Madeleine Hull
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror-comedy series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. The series stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple and real estate agents living in Santa Clarita, California. The show centres on the couple's lives as they take a dark turn when Sheila dies and becomes a zombie, craving human flesh. Sheila and Joel must navigate their new reality while dealing with neighbours, cultural norms, and the search for a cure for her condition. The series received generally positive reviews for its cast, humour, and engaging premise, with some criticism for its gore and repetitive nature.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Creator | Victor Fresco |
| Streaming service | Netflix |
| Genre | Horror sitcom |
| Stars | Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant |
| Other cast members | Liv Hewson, Skyler Gisondo, Ricardo Chavira, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Nathan Fillion, Natalie Morales, Thomas Lennon, Ramona Young, Sydney Park, Grace Zabriskie, DeObia Oparei |
| Number of seasons | 3 |
| Number of episodes | 30 |
| Year released | 2017 |
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What You'll Learn
Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant star as Sheila and Joel Hammond
Barrymore and Olyphant's characters must adapt to their new circumstances, which include killing and eating people to satisfy Sheila's hunger. They must also hide her condition from their neighbours and friends. The show's creator, Victor Fresco, chose to make the couple realtors because "it gets them out into the world" and because of the "forced friendliness" inherent to the profession.
The two leads have been praised for their chemistry and comedic timing, and Olyphant's performance as a father struggling to maintain normality in an increasingly absurd situation has been particularly well-received. Barrymore and Olyphant also served as executive producers on the show, alongside Fresco.
Santa Clarita Diet premiered on Netflix in 2017 and ran for three seasons before its cancellation in 2019. The show received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised its cast, humour, and engaging premise, although some reviewers found it to be gory and formulaic.
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Sheila becomes undead and craves human flesh
Santa Clarita Diet is an American horror -comedy series created by Victor Fresco for Netflix. It stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple who work as real estate agents in the California town of Santa Clarita. Their quiet, mundane lives are upended when Sheila dies and comes back as a zombie, craving human flesh and exhibiting a more primal and impulsive personality.
Sheila's undead state causes her to have violent mood swings, and she begins to kill and eat people, starting with Gary West, a realtor and the Hammonds' co-worker. Despite this, Joel and their daughter Abby try to help Sheila through her condition, dealing with the challenges of hiding her true nature from their neighbours and seeking a cure. The show also explores the concept of narcissism through the undead, as Fresco states: "they want what they want when they want it and will do anything to just have what they want and don't care about other people's needs".
Sheila's craving for human flesh is not about sustenance but enjoyment, as eating human flesh gives her pleasure. This is supported by the fact that she is able to go without eating, as seen when she tries to survive on non-human food like raw beef and a snail. However, once she tastes human flesh, she can no longer consume regular meat.
The show received generally positive reviews for its first season and built a strong cult following, but it was ultimately cancelled after three seasons due to a complicated budget. The series ended on a cliffhanger, with Sheila biting Joel after he is attacked by a flesh-eating spider, in an attempt to turn him into a zombie as well.
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The Hammonds are realtors in Santa Clarita, California
The premise of the show, created by Victor Fresco, revolves around giving the Hammonds a significant problem while grounding it in a relatable, suburban context. Fresco chose the real estate profession for the couple as it gets them out into the world and interacts with people, capturing the "forced friendliness" inherent to the job. The choice of Santa Clarita as the setting reflects Fresco's desire to portray a middle-class, working-class suburb, adding a layer of normalcy to the fantastical elements of the show.
As realtors, the Hammonds have the opportunity to meet and engage with a diverse range of clients and colleagues, creating a rich network of characters and potential storylines. Their profession also allows them to explore different locations within Santa Clarita, providing a sense of place and community to the show. The choice of their occupation is intentional, as it provides a unique lens through which to view the town and its residents, adding depth to the narrative.
The Hammonds' careers as realtors become intertwined with their personal lives as they strive to balance their work and family dynamics in the face of Sheila's transformation. Their profession becomes a backdrop to the larger themes of the show, including the exploration of narcissism and the challenges of maintaining relationships while dealing with a unique and dangerous situation. The juxtaposition of their seemingly ordinary lives as realtors and the extraordinary circumstances they find themselves in creates a compelling and comedic narrative that sets the tone for the series.
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The show received positive reviews and was renewed for a second season
The Netflix original series Santa Clarita Diet received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The show's unique blend of horror and comedy, along with its stellar cast, helped it stand out in the crowded TV landscape.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the first season holds an approval rating of 70% with an average score of 7.9/10, indicating generally positive reviews. Metacritic, another review aggregator, gave the first season a score of 67/100, also indicating "generally favorable reviews".
Critics praised the show's engaging premise, excellent cast, and frequent laughs. The show's creators successfully blended humour and horror, with the actors' comedic timing ensuring that even the darkest moments landed well. Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant's chemistry as the leads was particularly well-received, with their performances described as "brilliant" and "authentic".
The show's premise, centred on a suburban family dealing with one member's transformation into a zombie, was also praised for its originality. The juxtaposition of the gory, impulsive behaviour of Sheila (Barrymore), and the picturesque, mundane setting of Santa Clarita, California, added to the show's appeal.
Given the positive reception, it is no surprise that Netflix renewed Santa Clarita Diet for a second season, which premiered on March 23, 2018. The show ultimately ran for three seasons, from 2017 to 2019, leaving fans wanting more and disappointed by its cancellation.
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The show's advertising sparked controversy in Germany
The Netflix original series Santa Clarita Diet stars Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant as married realtors, Sheila and Joel, living in Santa Clarita, California. The show centres around the couple's lives, which take a dark turn when Sheila dies and becomes a zombie with a taste for human flesh.
The ad campaign received widespread criticism and sparked outrage among the German public, who found it "disgusting" and "offensive to children and young people". The Deutscher Werberat, Germany's advertising regulator, received numerous complaints about the campaign. While the agency cannot force advertisers to remove ads, they advised Netflix of the complaints, and the streaming service voluntarily took down the billboards.
The controversy surrounding the show's advertising in Germany highlights the cultural differences and sensitivities that companies like Netflix must navigate when promoting their content internationally. It also underscores the importance of considering local contexts and norms to avoid causing offence or sparking controversy.
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Frequently asked questions
Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant star as Sheila and Joel Hammond, a married couple who are real estate agents. Liv Hewson plays their daughter, Abby, and Skyler Gisondo plays Abby's best friend, Eric.
The show centres on the Hammond family, whose lives are turned upside down when Sheila dies and becomes a zombie. The family must adjust to Sheila's new lust for human flesh and her impulsive behaviour, all while trying to find a cure for her condition.
Santa Clarita Diet is a unique blend of horror and comedy, with a twist of darkness. It explores themes of empowerment, narcissism, and the consequences of unchecked consumption.
Some memorable moments include Sheila and Joel bonding over murder, Sheila buying a Range Rover on a whim, and the family's search for a cure for Sheila's condition. The show also features a cliffhanger ending that leaves viewers intrigued and wanting more.
