https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CJGX50Pt4s
A trio of refugees from highly-regarded series now either cancelled or fallen into disrepair star in Hulu’s newest original series, The Path. Off-duty from BoJack Horseman and with Breaking Bad far in his rearview, Aaron Paul takes the lead as the newest recruit in a tight-knit community of like-minded individuals united under the higher purpose of an ill-defined cause. Could this vaguely spiritual group possibly be a cult, less interested in prayer and meditation than… murder? Judging by the bloody hands in the trailer embedded above, probably yes. True Detective survivor Michelle Monaghan appears as Paul’s character’s wife, and Hugh Dancy of the sadly departed Hannibal lends his weirdly affected magnetism and skills for saying things slowly and intensely to the upcoming program as the cult’s leader.
The show looks great, but let’s all take a moment and appreciate what a well-edited, well-scored trailer this is, just for its own sake. Trailers are glorified ads, yes, but there’s an art to them and some are definitely better than others. Juxtaposing the single “White Winter Hymnal” from folk outfit Fleet Foxes — pretty much a sonic embodiment of beauty, pure as the newfallen snow in the chorus — with violent and fantastical images creates a supremely disturbing effect. It’s chilling to hear the words of the chorus, sung so sweetly, twisted to provide a chipper accompaniment to a cult’s gruesome misdeeds. And whoever shot this thing did a bangup job, providing the trailer’s editor with no shortage of indelible, fascinating sights to cycle through like a creepy slideshow. (The yellow serpent writhing on what appears to be a coma patient will be enough to sell some people on this thriller, and I am some people.) Hulu’s started this year with an aggressive showing, having recently unveiled their adaptation of Stephen King’s 11.22.63. With any lucky, they’ll have a pair of hits on their hands.
