Welcome to The Overlooked Motel, a place where under-seen and unappreciated media gets its moment in the spotlight. I hope you enjoy your stay here and find the accommodations suitable. Now, please take a seat and make yourself comfortable. I have some misbehaving guests to ‘correct.’
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I have previously only showcased feature films on The Overlooked Motel. However, I have an appreciation for overlooked media in all its various forms. So, that exclusionary approach ends now. On this fine day, dear reader, I bring to you a television recommendation that I cannot believe hasn’t amassed a larger audience. The property in question is a Netflix original series developed for television by Rebecca Sonnenshine. The show, Archive 81, is based on a narrative podcast of the same name.
I recognize that Archive 81 made waves when it first bowed on Netflix in 2022. The show charted in the top 10 for a spell. And I know the series has a small but dedicated fanbase. However, I think the program deserves a larger audience and far greater acclaim. It’s an unpredictable, twisty cosmic horror series that features a dynamite cast and great set design. Not to mention, the show is dripping with atmospheric tension and a palpable sense of unease throughout.
The show follows Dan (Mamoudou Athie), a media archivist working for a museum in New York City in the present day. One day, Dan tackles an assignment for Virgil Davenport (Martin Donovan), a major donor to the museum and one of the head honchos at a shadowy corporation called LMG. The project Dan tackles involves restoring damaged tapes from 1994. The tapes were recorded by a woman named Melody (Dina Shihabi), who was working on a dissertation centered around an enigmatic apartment building called The Visser. Further complicating matters, The Visser mysteriously burned down during Melody’s tenure.
Dan reluctantly agrees to finish the project for Davenport. However, he’s none too pleased to learn that he must conduct the remainder of the restoration where the footage is housed, at a remote estate far removed from the hustle and bustle of the city. Not surprisingly, there is no cell phone reception onsite. But what could go wrong? Well, it turns out, a lot.
The deeper Dan gets into the project, the more perplexed he becomes by what he finds. Dan learns that his late father was Melody’s doctor after discovering a picture of her with his childhood dog. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. As Dan goes deeper down the rabbit hole, he becomes convinced that he is somehow connected with Melody and believes he is actually communicating with her from the present while she remains in the past.
Each passing episode of Archive 81 poses more questions than answers, making the viewing experience gripping and unpredictable. In Dan’s world, almost nothing is what it seems. The program blurs the line between fantasy and reality in a rather surreal fashion. There is a prevalent sense of uncertainty that hangs over the proceedings. Is Dan really seeing what he thinks he’s seeing? Is he actually communicating beyond the barriers of time? Or is he experiencing a mental health setback? We learn early on that Dan has endured various hardships related to his mental well-being. And that aspect only adds to the intrigue-laced uncertainty.
When Dan begins to explore the gorgeously staged estate serving as his temporary home, he quickly realizes that there is far more to the dwelling than he initially anticipated. That sort of unpredictability really tickles my fancy. The church scene and the sequences in the corridors each blew my mind in the best possible way. I’ll stop there because I want you to enjoy everything the program has to offer and you’re more likely to do so if you go in with a clean slate.
Getting back to Dan, I really relate to him. He’s a compelling lead, plus he’s a champion of physical media and someone who is working to better his mental health. I can relate to him on both fronts. Dan’s mental health ups and downs make him relatable to anyone who has ever struggled with their mental health. Who hasn’t at some point? That distinction makes him a more dynamic character and also helps keep some of the narrative twists under wraps by keeping the audience unsure as to what is real versus imagined.
Dan isn’t the only great character in the mix, mind you. Dan’s close friend Mark (Matt McGorry) wears many hats. Sometimes, he’s the voice of reason. Other times, he is a shoulder for Dan to cry on. He’s a textured supporting player and serves as so much more than a one-note best friend. Mark also brings much-needed comedic energy to the proceedings, which are pretty intense and often quite dark.
Melody is a well-crafted co-protagonist. She exists in the 1994 timeline through the videos Dan is restoring. However, we see frequent flashbacks beyond what’s on the tapes that serve to fill in the blanks. Like Dan, Melody also has a charming best friend. Melody’s ride-or-die is called Anabelle (Julia Chan). Her lack of a filter and quirky sensibilities make her a joy to be around. Her inner demons also play into the narrative in a series of unexpected ways.
A compelling cast of characters aside, some viewers were frustrated that Netflix canceled Archive 81 after a single season. However, I have a slightly different take. While I wish there had been a second season, I don’t hate how the show ended. It’s a fitting conclusion to the often downbeat nature of the program. Even if there had been a second season, I wouldn’t have expected a cookie-cutter ending that neatly tied everything up.
Additionally, the podcast on which the show is based has more of a proper ending. So, if you’re desperate for closure after watching the show, I suggest checking that out wherever you get your podcasts.
If I haven’t adequately sold you on the series yet, allow me to mention that master of modern horror James Wan served as an executive producer on the project.
If I’ve compelled you to check out Archive 81, make your way over to Netflix and give it a shot. I think you’ll be glad you did.
That’s all for this installment of The Overlooked Motel. If you would like to chat more about under-seen and underrated films, feel free to hit me up with your thoughts on Twitter, Threads, or Instagram.
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