Jeffrey Salazar
Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet is a horror-comedy series about a California realtor, Sheila Hammond, who dies and comes back to life as one of the undead with a craving for human flesh. The show follows Sheila, her husband Joel, and their daughter Abby as they navigate their new reality, with Sheila's condition exposing itself in their neighbourhood and community. While the show does feature zombies and gory visuals, it is more comedy than horror, with slapstick gags and a light-hearted approach to dark themes. The series has been praised for its cast, witty humour, strong writing, and memorable characters, offering a unique blend of humour and horror.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Genre | Dark comedy, horror comedy, supernatural comedy |
| Plot | A realtor mum in California turns into a zombie and has to adjust to her new undead life |
| Tone | Sitcom-y, gory, graphic, violent, witty, dramatic |
| Themes | Family values, real estate, fate, destiny, decisions |
| Cast | Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, Maggie Lawson, Joel McHale |
| Creator | Victor Fresco |
| Streaming Platform | Netflix |
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What You'll Learn
The undead plague
The show is a dark comedy that combines witty humour, intense drama, and graphic violence in unpredictable ways. It explores new theories and takes on familiar tropes of the undead and zombies, but with a twist. The zombies in Santa Clarita Diet shy away from the standard shambling gait, opting for a more absurd approach. The show also tackles larger themes such as fate, destiny, and the decisions that people make in their lives.
As the show progresses, the Hammond family's situation becomes more complicated. They face perilous situations and discover that they are being targeted by secret factions, such as the Knights of Serbia, an ancient organisation dedicated to exterminating the undead. Despite the high stakes, Joel and Sheila still worry about their real estate jobs, providing a unique blend of horror and comedy.
The cast of Santa Clarita Diet delivers phenomenal performances, with Timothy Olyphant's portrayal of the beleaguered and unhinged Joel standing out. Drew Barrymore's portrayal of Sheila also improves as she settles into the role, bringing glee to her character's newfound undead life. The show is created by Victor Fresco, who is known for his unique approach to storytelling and world-building.
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Dark comedy
Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet is a dark comedy that revolves around the Hammond family, specifically Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married pair of realtors living in Santa Clarita, California. The story takes a turn when Sheila Hammond dies and comes back to life as one of the undead, craving human flesh.
While the show does deal with the undead and zombies, it is not a horror but instead a comedy that uses death and horror as a prop. The show has been described as having a "relaxed feel" and is "easy to get behind". It has a basic structure, with each episode pushing along a story that becomes increasingly chaotic. The show has also been described as "addictive" and "binge-worthy".
The show's comedy comes from the juxtaposition of the mundane and the macabre, with the Hammond family trying to normalise their situation. For example, if Sheila is chained up in the basement, why not dress up the basement and put a fresh coat of paint on the ugly situation? The show also derives humour from subverting marital life and squabbles, such as when the family goes to the beach with a cooler stuffed with half-eaten human remains.
The show has been praised for its cast, with particular mention going to Timothy Olyphant's portrayal of Joel, who is described as the show's "secret weapon". Drew Barrymore's portrayal of Sheila has been noted as a highlight, with her loony way of portraying Sheila's extreme condition getting a lot of attention. The show has also been praised for its strong writing and memorable characters.
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Normalising the abnormal
Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet is a horror-comedy series that revolves around the Hammond family, a tight-knit family of realtors living in the suburbs of California. The seemingly ordinary family's lives are turned upside down when Sheila Hammond (Drew Barrymore) suddenly dies and returns from the dead, becoming a zombie with a newfound appetite for human flesh.
The show explores the family's attempts to normalise their situation and adapt to Sheila's undead condition. Despite the high-stakes life-and-death premise, the show manages to find humour and lightness in the midst of chaos. It masterfully combines broad sitcom-like situations, witty humour, and intense drama with graphic violence and outlandish visual gags, creating a unique and addictive viewing experience.
One of the standout aspects of the show is its ability to normalise the abnormal. The Hammonds' resilience in the face of constant peril is admirable, and their commitment to maintaining a sense of normalcy is intriguing. While they are faced with the challenge of keeping Sheila's condition a secret, they also continue to worry about their real estate jobs and navigate everyday life, highlighting the juxtaposition between the mundane and the macabre.
The show's exploration of the undead trope also contributes to normalising the abnormal. While zombies are a well-known horror trope, Santa Clarita Diet puts a unique spin on it by focusing on the characters' new lives as undead beings rather than solely relying on shock value. The show delves into the idea that becoming undead allows people to embrace their true selves and live life to the fullest, adding a layer of depth to the otherwise grotesque premise.
Additionally, the show normalises the abnormal through its portrayal of death and horror as a prop for comedy. The juxtaposition of dark humour and gruesome imagery keeps the audience engaged and adds to the overall absurdity of the show. The light-hearted approach to serious topics, such as death and the undead, helps to make these concepts more approachable and less frightening, creating a unique viewing experience that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
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Balancing tones
The show is able to balance tones by combining broad sitcom-y situations with life-or-death peril or outlandish visual gags. For example, in one scene, there might be a volcano of blood and Nazi human experimentation, and in the next, a fun and crude verbal misunderstanding. The show also uses lowbrow gags to deflate the tension in dire situations. This clash of tones is welcomed and pulled off expertly by the show's creators.
The second season of the show expands its world and introduces more undead individuals and organizations hunting for a cure or a means to exterminate the epidemic. Despite the high stakes and life-and-death situations, the show's characters still worry about their real estate jobs, which adds a layer of normalcy to the show. The show also explores the beauty of how becoming undead can allow people to become who they wanted to be in life.
The show's cast is phenomenal, and their dynamic really clicks, with great chemistry between the reluctantly murderous Hammond family. Timothy Olyphant's portrayal of Joel, a former jock struggling to hold it together as a devoted husband and father, is especially strong. Drew Barrymore's portrayal of Sheila, a zombie with a heightened sex drive and a craving for human flesh, is also well-done, adding a layer of absurdity to the show.
In conclusion, Santa Clarita Diet is a masterful show that expertly balances tones, combining comedy, horror, and drama in a way that is addictive and delightful for viewers.
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Exploring new theories
Netflix's Santa Clarita Diet is a horror-comedy series that explores new theories about the undead. While the show does deal with zombies, it takes a unique approach to the concept, focusing on the characters' new lives and the complications that arise as a result of their conditions.
The show centres around the Hammond family, specifically Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married pair of realtors living in Santa Clarita, California. The story begins with Sheila's unexpected death and subsequent return as one of the undead, craving human flesh. Rather than completely disrupting her life, this new condition breathes new life into her marriage and worldview, with Sheila embracing her newfound energy and heightened sex drive.
One of the unique aspects of the series is its exploration of the undead trope. While zombies have been a popular horror trope for many years, with shows like The Walking Dead and movies like Z-Nation saturating the market, Santa Clarita Diet takes a different approach. The show focuses on the characters' adjustment to their new lives rather than solely relying on the shock value of the undead. This exploration of new theories adds depth to the story and allows the audience to connect with the characters on a more personal level.
The second season of the show expands the world-building, introducing more undead individuals and secret organisations seeking a cure or aiming to exterminate the undead. This creates interesting intersections between the characters' secret lives and their jobs and social lives, leading them to question their own morality. The show also excels at combining broad sitcom-like situations with life-or-death peril and outlandish visual gags, creating a unique blend of horror and comedy.
Santa Clarita Diet's exploration of new theories about the undead, its focus on character development, and its unique blend of genres make it a refreshing and addictive series that stands out in the horror-comedy landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
Santa Clarita Diet is a comedy that uses horror as a prop. While it does feature zombies and is quite gory, it is far more comedy than horror.
Santa Clarita Diet is about a realtor couple, Joel and Sheila Hammond, living in California. Their lives are turned upside down when Sheila dies and comes back from the dead as an undead with a craving for human flesh.
Timothy Olyphant plays the role of Joel Hammond, and Drew Barrymore plays Sheila Hammond.
Season 2 of Santa Clarita Diet expands the world of the show by introducing more undead individuals and organizations that are on the hunt for a cure or a means to exterminate the undead.
Yes, Santa Clarita Diet is available to stream on Netflix.
