Hemlock Grove

In the quiet, decaying town of Hemlock Grove strange violence and old secrets are waking up. Two young men stand at the center: Peter Rumancek, an outsider with a dangerous hunger he can't fully control, and Roman Godfrey, an heir who senses something monstrous growing beneath his polished exterior. As odd deaths and rumors swirl around the town's White Tower, alliances shift and family loyalties fray. The show follows their attempts to understand what they are and who around them can be trusted, while a new, more terrifying threat begins to unsettle the balance between predator and prey in ways that will change the town forever.

Released in 2013 on Netflix, Hemlock Grove was created by Brian McGreevy and adapted from his novel. The series stars Landon Liboiron, Bill Skarsgård, Famke Janssen, Madeleine Martin and Camille De Pazzis, and it arrived early in Netflix's push into original scripted programming.

The series did not win major industry awards, and mainstream recognition was limited. Still, it earned notice within horror and genre circles for its production values and performances. Fans and critics continued to debate its merits across seasons, and the show maintained a dedicated niche audience despite limited awards traction.

As one of Netflix's earlier darker offerings, Hemlock Grove helped normalize serialized, adult-oriented horror on streaming. Its graphic moments, gothic visuals and lurid tone kept it in genre conversations, and Bill Skarsgård's intense presence drew attention that helped his later career. The show developed a cult following that appreciated its willingness to push boundaries.

Critical response was mixed, with many reviewers praising mood, set design and standout acting, while others criticized uneven plotting and tonal excess. Major themes include inheritance and family secrecy, questions of identity and belonging, outsider status, and the porous line between human cruelty and literal monstrosity.