Peacock today revealed first the official trailer for the horror-comedy series, Hysteria! set during the Satanic Panic of the late 1980s. All 8 episodes will drop on October 18, 2024, and stars Julie Bowen (Modern Family), Anna Camp (Pitch Perfect), Emjay Anthony (Krampus), Chiara Aurelia (Cruel Summer), Kezii Curtis (Secret Headquarters), and Nikki Hahn (Adventures in Babysitting).
Recurring guest stars include Bruce Campbell (Evil Dead), Garret Dillahunt (Raising Hope), Nolan North (Pretty Little Liars), Elijah Richardson (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier), Milly Shapiro (Hereditary), Allison Scagliotti (Warehouse 13), and Jessica Treska (Sharp Objects).
Written and executive produced by Matthew Scott Kane (Stitchers) and David A. Goodman (The Orville), the synopsis reads, “When a beloved varsity quarterback disappears during the “Satanic Panic” of the late 1980s, a struggling high school heavy metal band of outcasts realize they can capitalize on the town’s sudden interest in the occult by building a reputation as a Satanic metal band, until a bizarre series of murders, kidnappings, and reported “supernatural activity” triggers a leather-studded witch hunt that leads directly back to them.”
“What are those kids up to? Whatever it is, it can’t be good.”
That fear haunts every generation. Children of the Atomic Age went on to terrifying their families by turning on, tuning in and dropping out in the sixties. Those same “free spirits” went on to vote for Reagan and called for censorship of the “obscene” and “satanic” heavy metal bands their own kids worshiped. Now, those kids are adults who rail against pronouns, TikTok, and a movie about Barbie. The cycle doesn’t end. And it’s hard to escape the feeling that someone, or something, is sitting by watching it all, and laughing.
Hysteria! is about both sides of that generational fear. It’s about the thrills of being young, rebellious in spirit and aspirational at heart – and the horrors of growing up and realizing that the world you thought you knew has shifted beneath your feet.
Our hope is that parents and children (of the appropriate age, of course) can enjoy the chills, the laughs, the music, and the heart of Hysteria! together. Growing up is scary. So is parenting.
Writers and Executive Poducers Scott Kane and David A. Goodman
Watch the official trailer below.
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