Santa Clarita Diet: Worth The Binge Or Not?

is santa clarita diet worth digesting

Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The show stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a couple of realtors living a quiet life in the suburbs of Santa Clarita, California. Their lives take a turn when Sheila undergoes a transformation and becomes a zombie with a craving for human flesh. While the show has received generally positive reviews for its cast, humour, and engaging premise, it has also been criticised for its high levels of gore. So, is Santa Clarita Diet worth watching, or is it a blood-soaked mess?

Characteristics Values
Genre Horror-comedy
Type Sitcom
Streaming service Netflix
Main cast Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, Skyler Gisondo
Number of seasons 3
Number of episodes 30
Episode length 30 minutes
Plot A suburban housewife becomes a zombie and starts craving human flesh
Tone Bloody, funny, addictive, light-hearted, gory
Rating 78% on Rotten Tomatoes (season 1), 89% on Rotten Tomatoes (season 2), 67 out of 100 on Metacritic (season 1)

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The show's blend of horror, comedy, and gore

Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy show created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. It stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple of realtors living in Santa Clarita, California. Their mundane lives take a dark turn when Sheila undergoes a metamorphosis, becoming undead and developing a craving for human flesh.

The show blends horror, comedy, and gore, with a good dose of black humour. While the premise is engaging and the cast is excellent, the level of gore might not be to everyone's taste. The show has received generally positive reviews, with critics praising the cast's performances and the show's blend of genres.

One of the standout aspects of the show is its ability to balance dark subject matter with humour. Barrymore's charm, for instance, makes some of the more questionable acts funny. The show also benefits from a well-written supporting cast, particularly the daughter, Abby Hammond, played by Liv Hewson, and the neighbour boy, Eric Bemis, played by Skyler Gisondo. These characters bring a youthful energy to the show and provide a contrast to the older, more experienced leads.

The show's blend of horror and comedy is evident in the very premise of the show: a suburban housewife turning into a zombie. This combination of the mundane and the macabre creates a unique and engaging dynamic that sets the tone for the show. The horror elements are played for laughs, with a strong emphasis on the characters' reactions and their attempts to navigate this strange new world.

Overall, the show's blend of horror, comedy, and gore is a key part of its appeal. It offers a fresh take on the zombie genre, injecting new life into well-worn tropes and creating a unique and entertaining viewing experience.

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The performances of Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant

Olyphant, who portrays Joel Hammond, Sheila's husband, is especially impressive in his role, with one reviewer calling his performance "amazing". His ability to be funny in Santa Clarita Diet is surprising to some viewers, who knew him primarily from more serious roles. Olyphant's character is described as a "spaced-out nut of a husband", and his performance is described as "top-notch".

The two leads have pitch-perfect chemistry, and their dynamic is a driving force of the show. Their performances are engaging and entertaining, with one reviewer noting that the actors "spend their time gurning madly" to cover for the lack of comedy in the script. However, another reviewer states that the show has frequent laughs, and that Barrymore and Olyphant are excellent in their respective roles.

Overall, the performances of Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant in Santa Clarita Diet are well-received and enjoyable, with the actors' chemistry and comedic timing being a highlight of the show.

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The supporting cast, including Skyler Gisondo and Liv Hewson

The supporting cast of Santa Clarita Diet has been described as "amazing". Skyler Gisondo and Liv Hewson play the teenage neighbours of the Hammond family, Eric Bemis and Abby Hammond respectively. Abby is the daughter of the show's central couple, Sheila and Joel Hammond, played by Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant.

Gisondo's character, Eric, has been described as "hilarious", with one review stating that "every character on the show is so well written". Hewson's performance has been praised as "poignant", and her character has been described as well-written, emphasising "the eternal impatience and vulnerability of adolescence". Another review states that Hewson is "one of the best comedic young actresses on the rise".

The chemistry between the four main characters, Barrymore, Olyphant, Gisondo, and Hewson, has been noted, with one review stating that Gisondo and Hewson are "really good" alongside the two leads.

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The show's take on suburbia and cultural norms

Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The show centres on the lives of husband and wife realtors, Joel and Sheila Hammond, whose mundane lives in suburbia take a turn for the macabre when Sheila becomes a zombie.

However, as the show progresses, the Hammonds' interactions with their community become increasingly strained as they struggle to balance their desire for normalcy with the reality of Sheila's new cravings and altered personality. This leads to some darkly comedic moments, such as when Sheila eats one of their neighbours. Despite this, the show still manages to portray a sense of warmth and affection for its characters, even as they grapple with their new reality.

The show also explores the cultural norms of suburbia through the lens of its teenage characters, including the Hammonds' daughter, Abby, and their neighbour, Eric. These characters provide a contrast to the adult characters, offering a more realistic and vulnerable portrayal of adolescence. The show also touches on the theme of parental expectations and the pressure to conform to societal norms, particularly in the way that Abby and Eric navigate their relationships with their parents and try to fit in with their peers.

Overall, the show's take on suburbia and cultural norms is a unique and intriguing one, offering a darkly comedic twist on the traditional portrayal of suburban life and the pressures of conforming to societal expectations.

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The show's marketing and reception

The marketing for Santa Clarita Diet began in February 2017, with advertising for the show sparking criticism in Germany. Netflix promoted the show with posters depicting a human finger sliced up like a currywurst, a popular German fast food dish. The German Advertising Council received over 50 complaints that the advertising was glorifying violence and inducing fear in children.

Despite this initial controversy, the show received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season has an approval rating of 78% based on 73 reviews, with an average rating of 7.20/10. Metacritic reports that the first season received "generally favourable reviews" with a score of 67 out of 100, based on 30 critics. The second season also received positive reviews, with an approval rating of 89% on Rotten Tomatoes. The third season was similarly well-received, with critics praising the chemistry between the lead actors and the show's blend of humour and gore.

Reviews on IMDb are also largely positive, with users praising the cast, particularly Timothy Olyphant, and the show's blend of comedy, gore, and horror. One user describes the show as "ghastly enjoyable", while another highlights the "sardonic humour" and the performances of the lead actors. On Reddit, users describe the show as "fun", "exciting", and "addictive", with one user specifically recommending it for fans of the zombie genre.

Frequently asked questions

Santa Clarita Diet has received generally positive reviews from critics and viewers alike. The show has been described as "fun, exciting, and strangely addictive" with frequent laughs and an engaging premise. The cast has also been praised for their performances, with particular mention of the chemistry between the lead actors. However, some viewers have found the show to be bloody and disgusting, so it may not be to everyone's taste.

Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. It centres around a husband and wife real estate team, Joel and Sheila Hammond, whose lives are turned upside down when Sheila undergoes a metamorphosis and becomes a zombie with a craving for human flesh. The show follows the family as they navigate Sheila's new condition, dealing with neighbours and cultural norms while also trying to uncover a potentially mythological mystery.

Santa Clarita Diet stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, respectively. Liv Hewson, Skyler Gisondo, and Mary Elizabeth Ellis are also part of the main cast.

Santa Clarita Diet contains frequent gore and dark humour, so it may not be suitable for younger viewers. Parental guidance is advised.

Santa Clarita Diet is a Netflix original series and is available to stream on the platform with a subscription.

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