The Head - TV Series Review

In ‘The Head’, Arnalds brings winter to the South Pole with Polaris VI Research Station populated by a group of people called Winterers. The team’s mission is especially important for climate change studies but the bad news comes early as most of them disappear by spring. Topicality is within the contemplation of loneliness, survival, nature’s vendetta against humanization and encroachment into the ‘wilderness’. Against the backdrop of cold it is a drama of human endurance incorporating the catastrophic results of not heeding nature signals. The mood of the show is quite serious and full of tension, which is appropriate for drama and horror at the same time.

John Lynch is starring as Arthur Wilde and he is doing a great job in portraying a man, who is obsessed with his goal. Maggie character is played by Katharine O’ Donnelly, depicting thin line between strength and fragility and enriching the plot. Admirably, the main cast conveys the gradual build-up of paranoia and fear and thus maintains the suspense.

An effective touch of style by director Jorge Dorado is the suspenseful and rather tense atmosphere of the film. His use of the tight framing is to build tension while the use of long shots of Antarctica creates a feeling of loneliness and danger. The Misterio element is presented exceptionally by Dorado in how the story is told.

The music score complements the build-up and suspense well enough throughout the series. In addition, the use of lighting does not take away from the effective atmosphere that this movie is known for; it complements the high-stakes tension of the movie.

The heat lighting and the cold atmosphere adds the reality of the localization and the deadly White continent of Antarctic. Zoe’s cinematography literally shows large and empty areas to illustrate the loneliness of the location, while close shots of the enclosed interiors of the research stations describe the claustrophobic state of the team, their gloom and despair.

The movie’s setting of an Antarctic research station feels genuine and helps with viewers’ immersion. High quality of realistic setting contributes accurately to this purpose and makes a narrative more believable.

Dangerous conditions of Antarctic help to underline importance of a survival theme in the series. Snow and ice storms help create depth in the action and events in the movie and the way the movie changes from past to Johan’s investigation does not confuse the viewer. It is, one again, a delicate task within Jacques, to keep the viewer intrigued and hooked throughout.

The tension that Jacques manages to keep growing throughout the series, is always conjoined with the character development and plot twists one gets to witness. One might complain about the movie moving at a snail’s pace while explaining the mystery, but as soon as the secrets are revealed, one can only sit back and marvel.

The dialogues are able to convey great tension, feel of desperation among the characters. Actual dialogues are powerful and, using a concept of psychological tension and growing doubts, logically expressed in a context where language is a precious resource.

Despite the success in the building of atmosphere and suspense, in ‘The Head’ series sometimes too many references to the classical thriller genre can be traced. While some audience members may guess some aspects of the plot, others may find them quite familiar, some characters’ developments could use more information, and the narration can feel somewhat unpolished in some moments.

Nevertheless, ‘The Head’ gives the viewers an unforgettable eerie experience with some intense suspense. Although it does so at times, it is an experience that is worth the watch owing to its strong setting, as well as multilayered acting performance. That is why the series is felt as a desperate search for unification and disunification in the face of natural disasters.