This New Heavy Metal Horror Show Is a Must-See Halloween Treat

The '80s nostalgia endures in Peacock's new coming-of-age horror series, Hysteria. The program, created by Matthew Scott Kane and David A. Goodman, tackles an unfortunate period of the decade that has primarily existed in the shadows: The era of the Satanic Panic.

"While we're in this period where there's a glut of '80s nostalgia pieces," Kane told CNET, "I felt like here's a corner that is not really being explored. Here's an area where we can talk about today, by talking about this." 

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Comparisons to Stranger Things are probably to be expected. After all, both are genre programs that take place in the 1980s and follow the teenage struggles of a group of high schoolers. Supernatural threats permeate both shows, but while season 4 of Netflix's hit series did skate along the surface of the heavy metal corner of the late '80s (RIP Eddie Munson), Hysteria dives head-first into the era.

The result is a show that uses the Satanic Panic fear of the decade as a tool to show how misinformation and disinformation can drive a community away from logic and toward madness. 

During the official press day, CNET spoke with Kane and cast members over Zoom to dig into the show's devilish details. Satanic Panic, but make it fun? Here's everything you need to know about Hysteria, Peacock's new heavy metal horror show.

Read more: Peacock Review: Few Originals, but Cheap Access to Network TV, Movies May Grab You

Emjay Anthony plays Dylan, the high school outcast who accidentally starts a Satanic cult in Peacock's Hysteria.

Peacock

Hysteria release date and time on Peacock

All eight episodes of Hysteria dropped on Peacock today, Friday, Oct. 18. Additionally, the series' first episode will be simultaneously broadcast on USA Network and Syfy, with new episodes airing weekly.

Leaning into the heavy-metalness of the program, each episode title is a reference to a rock song from the era:

Hysteria Die Young Can I Play with Madness? Dance Macabre Mother Speaking in Tongues It's Late Heaven's on Fire

What is Hysteria about?

Hysteria takes place in the tight-knit community of Happy Hollow -- a fictional small town inspired by Kane's childhood hometown of Ypsilanti, Michigan. After the high school football star goes missing, rumors of occultism begin spreading like wildfire. Panic (or hysteria, if you will) quickly follows. The blame for the crime settles on a trio of high school outcasts Dylan, Jordy and Spud, who use the growing fear to hype their heavy metal band by masquerading as Satanists. 

These high school kids want to be seen and accepted, so obviously, popularity is the goal. But their stunt sets them on a dangerous path and puts them in the sights of Tracy Whitehead, the town's religious extremist who positions Dylan and his friends as the source of the town's evil. 

As Police Chief Dandridge struggles to solve the case and keep a clear head, the mania spreads, Dylan's mother's sanity crumbles and Happy Hollow's citizens transform into an angry mob.

"This is a town where everybody gets the same information full stop," Julie Bowen, who plays Dylan's mom Linda, told CNET. "You have to wait until the morning paper, the six o'clock news the next day, before any updates. So, what happens when all these people are essentially drinking the Kool-Aid at the same time?"

Who stars in Hysteria?

Bruce Campbell plays Chief Dandridge in Peacock's Hysteria.

Daniel Delgado/PEACOCK

Joining Bowen in the series is Emjay Anthony (who plays Dylan), Kezii Curtis (as Spud), Chiara Aurelia (Jordy), Anna Camp (Tracy Whitehead), Jessica Treska (Judith), Garrett Dillahunt (the Reverend) and Bruce Campbell as Chief Dandridge.

Speaking about her character, Bowen told CNET that Linda's striving to be a normal mom but that there's some "internalized hysteria" under her smiling surface. "She might actually be bonkers," she added.

Camp expressed empathy for Tracy, who is an overly protective mother with some deep-seated trauma of her own. Her deeply religious beliefs have earned her a negative reputation in town. Like most characters in the series, there's more to her than meets the eye.
"She uses religion as a survival tool," the Pitch Perfect actress revealed. "She uses everything: her hair, her makeup. She's tightly buttoned up. Everything is like armor for her."

A significant genre draw for the series is the casting of horror icon Bruce Campbell as Happy Hollow's police chief. However, if you're expecting Chief Dandridge to embody any silly caricatures akin to many of Campbell's roster of past characters, you're in for a surprise.

"He's the normal one," the Evil Dead actor said. "He's the one who's trying to make sense out of this complete insanity. And so, hopefully, the audience can use him a little bit as a tether. But he's not immune to things getting weird. He's not superhuman." 

Julie Bowen is Linda, Dylan's troubled mom, in Peacock's Hysteria.

Daniel Delgado/PEACOCK

The themes of Hysteria are still relevant today

"Truth is malleable right now," Kane told CNET. "Therefore, reality is malleable."

Misinformation, whether it takes the form of small-town rumors or social media vitriol, can manipulate a community into doing terrible things. At its core, Hysteria is about the widespread panic that results from fearful rhetoric.

"I wanted to write a story about two sides," he continued. "One side is benefiting from that fear. In the case of our story, it is these kids who are getting popular because people are afraid of Satanism, and also these parents who might be getting away with something because of this fear of Satanism."

The small-town backdrop of the series is essential, considering how quickly word of mouth can spread in a place where everyone knows everyone else. As a Michigander from a sleepy community like Happy Hollow, Campbell pointed out the dangers of adding such fearful fuel to a place rife with boredom.

"There's nothing happening," he said. "That's the type of town you want to mess with because that's good drama."