Devil in Ohio – Netflix Series Review

DEVIL IN OHIO on Netflix is a new limited series in the thriller, mystery, and horror genres. As indicated by the title, we’re dealing with religion, but also cults and terrible abuse. Emily Deschanel (Bones) stars. Read our full Devil in Ohio series review here!

DEVIL IN OHIO is a new Netflix thriller-mystery limited series with lots of horror elements. Having the word “devil” in the title is usually a pretty good indication of something horror related. For this story, religion in the form of fanaticism and cults is at the forefront.

Personally, I always find religion creepy when people use it as a weapon rather than to love and support their fellow man. So, it probably goes without saying, that this kind of story is just my sort of thing. There are eight 45-minute episodes in the series and they are all out on Netflix now.

Continue reading our Devil in Ohio mini-series review below. The series premieres on Netflix on September 2, 2022.

Great to see Emily Deschanel again!

I absolutely loved the series Bones and I have really missed seeing Emily Deschanel on my screen. The fact that she stars in Devil in Ohio is probably enough reason for many people to check it out. And it should be because she is back in wonderful form. Yet again playing a doctor, but a very different kind.

Her name is Suzanne and she is also someone with a clearly traumatic past. No spoilers in this Devil in Ohio series review and since I haven’t read the book it’s based on, I didn’t know what to expect either.

From episode 1, Devil in Ohio should be intriguing enough to make you keep watching. There is a constant creepiness lurking just out of sight. It’s more of a feeling at first, but you will also see enough to make you realize there is indeed something sinister going on.

Great casting

While I am personally very happy to see Emily Deschanel (as I know many others will be), the entire cast of Devil in Ohio is really impressive. Especially the other starring character, who is the source of the “mystery” element in this limited Netflix series.

She is portrayed perfectly by Madeleine Arthur, who can make the switch from angelic to demonic in a split second. Basically, you don’t exactly know what to expect from her, but since the opening scene shows her escaping from her home, you know something is very wrong.

When you hear her Say Grace, you’ll get an idea of just what kind of home she grew up in. Yikes!

The name of this character is Mae (though she is referred to as Lauren Trauma until she actually talks) and it’s fascinating to see Madeleine Arthur (Snowpiercer) play this character.

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The character of Peter (husband of Emily Deschanel’s “Suzanne”) is another important character. He’s portrayed by Sam Jaeger (The Handmaid’s Tale, Why Women Kill) who is definitely not someone sporting a “dad bod”. Peter is battling serious financial struggles and tries to support his family emotionally, but doesn’t share his own problems.

Other key roles are played by Xaria Dotson (The Birch), Gerardo Celasco (How to Get Away With Murder), Bradley Stryker (Let Him Go), and Samantha Ferris (Supernatural). Later on, you’ll also see Tahmoh Penikett (Battlestar Galactica), Keenan Tracey (Polaroid), and Ty Wood (Chilling Adventures of Sabrina).

Is Devil in Ohio based on a true story?

Devil in Ohio is based on Daria Polatin’s bestselling book of the same name and it is inspired by a true story. Executive producer, Rachel Miller, heard about some true events, that took place in Ohio, and the book was created from that.

But the cult portrayed is completely fictional and Polatin simply created it for the show. They came up with the ideology — and even wrote some of the Book of Covenants, the cult Bible.

Watch the Devil in Ohio series on Netflix now!

As mentioned above, Daria Polatin is the creator of the Netflix series Devil in Ohio which makes perfect sense as she is also the author of the book it’s based on. Plus, Daria Polatin is already an accomplished teleplay writer for many amazing TV series. These include the Stephen King-based series Castle Rock and Prime Video’s Jack Ryan series.

She is also the showrunner on this Netflix adaption of her book while four directors have directed the episodes.

The directors on the Devil in Ohio limited series are John Fawcett (Orphan Black, The Man in the High Castle) with three episodes, Steven A. Adelson (Sleepy Hollow, 12 Monkeys, and The Exorcist series) and Leslie Hope (Lost in Space, Snowpiercer) each with two, and Brad Anderson (Fractured, Session 9) directed one.

If you like stories about cults and the very dark side of religion and society, then be sure to check out Devil in Ohio. Having recently watched a lot of true-crime documentaries about this, it almost felt too familiar and real. Then again, seeing Emily “Bones” Deschanel made me be able to enjoy the fictional aspect of it rather quickly.

 Devil in Ohio is out on Netflix from September 2, 2022.

Details

Creator: Daria Polatin
Directors: John Fawcett, Steven A. Adelson, Leslie Hope, Brad Anderson
Stars: Emily Deschanel, Madeleine Arthur, Stacey Farber, Alisha Newton, Sam Jaeger, Gerardo Celasco, Tahmoh Penikett, Samantha Ferris, Bradley Stryker, Jason Sakaki, Naomi Tan, Evan Ellison