War is hell, both for the soldiers who fight on the frontlines and for the loved ones they leave behind. For Anne (Sophie Turner), she’d rather be anywhere than at home, where she’s stuck with her overbearing mother-in-law, Morwen, while waiting for the return of her beloved hubby, Seamus (Laurence O’Fuarain), from battle in the War of the Roses. He never comes back, but his childhood friend and fellow soldier, Jago (Kit Harington), does, and he brings nothing but trouble to Anne’s household. Anne clearly has feelings for him, but they’re overshadowed by reports of a murderous knight beheading people in the woods.
The Dreadful is a modern attempt at ‘70s folk horror, and it mostly does a good job at setting up its spooky medieval atmosphere. It’s a bit weird to see former Game of Thrones siblings Turner and Harington as unfaithful lovers, but they make a convincingly guilt-ridden couple. The Dreadful is best when Harden graces the screen as the mother-in-law from hell, who doesn’t mind murdering her rich neighbors to steal some of their spoils.
