“Rendell Locke is dead.” So begins Netflix’s adaptation of Locke & Key. The series is adapted from the eponymous series of graphic novels written and illustrated by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez.
The series follows the Locke family – widow Nina Locke and her three children Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode as they try to begin anew in their father’s childhood home – Keyhouse, in Matheson, Mass. But Matheson, and Keyhouse, have many secrets, not all of them good, for the bereaved family to discover during their tenure there.
The first questions they need answered? What do all these strange keys do? And where do they come from?
The Netflix and book series are identical in concept and similar in execution. But the show changes several key things about the books that allow readers to make sense of what is happening, and they even changed several elements in order to “further the narrative.”
Despite these changes, the series itself is a good standalone even if you have no knowledge of the graphic novel series. The series manages to explore the graphic novels and explain plot points using fantastic visual effects and it really brings Keyhouse to life. If you weren’t a fan of the series before, you definitely will be now; it might even incite new readers to discover the graphic novels.
Locke and Key is a rollicking, fantastical tour de force that explores the magical nuances, nooks and crannies of Keyhouse and its environs. From vibrant character arcs to amazing sets and visual effects Locke and Key is sure to delight and astound viewers of all ages and have them hunting down the graphic novels and diving further into the Mythos of Keyhouse, and Lovecraft, Mass.
From the artistry in the title cards and keys, to the music and the settings Locke and Key will keep you captivated from key to key and leave you always wanting more.
