The End Of The F***ing World. Netflix 2 seasons

 

A rollicking wild ride of a pitch black series that is based on a graphic novel and comes complete with a slash and burn noir feeling. The graphic novel remains unseen by me and the remarkable two leads of the series Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden do look like cartoon drawings come to life. They are stringy and loose, they look like they just stepped out of a bottle of ink. They play two some what disturbed teenagers who take their lives and us on the lam and journey on a remarkable series of short episodes, that run only about 20 or so minutes. The graphic novel I’ve been told takes place in the United States but for the series has been moved to Great Britain landing in a dull and lifeless suburbia that could actually  be anywhere.

The references abound. A touch of  the cohen brothers is the most obvious stain, but lets not forget the long history in film of  the couple on the lam which runs from the 30’s to the present, there is even a major character named Bonnie. There will be blood, (in more ways than one)  as I drop a toast to another influence, and also mix in some very pretty poison. The two young leads (who aren’t really that young) and as I said are wonderful. Alex Lawther is especially touching as the lonely boy who looks like he might disappear from view, but is pulled back to earth by Jessica Barden as Alyssa. She is one tough cookie for sure.

The story more than touches on Parental discord and failure, it pretty much smacks us in the face. A mother finds her young  daughter using lipstick and makes her eat it to teach her to be a more obidinant daughter. A mother takes her own life in front of her young son, who is soon dipping his hand in boiling oil so that he can feel something. A daughter gets married young but runs away from her new husband on their wedding day, a daughter runs over a rival for her lovers attention, a son carries his fathers urn of ashes with him wherever he goes. 

Oh the violence is there and disturbing, and is so outrageous and tart that we laugh on the other side of our faces. The supporting cast is also terrific especially Naomi Ackie as a young black woman seeking revenge for those who murdered her lover, a sexual serial killer and abuser, she is also on the loose screw side of the fence and is damned and damaged.

The musical background is also tangy and great with lots of top pop hits from the past both recent and far away. The entire package is beautifully written, acted and directed and made with saturated colors and decors that are hard to place. Its all mix and match both in its look and the characters. Not an easy view for sure, but easily one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time. I loved it.