Watch Devil's Trade
- 1969
- 1 Season
-
6.1 (87)
In 2007, FEARnet bestowed a chilling anthology series upon its viewers called Devil's Trade. The series draws from a wealth of horror sub-genres catered to evoke unrelenting fear and suspense in its audience. From the eerie to the unseen, metaphysical phenomenons to supernatural thrills, Devil's Trade covers it all while providing a fresh and dark perspective to these narratives.
The story begins with innocent teenagers navigating through life. They manage to stumble upon a peculiar and antique shop that sells various curiosities. It also displays a sign outside - “Buy, Sell or Trade”. This, however, is not your average antique shop. Of those peculiar items being sold, they find an assortment of items like an old doll, a mysterious photograph, and a beautiful music box, among other things. Although seemingly harmless at first glance, the artifacts are not as harmless as they appear. Unknown to the teenagers, these objects house a sinister secret: they are cursed. Furthermore, getting rid of these objects is not an easy task. They have a peculiar way of finding their way back.
Once the teenagers acquire these artifacts, strange occurrences begin to unfold around them. Their lives take a dark and ominous turn as each episode further unravels the horrific extent of the curse that comes along with the items. They are thrust unprepared into a world of the supernatural where they have to confront the diabolical darkness that has now become a relentless part of their lives. Each antiquity ties back to an intricate backstory, steeped in deep-seated curses and enriched by a wealth of supernatural lore.
The show presents a classic horror trope — a white-knuckle narrative that revolves around the theme of desire and consequence. The desire to possess these intriguing artifacts is juxtaposed with the consequential horror that they bring with them. This highlights the age-old warning of ‘be careful what you wish for’. Each protagonist's story arc orbits around this core warning, leading them through a chilling exploration of murky lies, desolate truths, and devilish deceptions.
Throughout the course of the series, Devil's Trade exhibits classic horror cinema attributes – a silent creeping tension, building anticipation, elegant suspense, and an atmosphere brooding with menace. It skillfully uses supernatural themes to push the boundaries of traditional horror to create a nightmarish reality built on grief, loss, and fear.
The series is marked by impressive performances from its young cast who portray emotions ranging from curiosity to terror convincingly. The dialogue is efficient and the writing is effective, creating deep emotional bonds with the characters. It delivers horrific twists and turns, leaving the audience on tenterhooks, always yearning for more.
Devil's Trade showcases vintage horror storytelling, refreshingly blended with elements of contemporary horror. The show manifests an innovative spin on the horror genre, bravely dipping into psychological, metaphysical, and supernatural territories. Despite utilizing the cliché setting of an antique shop, the series is rich in originality, bringing fresh and dark tales to life.
The series employed top-notch production design and eerie cinematography to bring to life the creepy narrative. Each element chosen for the setting is meticulously planned and executed. The antique shop displays an atmosphere of an ominous mystery utilizing innovative lighting techniques and sound designing to evoke dark aesthetics.
This anthology series offers a new take on old-school haunting television, making it ideal for lovers of horror who appreciate a fresh spin on traditional themes. Delivering unexpected shocks, nerve-wracking suspense, and chilling revelations, Devil's Trade remains a trademark horror series of FEARnet.
In conclusion, Devil's Trade is a horror anthology that presents a frightening ensemble of stories revolving around cursed artifacts. The series pushes the boundaries of what horror television can achieve, striking a perfect balance between abundant chills and resonating depth within its narrative. Through its impeccable storytelling, diverse range of horror sub-genre exploration, and memorable suspenseful sequences cement its status as a gripping horror series. A must-watch for those who appreciate deliciously dark tales and classic horror storytelling. Every episode leaves viewers with the chilling realization that sometimes, some things are better left untouched.