The A List is a British thriller series that originally premiered in the UK last year, but finally made its way international on Netflix, August 30th.
It follows Mia (played by Lisa Ambalavanar), on a remote island for a summer camp, that quickly takes a terrifying turn. Is it worth the watch?
I know, the premise sounds a lot like the start of a super cliche slasher-summer camp horror, but it really subverts your expectations.
Instead of Jason Voorhees slashing through summer camp counsellors, The A List gives you the mysterious Amber, and delves deep into the occult.
Overall, I think The A List is average at best. It just misses the mark on being amazing due to a weak start, but it’s still an enjoyable TV Series.
As mentioned before, the story is set-up similar to a slasher movie, with characters written into tropes like the popular girl, nerd, or jock.
The series is quick to break the characters out of their stereotypes though, and the story is actually well-written with some good twists.
The creators of the show, Dan Berlinka and Nina Metivier do a great job at creating a tense atmosphere, with the right amount of mystery and creepy.
Despite all these positives though, the shortcomings of The A List really weigh it down. Even though the story and writing is good, the series lacks in how it’s delivered.
I felt like the actors took way too long to grow into their roles, which left the first half of the series with really awkward performances and unbelievable scenes.
Though, once they do grow into their roles they do an amazing job, it’s just a bit too late. In particular, Lisa Ambalavanar (Mia) and Ellie Duckles (Amber) really shine.
That’s why I really hope we see the story continue for The A List. Even though Season 1 might not be spectacular, its good enough and sets up for an interesting second season.
Spend one summer on Peregrine Island and make memories that will stay with you forever.
the a list
I want to end this with a quote from the series. Whilst it might not make you memories that last forever, it’s really enjoyable and worth checking out if you’re a fan of horror.
The A List has some really interesting ideas, and the episodes have a fairly short run time. I also loved how it referenced other popular horror fiction like Stephen King’s Carrie.