Ep 7. Pooka Lives

Pooka Lives is the seventh episode of the second season of Into the Dark. The episode follows a group of thirty-something friends who celebrate the release of a new Pooka sequel by designing their own Pooka costume. However, their fun takes a dark turn when their creation comes to life and begins terrorizing their small town. The group must band together to figure out how to stop the Pooka before it causes any more harm.

As the episode begins, viewers are introduced to a group of friends who have reunited for a weekend of drinking and reminiscing. They quickly become distracted by the release of the new Pooka movie, a popular children's character who has been reinvented as a terrifying monster. The friends decide to create their own Pooka costume, complete with glowing eyes, razor-sharp claws, and a terrifying growl. They share their progress on social media, gaining a massive following overnight. However, as they continue to showcase their creation, they begin to realize that their Pooka may not be as fictional as they thought.

The group is soon plagued by strange occurrences, including unexplained noises, missing objects, and seemingly random attacks. They brush off these incidents as pranks or coincidences, assuming that their Pooka costume has simply taken on a life of its own on social media. However, when their friend Evan goes missing and they receive a chilling warning from an anonymous caller, they begin to think that something more sinister is at play.

The group bands together to figure out how to stop their creation before it causes any more harm. They break into the local toy store to try and find a solution, discovering that Pooka merchandise has been selling out at an alarming rate. They soon discover that a local woman has been using a Pooka doll to summon supernatural entities, causing chaos and destruction throughout the town. They realize that their costume has become a vessel for this evil presence, and they must destroy it before it's too late.

The episode explores themes of obsession and the dangers of social media, showing how a harmless idea can quickly spiral out of control. It also touches on the power of childhood memories and the impact that fictional characters can have on our psyche. The horror elements are expertly crafted, with jump scares and suspenseful moments throughout the episode. The characters are well-written and believable, with each of them struggling with their own personal demons in addition to the supernatural threat.

Overall, Pooka Lives is a standout episode of Into the Dark that will leave viewers on the edge of their seats. It is a masterful blend of horror and social commentary, expertly crafted by director Alejandro Brugués and writer Ryan Copple. Fans of the series will not be disappointed, and those who are new to the show will be hooked from the first few minutes.