HBO best describes the one-hour drama series as being based on the 2016 novel by Matt Ruff, follows Atticus Black as he joins his friend Letitia and his Uncle George to embark on a road trip across 1950s Jim Crow America in search of his missing father. What follows is a struggle to survive and overcome both the racist terrors of white America and the terrifying monsters that could be ripped from an H.P. Lovecraft paperback.

Now truth be told, I admit to not particularly being a fan of Jordan Peele’s work, so imagine my feelings when I got the opportunity to review his latest piece of work, sceptical to say the least. For one I have always said that I’m not a horror fan and to this day the appeal of it (which I understand what others get) for me, personally, I have never been encapsulated by. Jordan Peele very much specialises in that but always manages to put a spin on things with the inclusion of a black cast driving the story line, we’ve seen it in Us and Get Out.

Despite my reservations, I decided to give it a try and the result is a tough one to determine. For one I enjoyed the opening sequence of it and of course the clever inclusion and shining a light on racial issues and biases, but like with most horror titles and especially Peele’s work, weird sequences tend to deflect away from the good, at least that’s what I thought. I get that the premise is mostly horror but I just wish less was more in this instance. So yes, if you are not particularly a horror fan then chances of you liking this are quite minimal.

Having said all of that, it’s all according to personal taste, in as much as it’s not for me, I’m confident that many others will like it a lot. It’s different, edgy and certainly keeps you on the edge of your seat with tons of intrigue also included as part of it. And that’s what good entertainment is all about really.

We also have confirmation that in addition to 1Magic, it will be also be hitting Showmax real soon but in stages, specifically there will be 4 episodes on 8 September, followed by the next 4 on 6 October, and the final two being available on 20 October. Like all horror movies, this one is not for the kids so best to keep that in mind … it also explains why the timing it currently has on 1Magic, which by the way, and to remind you, is 21:30. Catch the first episode tonight and I look forward to the numerous debates I’m going to have with various individuals about this one, especially those that like it, which again there will be plenty I’m sure.

Special mention to the Showmax team for letting us into the early pre-screener, as always, classy.

Based on Crystal Moselle’s critically acclaimed feature Skate Kitchen, HBO’s new six-episode half-hour series Betty follows a diverse group of young women navigating their lives through New York’s predominantly male-oriented skateboarding scene. Dede Lovelace, Moonbear, Nina Moran, Ajani Russell, and Rachelle Vinberg, who all starred in the original film, return for the series.

Moselle’s debut documentary Wolfpack earned her the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, Best Documentary at Edinburgh, and a Cinema Eye Honors Award, as well as an MTV Movie Awards Best Documentary nomination, while Skate Kitchen earned Crystal Moselle a Best of Next nomination at Sundance and an Honourable Mention at Outfest.

Betty has a very impressive 93% critics rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics consensus is, “Earnest, audacious, and effortlessly cool, Betty captures the spirit of skating and friendship with style.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tQu2P5n4Bc

And if that wasn’t enough, below are more sample reviews used to describe it so far:

“It’s Larry Clark’s Kids without the rebel fetishism and suffocating nihilism. Mostly, though, Betty is a tribute to these women who Moselle adores, and who wants you to adore as much as she does.” Rolling Stone

“The style is vérité, the stunts are hair-raising… But this Betty is mostly just funny, with a memorable cast.” The Wall Street Journal

“Above all else, the show is a spunky, infectious tale of community and agency. Moselle and company continue to find an undercurrent of youthful innocence amid the inherent rebellion of their freewheeling lifestyle (casual drug use and all) that makes these figures just as true and well-rounded as their real-life counterparts. Brazen and delightfully gruesome at times, Betty transcends the subculture it centers to provide a story of strength for all girls.” AVClub

“Betty looks like how being a teenager feels. Shot during a vibrant New York City summer, the show zips alongside its characters as they weave through traffic, across parks, over bridges on their skateboards. When it slows down, it’s to take in the view, have a laugh, shoot the shit. But within minutes it’s inevitably off and running into the blinking sun again, winding down the city streets with such visceral verve that you can practically feel the wind whipping through your own hair through the screen… Every actor is the kind of good that’s harder to absorb at first; they’re so immediately comfortable in their roles and rhythms that the show often feels more like a documentary than a scripted show. But it is, and an especially well-plotted one given that it only has six episodes to give everyone a decently satisfying arc.” Variety

We will lend our voice and see if we can add to the above rave reviews. Thanks to the Showmax team we’ll be seeing it first, so as always be on the lookout for our full thoughts on it real soon. Even before watching though, judging purely from the trailer and the info supplied, it won’t be hard to like this one.