By In Cabinet of Curiosities, acclaimed Academy Award-winning filmmaker and creator, executive
producer and co-showrunner Guillermo del Toro has curated a collection of unprecedented and
genre-defining stories meant to challenge our traditional notions of horror. From macabre to magical, gothic to grotesque or classically creepy, these eight equally sophisticated and sinister tales (including two original stories by del Toro) are brought to life by a team of writers and directors personally chosen by del Toro.
THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE! Just in time to add some gravitas to the Halloween season (and before Mariah has been defrosted and reanimated)!
Netflix and acclaimed Academy Award-winning filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro (EL Maestro of horror) kicks off the first of a four-day creepfest (October 25th through 28th) showcasing 8 blood-curdling tales of horror as part of the anthology streaming series, ‘CABINET OF CURIOSITIES!’
At-A-Glance (detailed guide below)
- Episode 1, “Lot 36”: Tuesday, October 25
- Episode 2, “Graveyard Rats”: Tuesday, October 25
- Episode 3, “The Autopsy”: Wednesday, October 26
- Episode 4, “The Outside”: Wednesday, October 26
- Episode 5, “Pickman’s Model”: Thursday, October 27
- Episode 6, “Dreams in the Witch House”: Thursday, October 27
- Episode 7, “The Viewing”: Friday, October 28
- Episode 8, “The Murmuring”: Friday, October 28
The Netflix series features eight unique 1-hour horror stories that challenge the classical horror genre, each direted by some of today’s most revered horror creators, including the directors of The Babadook, Splice, Mandy, and many more. Season one kicks off on October 25, 2022, . Each episode will be introduced by del Toro himself (he has admitted to being a Rod Serling aficionado).
Two of the episodes are original works by del Toro himself, while the others are written and directed by various filmmakers, including Jennifer Kent, David Prior, Guillermo Navarro, Keith Thomas, Panos Cosmatos, Catherine Hardwicke, Vincenzo Natali, and Ana Lily Amirpour.
Check out the detailed guide below, some blood-curdling images from episodes, as well as the series’ teaser with del Toro leading the charge, after the jump (in case you’ve missed it).
Oct. 25 - Night One: “Scavengers”
“Lot 36”
Directed by: Guillermo Navarro (Godfather of Harlem, Narcos)
Written by: Regina Corrado (Deadwood, The Strain), based on an original story by Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Tim Blake Nelson (Watchmen, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), Elpidia Carrillo (Predator, Bread and Roses, Euphoria), Demetrius Grosse (Fear the Walking Dead, Boon, Lovecraft Country) and Sebastian Roché (The Man in the High Castle, The Young Pope)
Plot: A man buys a storage unit and intends to sell its contents. But little
does he know his new purchase is hiding a mystery that will change his
life for the worse. Based on an original story by del Toro, written by The Strain’s Regina Corrado, and directed by Narcos‘ Guillermo Navarro, this first episode doesn’t have as many big names as other installments. It stars Tim Blake Nelson (Watchmen; The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), Elpidia Carrillo (Predator; Euphoria), Demetrius Grosse (Fear the Walking Dead; Lovecraft Country), and Sebastian Roché (The Young Pope).
“Graveyard Rats”
Directed by: Vincenzo Natali (Cube, Splice)
Written by: Vincenzo Natali, based on a short story by Henry Kuttner
Cast: David Hewlett (SEE, The Shape of Water)
Plot: Written and directed by Splice‘s Vincenzo Natali and based on a short story by Henry Kuttner, this is not the episode to watch if you hate rats. A grave robber (The Shape of Water‘s David Hewlett) tries to make a quick buck by exploring the cemetery. But when he finds himself trapped in an underground maze, his fortunes go from promising to bleak.
Oct. 26 - Night Two: “Loners”
“The Autopsy”
Directed by: David Prior (The Empty Man)
Written by: David S. Goyer (The Sandman, Batman Begins), based on a story by Michael Shea
Cast: F. Murray Abraham (Mythic Quest, Homeland, Amadeus), Glynn Turman (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fargo, The Wire) and Luke Roberts (Ransom, Black Sails)
Plot: Do dead bodies make you squirm? Then prepare to have some new nightmares. F. Murray Abraham (Mythic Quest; Homeland), Glynn Turman (The Wire; Fargo), and Luke Roberts (Black Sails) star in this story about a series of unexplained murders. But horror doesn’t truly come into play until the medical examiner (Abraham) takes scalpel to skin. This one was directed by Voir’s David Prior, written by The Dark Night and The Sandman‘s David S. Goyer, and is based on the short story by Michael Shea.
“The Outside”
Directed by: Ana Lily Amirpour
Written by: Haley Z. Boston (Brand New Cherry Flavor) based on a short story by Emily Carroll
Cast: Kate Micucci (The Little Hours, Mom), Martin Starr (Silicon Valley, Party Down) and Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, The Guest)
Plot: What if your desire to fit in cost you everything? That’s the theme lying at the center of this episode directed by A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night’s Ana Lily Amirpour and written by Brand New Cherry Flavor’s Haley Z. Boston. Based on the short story by Emily Carroll, this one stars Kate Micucci (Mom) and Martin Starr (Party Down; Silicon Valley).
Oct. 27 - Night Three: “Lovecraft”
“Pickman’s Model”
Directed by: Keith Thomas (Firestarter, The Vigil)
Written by: Lee Patterson (Curve, The Colony), based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft
Cast: Ben Barnes (Shadow and Bone, Westworld), Crispin Glover (River’s Edge, Back to the Future) and Oriana Leman (Locke & Key)
Plot: When an art student (Westworld‘s Ben Barnes) becomes obsessed with the work of one of his peers (American Gods‘ Crispin Glover), he initially believes he’s stumbled upon a previously undiscovered talent. But it isn’t long before Richard’s work starts to have an eerie effect on the hopeful Will. Based on the short story by H.P. Lovecraft, this one was written by The Colony’s Lee Patterson and directed by Firestarter and The Vigil’s Keith Thomas.
“Dreams in the Witch House”
Directed by: Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen, Twilight)
Written by: Mika Watkins (Black Mirror, Origin), based on a short story by H.P. Lovecraft
Cast: Rupert Grint (Servant, Harry Potter), Ismael Cruz Córdova (The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Undoing), DJ Qualls (Turning Point, Supernatural), Nia Vardalos (Love, Victor, Station 19, My Big Fat Greek Wedding) and Tenika Davis (Jupiter’s Legacy, Titans)
Plot: Years after his sister’s death, a researcher turns to drugs to bring her back from the grave. That questionable idea is just as bad as it seems. This one was written by Origin‘s Mika Watkins and directed by Thirteen‘s Catherine Hardwicke.Starring Rupert Grint (Servant), Ismael Cruz Cordova (Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power), DJ Qualls (Supernatural), Nia Vardalos (Love, Victor), and Tenika Davis (Jupiter’s Legacy; Titans), this is an episode so bizarre, it drifts into darkly comical.
Oct. 28 - Night Four: “Visitations”
“The Viewing”
Directed by: Panos Cosmatos (Beyond the Black Rainbow, Mandy)
Written by: Panos Cosmatos and Aaron Stewart-Ahn (Mandy), based on a short story by Michael Shea
Cast: Peter Weller (Naked Lunch, Star Trek Into Darkness, Robocop), Eric André (The Eric André Show, The Righteous Gemstones), Sofia Boutella (Kingsman: The Secret Service, the upcoming Rebel Moon), Charlyne Yi (Always Be My Maybe, Good Girls), Steve Agee (Peacemaker, The Suicide Squad), Michael Therrialt (Locke & Key, Cult of Chucky) and Saad Siddiqui (From Scratch, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow)
Plot: Four strangers are recruited by a wealthy recluse solely so that he can show them something unbelievable. But when it comes to tampering with things that should never be touched, not even money can save this group. This one stars Peter Weller (Star Trek Into Darkness), Eric André (The Eric André Show), Sofia Boutella (Kingsman: The Secret Service), Charlyne Yi (Always Be My Maybe), Steve Agee (Peacemaker), Michael Therrialt (Locke and Key), and Saad Siddiqui (DC’s Legends of Tomorrow).
“The Murmuring”
Directed by: Jennifer Kent (The Babadook, The Nightingale)
Written by: Jennifer Kent, based on a short story by Guillermo del Toro
Cast: Essie Davis (The Babadook), Andrew Lincoln (The Walking Dead, Penguin Bloom) and Hannah Galway (Sex/Life)
Plot: Written by del Toro and directed by The Babadook’s Jennifer Kent, the final episode in Cabinet of Curiosities may be its most intimate yet ambitious installment. After suffering a major loss, a couple (The Babadook‘s Essie Davis and The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln) travel to a secluded home to study birds. As one researcher becomes more and more invested in the ghost story hiding beneath these walls, she will have to come to peace with her own mistakes.
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