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Hemlock Grove (TV series)

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Hemlock Grove
Company typeTelevision series
IndustryEntertainment
FoundedApril 19, 2013; 13 years ago (2013-04-19)
FounderBrian McGreevy, Lee Shipman
Headquarters
United States
Area served
Worldwide (via Netflix)
Key people
Eli Roth (producer)
ProductsTelevision series
ParentGaumont International Television

Hemlock Grove is a U.S.-based horror TV series developed by Brian McGreevy and Lee Shipman, with production led by Eli Roth. Created under Gaumont International Television, the show adapts McGreevy's 2012 novel bearing the same title. Netflix launched the series on April 19, 2013, making all 13 episodes available simultaneously.

The narrative unfolds in the fictional Pennsylvania town of Hemlock Grove, centering on Roman Godfrey, the affluent Godfrey family’s heir. He partners with newcomer Peter Rumancek to probe a series of violent murders while both conceal their own dark pasts.

Netflix announced on June 19, 2013, that Hemlock Grove would return for a second season consisting of 10 episodes, which debuted on July 11, 2014. The show garnered Netflix its inaugural Primetime Emmy nominations in 2013 alongside titles such as Arrested Development and House of Cards. On September 2, 2014, a third and concluding season of 10 episodes was confirmed and later released on October 23, 2015.

All three seasons were removed from Netflix on October 22, 2022. Subsequently, in November 2022, FilmRise secured the streaming rights for the series.

Plot

The storyline takes place in Hemlock Grove, Pennsylvania, a town characterized by pronounced economic disparities following the shutdown of its steel mill. Its primary employers include the Godfrey Institute for Biomedical Technologies and Hemlock Acres Hospital. The Institute—suspected of conducting dubious experiments—is overseen by Olivia Godfrey (Famke Janssen), while her brother-in-law, Dr. Norman Godfrey (Dougray Scott), serves as chief psychiatrist at Hemlock Acres.

Season one opens with the discovery of two murdered teenage girls, igniting suspicion around Peter Rumancek (Landon Liboiron), a 17-year-old Romani youth secretly living as a werewolf. Peter joins forces with Roman Godfrey (Bill Skarsgård), heir to the Godfrey estate, to investigate the killings. Notable figures include Letha Godfrey (Penelope Mitchell), Norman’s daughter who claims her unborn child’s father is an angel, and Christina Wendall (Freya Tingley), who becomes romantically involved with Peter.

In season two, recurring characters Destiny (Kaniehtiio Horn), Peter’s cousin who is both a con artist and psychic medium, and Dr. Johann Pryce (Joel de la Fuente), the formidable lead scientist at the Godfrey Institute endowed with superhuman strength, join the main ensemble. A cult targeting supernatural entities emerges as Peter and Roman confront their perilous natures—Peter faces the threat of reverting to a killer, while Roman struggles with an uncontrollable urge to kill. The season delves into their battles against external dangers alongside their internal monstrous transformations.

Main

Recurring

  • Lili Taylor portrays Lynda Rumancek, the mother and trusted advisor to Peter (seasons 1–2)
  • Laurie Fortier appears as Marie Godfrey, wife to Norman and mother of Letha (seasons 1–2)
  • Kandyse McClure plays Dr. Clementine Chasseur, who investigates the Hemlock Grove murders (season 1)
  • Aaron Douglas is cast as Tom Sworn, the sheriff of Hemlock Grove (season 1)
  • Ted Dykstra acts as Francis Pullman, known locally as the "village idiot" who claims to have witnessed important events (season 1)
  • Demore Barnes takes on the role of Michael Chasseur, Clementine’s brother
  • Luke Camilleri features as Andreas Vasilescu (seasons 2–3)
  • JC MacKenzie plays Dr. Arnold Spivak (seasons 2–3)
  • Madeline Brewer is cast as Miranda Cates (seasons 2–3)
  • Shauna MacDonald appears as Dr. Galina Zheleznova-Burdukovskaya, a Russian scientist working under Dr. Pryce (season 2)
  • Alex Hernandez portrays Isaac Ochoa, a private investigator (season 3)
  • Richard Gunn acts as Aitor Quantic (season 3)
  • Emmanuel Kabongo is featured as Marshall (season 3)
  • Michael Therriault plays Dr. Klaus Blinsky (season 3)
  • Anthony J. Mifsud appears as the Greek delivery man (season 3)
  • Meegwun Fairbrother portrays Milan Faber (season 3)

Guest

Development and production

In December 2011, Deadline Hollywood revealed that Netflix and Gaumont International Television were close to finalizing an order for a 13-episode series titled Hemlock Grove. The official announcement came in March 2012, naming Eli Roth as executive producer and director of the pilot episode. Deran Sarafian joined the production team as executive producer and series director, helming six episodes.

Although author Brian McGreevy initially pushed for filming to take place in Pittsburgh with plans set from June through November 2012, Gaumont ultimately relocated production to Cinespace Film Studios in Toronto. This decision was influenced by a misinterpretation of Pennsylvania’s Film Tax Credit program. Principal photography commenced on July 13, 2012, in Port Perry, Ontario, which was modified to represent the fictional town set in Western Pennsylvania.

The budget for season one was roughly $45 million. Key filming sites encompassed Toronto locations such as St Clair and Yonge streets featuring Deer Park United Church; Hamilton Cemetery in Hamilton, Ontario; Ursula Franklin Academy/Western Technical Commercial School served as Hemlock Grove High School; and scenes were also shot at Parkwood Estate in Oshawa. The opening sequence of Season 1’s first episode was filmed along Queen Street in Port Perry.

Casting

In March, Netflix revealed that Famke Janssen and Bill Skarsgård would lead the cast as Olivia Godfrey and her son Roman Godfrey, respectively. The following month, in April 2012, Landon Liboiron was selected to portray Peter Rumancek, while Penelope Mitchell was added as Letha Godfrey, Roman’s cousin. Freya Tingley joined the lineup as Christina Wendall, and Dougray Scott took on the role of Dr. Norman Godfrey, who is Olivia’s brother-in-law and Letha’s father.

By July, the cast expanded with Lili Taylor cast as Kandyse McClure, Peter Rumancek’s mother; Kandyse McClure as Dr. Chasseur; and Aaron Douglas as Sheriff Sworn. Later that same month, Kaniehtiio Horn was brought onboard to play Destiny Rumancek.

Music

Nathan Barr composed the score for the first two seasons of the series. In October 2015, Todd Haberman joined Barr as co-composer for the third season’s soundtrack.

Viewership

Netflix announced that Hemlock Grove attracted more global viewers during its debut weekend than House of Cards.

Critical reception

Season one garnered "mixed or average" feedback on Metacritic, achieving a score of 45 out of 100. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds a 26% approval rating based on 34 reviews, with critics describing it as "an unattractive and unpleasant series that combines wild concepts without much coherence."

The second season earned a Metacritic score of 37/100 and a 55% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 11 critiques. Reviewers acknowledged some improvement in flaws alongside an increase in graphic content but still considered it a "poorly executed mix of gothic elements."

Reviewers such as Mary McNamara (Los Angeles Times) and Alison Willmore (IndieWire) expressed negative opinions about the show, while Zack Handlen (The A.V. Club) assigned an F grade, calling it "a sluggish disaster." Dante D'Orazio (The Verge) criticized the weak performances and slow-moving storyline. Patrick Smith (The Daily Telegraph) gave it two stars out of five, and James Poniewozik (Time) included it among the worst TV programs of 2013.

On the other hand, David Hiltbrand (Philadelphia Inquirer) commended its combination of rich visuals and horror elements. Tom Gliatto (People Weekly) rated it 75/100, praising Bill Skarsgård’s and Landon Liboiron’s performances, while Jessica Shaw (Entertainment Weekly) awarded it a B+ grade.

Accolades

Hemlock Grove earned two nominations at the 65th Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music and Outstanding Special Visual Effects but lost to Da Vinci's Demons and Game of Thrones, respectively.

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result
2013 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music Nathan Barr Template:Nom
Outstanding Special Visual Effects Episode: "Children of the Night" Template:Nom
2014 Visual Effects Society Awards Outstanding Visual Effects in a Visual Effects-Driven Photoreal/Live Action Broadcast Program Matt Whelan, Chris Brown, Todd Masters, Jonathan Banta, Eric McAvoy Template:Nom

See also

External links

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