Netflix added another title to its list of cancellations that could be considered surprising. The turn came to Archive 81, a horror series that captured the attention of critics for its original story and dose of suspense. The most striking thing about the platform's recent decision is that this production did not go unnoticed at its launch and, in fact, was positioned for several weeks among the most watched. Despite everything, it will not have more seasons after not being renewed by the streaming giant.
Created by Rebecca Sonnenshine based on a podcast of the same name, the plot follows Dan Turner, a specialist in restoring video files who is hired by a mysterious company to review some old recordings that belonged to Melody Pendras. In the 90s, she filmed a documentary project about the Visser Building for her degree thesis in Anthropology, however, nothing in this place seems to be common since it burned down centuries ago.
“While restoring damaged videotapes, an archivist becomes involved in a mysterious plot related to the missing director and a demonic sect,” the official synopsis reads. As the protagonist progresses in the process of recovering the films, he also discovers the story behind the strange disappearance of the young woman after the Visser was once again the scene of a tragic fire. The most terrifying moments were introduced to the viewer from Melody's own camera, who uncovers dark secrets that involve all the neighbors of this building.
The cast consisted of Mamoudou Athie, Dina Shihabi, Evan Jonigkeit, Julia Chan, Ariana Neal, Matt McGorry and Martin Donovan. Screenwriter and producer Rebecca Sonnenshine drew on the podcast Archive 81, created by Daniel Powell and Marc Sollinger, to develop this eight-episode television series. Sonnenshine was also an executive producer alongside James Wan, Rebecca Thomas, Michael Clear, Paul Harris Boardman and Antoine Douaihy. It was released on January 14 in the Netflix original catalog.
The Netflix cancellations that caused the most stir
Netflix is currently considered the leading platform for streaming services to watch series, movies, documentaries and more productions for the small screen. In the last decade, the company has grown in size and offer, the latter referring to the infinite number of titles that have been released each year. But, just as the catalog gets bigger, it is also cut under audience and budget criteria.
Anne with an E, The Society, This Shit Beats Me, One Day at a Time and American Vandal are some of the fictions that come to users' minds when talking about a sudden cancellation. The reason? Their performance was not bad in the number of viewers and they managed to create a conversation on social networks, but that was not enough. For different reasons, each of those mentioned above and, recently the critically acclaimed Archive 81, were stripped of finding a definitive closure .
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