Archive 81 review: This mentally exhausting psychological-thriller series should have been made into a film

2.5/5

Story:

Archive 81 follows the life of a young man and woman from two different timelines. However, both find a connection between each other and explore a world full of secrets. 

Review:

The burst of content on OTT platforms has certainly benefited all, whether it’s the filmmakers, actors, musicians or the audience. As viewers, we have a barrage of shows, films, and documentaries to watch according to our wishes. However, this newfound entertainment world sometimes drains you mentally and emotionally without even letting you know. It especially happens when you are watching a show like Archive 31. A web series on Netflix that actually makes you wish that you shouldn’t have started watching it in the first place. But being a sucker for psychological thrillers, it compels you to click on that next episode button because of its one of a kind cliffhangers in all 8 episodes.

Archive 81 begins with a unique concept, where a 20 something-year-old girl, Melody (Dina), explores a new weird place with her Sony camcorder during the 1990s, while a boy named Dan (Mamoudou Athie) sitting in a closed basement in 2021 somehow establishes a connection with her by reviewing and restoring the video footages that have been shot by the actress.

The story does intrigue the audience and in the first few minutes reveals that something diabolical is happening around the protagonist at her new residence. While later it takes a much longer time to reveal the peculiar characters around Melody. Not only that but the tale is also pretty slow and a little confusing in the first few episodes as well. 

As the show progresses, Dan discovers something or we can say someone that connects him with Melody even more and makes him curious to find out everything about her.

Archive 81 has literally just stretched the whole show till episode six in the disguise of a suspense builder, however, if you make it till the 7th episode, you might start liking it as it reveals the main motive of whatever has been happening in the lead actress’ life.

The last two episodes involve scenes like demonic rituals, coven, astronomy and the origin of a secret diabolical group. The final episode also uncovers the real identity of some of the characters which are merely unexpected and mind-blowing at the same time. Dina and Mamoudou’s characters finally meet each other in person by ditching the physics rules of two different timelines, however, the makers have been successful in making the audience believe in their theory about it.

Meanwhile, the end is unpredictable and also leaves the audience at a major cliffhanger. Though I hope that the second season turns out to be less boring, whenever it arrives on the OTT giant.

Verdict:

Archive 81 could have been an amazing watch if the makers had made it as a film and not in almost an eight-hour web series. The concept is likeable but the show is certainly not binge-worthy as it has been mentally exhausting for me.