Cabinet of Curiosities (1×05) Pickman’s Model Review

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

Continuing to offer a little bit of everything for viewers, this latest instalment of Cabinet of Curiosities takes more of a psychological horror approach in this character study with Pickman’s Model. Across the entire series so far, the pieces have arguably been there but each story’s ability to put those pieces together in a satisfying way has been hit or miss. After finding a better grasp this episode arguably takes a step back by grounding the story in a thin plot that looks to find horror in the ambiguous, the fear of the unknown below the surface. A tell more so than show approach, its pacing may limit engagement as it takes some time before it gets interesting. That being said, once it does, the end result is on the disappointing side. Another episode clocking in at over an hour, the running time is a hinderance more than something that helps its case. An episode that counts on performances to deliver tension and suspense, Ben Barnes succeeds for the most part and keeps it watchable as the flawed lead while Crispin Glover is wasted as a shadowy antagonist.

Pickman’s Model follows a young up-and-coming art student named Thurber (Barnes) whose life is turned upside down after meeting a newer and older introverted art student named Richard Pickman (Glover), someone with a fascination with the macabre. His paintings were unlike anything he had ever seen as they appeared to have an effect on Thurber as staring into them and the events they depict started to come to life and began to increasingly play with his mind. Thinking that he was done with Pickman and his paintings, he suddenly found a way back into Thurber’s life just as he had moved on and developed a budding career for himself and his family. From there, it was all about putting an end to Pickman before he put an end to him. Whether or not that would happen remained to be seen as the former’s power seemed to be stronger. Though admittedly tense at times, Pickman’s contribution to the story was thin at best besides being incredibly creepy. As a result, the end of the episode kind of fell flat.

In spite of its issues, the best part of Pickman’s Model is still Barnes and Glover as Thurber and Pickman. Barnes’ charm and range sell his character arc which the episode depends on while Glover made for a worthy adversary even though he didn’t have all that much to do. Meanwhile, the atmosphere is there as the episode feels like a decent horror film on a technical level but the plot just leaves much to be desired.

Pickman’s Model may feel the most like a horror film but can’t quite put the pieces together in a satisfying enough way, 

*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.