Based on the 2007 novel by Dan Simmons, itself a fictional account of true events, The Terror is one of the most atmospheric tv series I’ve watched in a while. Brutal, relentless and immensely engaging, everything about the show is brilliantly crafted.
Set in 1845 as two ships, the HMS Erebus and the HMS Terror, seek a passage through the Arctic and plot the navigation of the Northwest Passage. In reality, both ships were never seen again after leaving Beechey Island. The fictionalised account uses research from later expeditions which found the wrecks of both ships along with graves and other signs of the lost crew.
The series takes these facts and turns them into one of the most intense survival stories made. When Erebus and Terror become frozen into the ice, the leader of the expedition sets to keeping order and his men in check. If the actuality of being stranded in sub-zero temperatures, miles away from help isn’t terrifying enough, things quickly take a terrible turn when an Eskimo is shot. Accident or not, the handling of his death, the lack of respect given his corpse and his daughters wishes brings even more trouble to the lost sailors.
As winter chips away at the men’s resolve, the inadequacy of their Captain becomes apparent. The isolation and unforgiving environment soon reveals the true nature of many characters. Whilst the weather and the ice worsens, the issue of food rears it’s ugly head. Though provisioned for five years, the supplies were bought from the cheapest source and have begun to spoil. Worse the tins are poisoning the sailors with lead. When the ice doesn’t thaw and the men remain stuck for another year, even the second-in-command can’t make his Captain see sense. There’s also the problem of a beast slowly stalking and killing sailors at random.
Cold, darkness, endless ice and a huge, yet ghostly, enemy eats away at both the mental and physical capacity of the men – officer and sailor alike. Madness begins to set in and, after HMS Erebus’ captain is killed, it’s up to the HMS Terror’s captain to lead the survivors across the ice.
Everything about the series drips with dread. Mundane tasks take on horrifying consequences; even eating is a slow death. And no one can escape it. Honestly nail-biting at times, grimly gory at others the stunning photography, stark colours and creeping soundtrack combine to create an atmosphere so tense it’s an experience to watch. Added to that is the amazing cast of actors who somehow embody the maddeningly austere Victorian as they suffer through the ordeal of survival.
This is a truly terrifying horror; a series that demands attention and offers no peace from its insane, relentless spiral toward the end. Brilliantly acted and directed, it’s a story that will stay with me a while. The combination of historical fact and fictional supposition creates an awful yet fascinating account. Excellent, dreadful, bloody and, human.
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