The Boroughs (2026) - A Guest Review by Chad Dixon

The Boroughs is a supernatural TV series on Netflix about a seemingly secluded utopian retirement community in the middle of the New Mexico desert that's been set up by the grandfather of charismatic CEO Blaine (Seth Numrich), and his charming stepford-style wife, Anneliese (Alice Kremelberg). Alfred Molina plays Sam Cooper, a recently widowed, retired engineer who, partially against his will, is moved into a cul-de-sac house in this community by his daughter and her husband as they say that his continuing depressive grief has now detrimentally affected their family unit.

However, soon after Sam moves into his new house, he starts having weird dreams that feature his deceased wife that he can't explain. Then one night, he hears strange noises and a flashing red light coming from the friendly next door neighbour's (Bill Pullman) house and after he repeatedly calls out and gets no response, he breaks in - only to discover a grey skeletal, multi-legged creature, crouched over and seemingly probing Jack's inert body. Sam lashes out at it but it escapes. When the paramedics arrive and are taking Jack's body away, nobody believes Sam's account of what he's seen and insists that Jack has simply suffered a heart attack. Later, Sam's other new neighbours are also skeptical of his claims but after other strange things seem to happen to them, they then decide to collaborate and start to question the motives of Blaine and why he has really set up this isolated retirement community.

From the same stable as 'Stranger Things', which I've never seen, this story is of the same ilk but with geriatric protagonists instead of kids. Like Stranger Things, I think the vibe is very much inspired by the Stephen King storytelling universe. Introducing a supernatural element without really explaining why it is there or where it came from, seems to be the what's expected in this horror sub-genre.

There is a strong cast of players that all live in the same cul-de-sac, who gel well together as the true nature of the community reveals itself. Besides Sam and Jack, it includes Geena Davis as spunky arts-and-crafts teacher, Renee, Clarke Peters and Alfre Woodard as an 'eternal hippy' couple Art and Judy Daniels, Denis O'Hare as retired doctor Wally and a short cameo by Dee Wallace as Grace, the former occupier of Sam's house - and is the very first victim of the skeletal creatures we see in the first few minutes of episode one.

I have to be honest, I'm not a huge fan of this supernatural/horror genre as creating a scary thing which can't be explained by earthbound science doesn't float-my-boat. Ironically, I don't mind monsters that could be explained as extraterrestrial like in 'The Quiet Place' for instance. However, the 'straight out of the 80s' storyline here is easy to follow and the occasional body horror scenes are pretty mild. Everyone's performances are solid and I really warmed to Molina as the prime protagonist.

With just eight, 45 minute episodes, this could easily be binged in a couple of evenings or an intense ice-cream and popcorn filled all-dayer. Suitable for teens, too, as I think it may lead them to see the 70s in a whole different light.