Netflix’s Playing Gracie Darling, streaming on Paramount+, arrives with a premise that’s sure to intrigue fans of supernatural thrillers. Yet, despite its promising setup, the series struggles to offer anything new, relying too heavily on familiar occult tropes and predictable storytelling. Directed by Jonathan Brough and created by Miranda Nation, this mystery series follows a group of teens who perform a seance that spirals out of control, leading to a decades-long mystery that seems too derivative to truly captivate.
Playing Gracie Darling – A Seance Gone Wrong
The series kicks off in 1997 with a group of teenagers performing a seance in a remote shack. Things take a dark turn when the Ouija board catches fire, and a girl named Gracie (Kristina Bogic) speaks in eerie, demonic tones before vanishing. Jumping to the present day, we meet Joni (Morgana O’Reilly), a child psychologist and Gracie’s former friend, who is soon caught in the mystery after another girl disappears from the same location. This sets the stage for the investigation, but unfortunately, the series quickly falls into the trap of repetitive and uninspired dialogue, like the oft-heard “It’s happening again.”
A Cast We’ve Seen Before
Morgana O’Reilly gives a grounded performance as Joni, but her character’s journey feels bogged down by an over-reliance on familiar tropes. Rudi Dharmalingam plays Jay, a local cop who was also involved in the seance years ago, but his role as the “conflicted small-town lawman” feels underdeveloped.
The supporting cast, including Dame Harriet Walter as Joni’s mother and Celia Pacquola as Ruth Darling, also deliver solid performances, but their characters lack depth, leaving little room for emotional investment.
The Occult Element – A Missed Opportunity
Playing Gracie Darling tries to tap into the allure of the supernatural, but its use of the occult feels derivative. The show attempts to evoke the same kind of eerie tension found in films like Talk To Me, where occult practices are linked with reckless teen behavior, but it falls short. Instead of exploring the dark psychology behind these rituals, the show settles for the predictable—Ouija boards, burning spirits, and disappearing teenagers—all of which have been done countless times before.
Atmospheric Direction, but Weak Execution
Director Jonathan Brough brings his solid experience in shows like Bay of Fires to Playing Gracie Darling, but even his sharp direction can’t mask the show’s lackluster writing. While the series does well to create an atmospheric tension with its haunting visuals, the underwhelming plot and overused tropes keep it from being truly captivating.
Conclusion – A Familiar Ghost Story
At its core, Playing Gracie Darling had the potential to be an exciting supernatural thriller. Unfortunately, it fails to break free from the trappings of its genre, offering little more than recycled elements and a predictable storyline. If you’re a fan of the occult genre, it may still be worth a watch, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking.
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