Martin Scorsese directed Robert De Niro in the 1991 remake and he’s back as EP on this series. Javier Bardem takes on the villain role this time and he’s the epitome of creepy charisma. He plays an ex-con seeking revenge on his lawyer (Amy Adams) by subtly terrorizing her and her family. The show has borrowed elements from the earlier versions, including in-your-face camera, overbearing music and intense foreboding, which is the dominant emotion in the film. Bardem never lets up, but the series loses the tension while trying to fill the time. The performances are all fine, but showrunner Nick Antosca spends too much effort creating an ominous atmosphere that gets tiresome. Ultimately, the final 2 eps to ramp up the thrills, even though they push credibility. It’s a long slog to the ultimate climax and lacks enough events to keep it compelling along the way. (10 one-hour eps) 2.5 out of 5.0 stars
