I wasn't going to watch "From", it looked from the trailer like any number of science fiction shows that are produced each year and disappear without trace. Another member of my household decided to watch it too and, though have still have concerns, which I'll come to later, it's actually better than I anticipated.
The Matthew's family, Jim (Eion Bailey), Tabitha (Catalina Sandino Moreno), Julie (Hannah Cheramy) and Ethan (Simon Webster) crash their vehicle just outside a mysterious town. They soon come to discover the mystical horror of their new home. It is physically impossible to leave, as the road inexplicably loops around to itself and, upon nightfall, the residents are attacked by entities that seem human, but very much aren't.
I've not read all 504 reviews that "From" has at the time I'm writing this, but I bet nearly all of them make some reference to "Lost". Some of those are obvious, Harold Perrineau playing a prominent role and producers who were involved with the show. Whereas I don't hold "Lost" up as an example of bad television at all, I loved it at the time, I do have to acknowledge that show occasionally started mysteries that it had no idea what the resolution would be. That is my primary concern with this, that it's making up various mysteries that either it won't explain, won't explain satisfactorily, or will be cancelled before it gets a chance too.
"From" combines "Lost" freaky physics with some "Walking Dead" style threats, in the form of the as yet unspecified creatures that attack at night and try to convince you to let them in. Personally, I thought this was more of a unique selling point than the show makes use of. The assaults, when they happen, are generally well done but I couldn't help but feel like something should have happened every night to keep up the idea of them.
That's a few negatives for a show that, generally, I felt positively about. I enjoyed some of the back and side stories that are in the show. I thought that David Alpay's character Jade was a flouncing, moody, highlight and I thought that the CGI work, when it was used, was nicely done - as were most of the shows horror moments.
Time will tell whether "From" ends up being worth watching or not, but for now it's decent enough.
