Cabinet of Curiosities (1×06) Dreams in the Witch House Review

For our review of the last episode of Cabinet of Curiosities, click here.

As opposed to the last episode of Cabinet of Curiosities that opted for a psychological horror, this latest instalment opts for some fantasy horror in a more involved character study rooted in grief but with a supernatural twist as both explore a world beyond our own. The performances have consistently been the best part of the series thus far and Dreams in the Witch House is no different, perhaps offering the best so far by lead Rupert Grint. Another instalment with a cinematic like feel, it also shows plenty of imagination as viewers are given a taste of a new word full of wonder that was as fantastic as it was dangerous, without giving too much away. In the end, it was all about trying to survive navigating both worlds even though it didn’t always seem to be its biggest concern as it never lost sight of what it was at its core. As much as the series has been about dazzling viewers, its primarily focus should be telling compelling stories above all else and that certainly was the case here. 

Dreams in the Witch House follows a man named Walter (Grint) whose life’s mission is to somehow reunite with his twin sister Epperly (Daphne Hoskins) who tragically passed away at a young age. They were very close therefore he took it particularly hard therefore all he wanted to do with his life was to track where she went after she died. Suffice it to say that that quest was easier said than done. After so many dead ends, Walter found himself at wit’s end but nevertheless he continued to have faith even if those around him were consistently losing theirs. His fortune changed upon coming across a drug with the ability to transport him to another world where the spirit of Epperly travelled. Another story of something being too good to be true, the temptation of reuniting with his sister went against the natural order which was only the beginning of the series of ripples he created. Contending with forces in the land of the living and the dead, things got tense as the inner conflict within Walter laid heavy as it kept propelling him forward in the face of the uncertainty ahead of him. Ultimately, something had to give as everything came together in a strong emotional conclusion.

In the end, the best part of Dreams in the Witch House was a stellar performance from Grint as Walter. Another episode carried by a character arc, he delivers an emotional powerhouse of a performance which he sells with his likeability and relatability, pulling viewers in. That connection between Walter and Epperly was at the heart of the episode and he handily carries that weight on his shoulders.   

Dreams in the Witch House fires on all cylinders with an engaging story packed with emotional and imagination and is easily the best episode of the series so far.

*still courtesy of Netflix*

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.