gatiss as Jason Griffin, Richard Bacon as Interviewer, John Landis as Director, Andi Osho as Registrar and Katherine Parkinson as Fiona. The characters all have their amusing quirks and interesting individual story lines, especially Mr. Jelly and Oscar Lomax, Shearsmith and Pemberton are fantastic playing their numerous, French is almost terrifying in her part, Staunton is creepy as the secret organisation leader and the other supporting cast members do well, the interconnecting things going on work and come together well, it is both dark and funny, a terrific black comedy mystery psychological thriller. Very good!
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I watched the league of gentlemen and inside nr. 9 before this series and I enjoyed the first season very much. It has a sort of weird kind of humour which is exaggerated at times but all in all very enjoyable. My favorite characters were Dawn French and the theatre group which performed 'snow white'. So all in all I have a very positive opinion about the show but for me the story ended with season one. It left open some questions but for me it was complete that way. Nonetheless I looked forward to seeing season 2 and it was a bit of a disappointment. I watched only the first two episodes and that was enough. Maybe the killing of the former characters was a bit far-fetched for me. And the new characters were not so interesting either. So in my opinion the first season was great but the second not so much.
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cherold17 June 2012Psychoville is a genuinely interesting little black comedy. It is a take-off on horror movies, but one that manages to create some genuine intrigue (as opposed to the Scary Movie series, which was funny but whose story was disposable). The characters are a varied and fairly imaginative array of grotesques.
But it is also inconsistent. Sometimes it's very funny, other times just uncomfortable. The worst episode of season 1 was easily #4, which broke the formula of inter-cutting the stories of multiple characters and just had a straight half-hour sketch based on the mother-son serial killers, who I never even found that interesting in small doses.
I should note that I'm not a big fan of horror movies, and at times the horror elements creeped me out a bit. I would expect horror movie fans to enjoy this series more than I did.
While the end of season one paved the way for season 2, I decided to skip it. I don't regret watching season 1, but for me, that was enough. -
Somehow this slipped the net- yet another great comedy horror from Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith, half of the League of Gentlemen. A notably great episode is s1e4, a homage to the films of Hitchcock, especially Rope. The whole episode was filmed in one take, and focuses on two of the best characters. Series 2 is as good as the first, but taking a more science-fiction turn with nazis heads returning from the dead and telekinetic dwarves. Would recommend to any fans of the League or Inside No 9, or anybody who enjoys surreal dark comedies.
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fingazmc20 July 2022Okay calm down, other Reece and Steve fanatics.
I love league, but Psychoville hasn't got the studio audience which is something I'm not a fan of on any programme.
Like League this is incredibly funny has an a amazing story throughout, But what this has over league is it's genuinely scary in parts.
The Halloween special Jelly story freaks me out every time I watch and the Silent singer bits are so weird and unusual it always gets me on edge.
I love league, Psychoville and Inside No 9, so everyone should watch all 3 in my opinion. Plus there's an episode of No 9 that you'll only fully get if you've seen Psychoville. -
mkwoolley21 August 2020Very little actual humor. Writers must have been drunk making each other laugh about poop jokes and a mother pre chewing food for her adult son. Gross out stupid show.