Crazy Fun Park

I went into this not really expecting anything since the Goosebumps re-release was such a disappointment.

I went into it with even less expectation because it was Australian. But I was hopeful since it was Australian and I did not know any of the actors so you do not get bogged down with their personal opinions.

It was going well until episodes 5 or 6 where it starts to show more of the B characters personalities, stories and coupling traits. And then by episode 7 we started with the grammar lessons.

From there you are so distracted and irritated by that unwanted and un-useful injected information that you are annoyed and just quit.

I didn't have any expectations for this and only picked it as I couldn't figure out the hotel TV.

Anyway, I ended up being hooked and binged all 10 episodes.

It does have some funny elements but, for me, I thought it was a really well crafted drama with some horror, loads of emotion and some life lessons.

I have to say I didn't expect to cry at all watching this show but I did have a little blub.

I'm not sure if there could be a season 2 unless the focus is on a different character but I'm really impressed that this "kids" show was so well done.

Overall, a really enjoyable story that deals with death and being able to let go.

After Mapplethorpe dies in a feat of stupidity at an abandoned carnival, best friend Chester discovers that Mapplethorpe "lives" each night from dusk til dawn, trapped at the park with a group of other ghostly teenagers who met similar fates. Chester sneaks off to visit nightly -- which interferes with his schooling -- and each episode delves into the life and death of a different character.

I went into this blind and was gripped practically from the start. The characters are lovable, there's not one weak link in the cast (Stacy Clausen is a standout as Mapplethorpe, and Judith Lucy chews the scenery as Chester's teacher/counselor), it moves at a brisk pace, there are some really funny moments, plenty of well-structured drama, and a whole lot of heart. My only two criticisms are that Nimrod's storyline devolved into pure schmaltz, and the big mystery surrounding leader Remus ultimately felt sort of... meh.

The thing that I kept thinking was that it reminded me of the 1980s vampire classic "The Lost Boys." That's certainly not intended as an insult, nor did it seem like some blatant ripoff, but there's a similar dramedy tone and many of the same elements.

With just dead air and bad reality shows coming out of Hollywood at the moment, this Aussie miniseries was a welcome surprise. Highly recommended.

I went in blindly with low expectations and I was not disappointed. This show is a hidden gem! There are no particularly unlikable characters, and once we see their backstories they each get more interesting. I am also surprised at the LGBT representation, it was shockingly good! The acting was good, the storyline was full of heart and even made me shed some tears.

It's certainly not for everyone, but I still highly recommend watching this. The themes of loss and grief might lean into more mature audiences, but isn't exactly a horror series. Some aforementioned themes and visual effects here and there could be a little bit unsettling for some.

For some bad stuff (and this is pretty nitpicky,) some things just get forgotten. I'd give some examples but that's kind of hard to do keeping this review spoiler free. As much as I wish for a season 2, the ending was perfectly fine. I wish this show can get an actual fanbase that I could talk about the show with.

Sorry if this review is a bit ranty, but I just love this show so much.

Crazy Fun Park is clearly an expansion on (what i would call) "The Boys Trilogy" that Nicholas Verso has created.

The trilogy consists of The Last Time I Saw Richard (2015), Boys In The Trees (2016) and Crazy Fun Park (2023).

Now, if you've seen any of Verso's other films, then you'd know that he really likes the "Lost Boys" style of writing and directing. And as successful as The Last Time I Saw Richard (2015) and Boys In The Trees were (2016), Crazy Fun Park just does not live up to the cult following reputation of those other films.

The acting is mediocre at best, the plot and direction is bland (in comparison to Verso's other projects in this trilogy) and the show itself is way too goofy and comedic. It feels like it's not taking itself seriously enough, which is a real shame, considering the things that resonated with me most about the "The Boys Trilogy" were the dark undertones and atmosphere. Those undertones really set the tone for these films and made them engaging and entertaining to watch. But, this series seemingly scrapped that idea all together and decided to use cheap comedic route to make up for the lack of real any substance.

Moral of the story, all good things must come to an end. But, It was definitely fun while it lasted, and I highly suggest checking out the other films in "The Boys trilogy" if you haven't already!