John Carpenter's Suburban Screams

This is an anthology series supposedly based around true stories that take place in the suburbs. It's a bit hard to rate anthologies like this as every episode is completely different including actors and directors so I've decided to do a small review on each episode as there's only 6 anyway.

Ep #1-1 woke-1 overall-The acting is not very good. This has nothing to do with the actual real story this claims to be based on and might as well just be a completely made up story. The story is as cliché as it gets, the usual play with a Ouija board and bring back a ghost trope that's been done to death at this point. Pretty tame as horror goes and feels like anything you would see on late night network tv in the late 90's early 2000. The only woke would be the mixed race female lead with the white boyfriend.

Ep #2-0 woke-2 overall-The acting again is pretty bad. I'm starting to sense a theme. At least the story seems to stick closer to true events this time. Not really horror though it's a serial killer thriller and interesting enough but it does still have that late night network feel to it. Nothing woke though and a better watch than the first one particularly if you like true crime type of stuff.

Ep #3-0 woke-2-overall-As far as I've been able to find this is complete fiction and based on nothing factual though it claims otherwise. An odd decision given what the series is supposed to be. The acting for the most part is a step up this time with the exception of the narrator who unfortunately is talking most of the time. The problem though is the same as the other episodes. Everything is just so tame and sort of 'horror lite' like it belongs on network tv. Nothing woke though in this one as well.

Ep #4-0 woke-2 overall-Another 'based on a true story' claim that appears to be complete fabrication and based on an urban legend. The acting at least is decent in this one. It plays out like a typical slasher and it could of been a decent episode except it's all so silly. What's supposed to be creepy just comes across as gullible people getting pranked by someone in a mask. I mean nothing ever happens, someone in a bunny mask just stands around trying to be scary and then does nothing. There is no woke in this one.

Ep #5-5 woke-0 overall-This is at least based on an actual true story though it appears to be heavily altered. The acting is the worst yet. Attempts at horror and jump scares are pathetic and ineffectual. And then there is the woke factor. The premise is an all black family of five the husband being the only male move into a house that haunted by the ghosts of evil white settlers who took it from the good natives. The ghost possesses the black male father and turns him into
an alcoholic violent abuser while for some reason (I think we know why) the females family members are unaffected. Total garbage and the worst episode of the bunch.

Ep 6-0 woke-0 overall-Directed by Carpenter himself another actually based on a true story. Like the others the acting is pretty bad. The story is ridiculous. Basically a woman has a bad breakup with her ex than starts getting harassed by a 'stalker' sending videos, dick pics and threatening phone calls. Eventually breaking into her home surveillance system and her home, but never actually attacking her. The entire thing is so implausible and over the top you have to wonder how much was actually true. The resolution or lack thereof is unbelievable given the amount of evidence there claims to be.

The entire thing is pretty bad overall and can't really recommend watching any of them except maybe episode 2 if you really like true crime. Not overly woke as a whole outside of Episode 5. If you skip that one it's almost woke free.