‘Compelling’
Creative: Kelly Marcel
Address: Melina Matsoukas, Jonathan van Tulleken
Distribution: LaKeith Stanfield, Adina Porter, Clark Backo, Samuel T. Herring
Country: United States of America
Duration: 45 minutes approx. (8 episodes)
Year: 2023
Gender: Fantasy / Horror
Premiere: September 8, 2023 (Apple TV+)
★★★
In this modern spectral tale, a haunting figure from European folklore returns with a modern twist. The creature, once a child left behind by capricious fairies, appears as a changed version of a normal, healthy child. The project originally carried the title At the End of the Stairs and draws on a long history of whispered myths, reimagined for today’s screens. While some have speculated about connections to classic directors, the series stands on its own as a new voice in supernatural drama.
Adapted for Apple TV+ from a novel—unpublished in Spain—the show is directed and shaped by a team that leans into literature as its backbone. The adaptation remains faithful to the spirit of its source while embracing a heightened, literary tone. The narrative treats language itself as a living force, with tense shifts and conceptual explorations that mirror the cadence of a well-worn, beloved book. Harper Lee’s legacy, hinted at in the text, resonates as a subtle undercurrent rather than a surface feature.
Within the story, the core couple from the books is grounded in a new screen reality. A bookseller, portrayed by LaKeith Stanfield, and a librarian, Emma, played by Clark Backo, navigate a past filled with parental strain and the ache of broken promises. The father’s absence in early years weighs heavily, shaping his desire to become a nurturing parent to the future child. The man’s vow to break a cycle of hurt anchors the emotional journey at the series’ heart.
Emma’s voyage is equally transformative. She leaves, only to return scarred and wiser, carrying experiences that push the boundaries of ordinary life. A mysterious red thread, offered by a vendor of charms, promises three wishes if she remains unhindered by external forces. The first wish becomes a pivotal, unplanned moment that tests the boundaries of fate and consequence, foreshadowing the questions that will unfold across the eight episodes. The third wish remains an elusive thread—fragile and uncertain—driving the suspense of the unfolding mystery.
Viewed as more than a single event, the series becomes an exploration of motherhood through a lens of anxiety and vulnerability. The world the show inhabits lies between realism and fantasy, where postpartum fears can blur into supernatural danger. The atmosphere is thick with the paranoia reminiscent of classic psychological thrillers, yet it is refreshed by a contemporary sensitivity to social media’s gaze. The nocturnal dangers are no longer hidden; they roam in plain sight, inviting audiences to question what is real and what is imagined.
As each episode unfolds, inner journeys widen into new worlds and new characters. Samuel T. Herring, best known as the frontman of Future Islands, delivers a memorable turn as William Wheeler, a reluctant ally who enters the story after acquiring the first edition of To Kill a Mockingbird. The help and loyalties of new figures and locations broaden the narrative scope, sometimes dampening the raw, intimate mood that initially drew viewers in. Yet the series keeps a strong pulse through its focus on subjective perspective and solitary moments that linger long after the screen goes dark.
The debut direction signals strong pacing and tension, demonstrating the director’s skill in crafting fear-filled openings. As the story moves beyond the pilot, some viewers may notice a shift in momentum. The later chapters explore broader terrains while maintaining the eerie mood that first captured attention. The show remains a bold, atmospheric venture that blends personal drama with uncanny elements, inviting fans of thoughtful horror to stay engaged as the mystery deepens.
With a lineup that balances character-driven moments and supernatural intrigue, the series crafts a distinctive voice within Apple TV+’s catalog. The performances, especially from the central duo and supporting cast, anchor the emotional stakes even as the plot thickens with enigmatic props, whispered legends, and the inescapable pull of family history. The Changeling invites audiences to look inward while traversing a world where legends breathe, fears take shape, and the line between danger and devotion becomes delightfully blurred.