Today the 8-episode series debuts exclusively on Dailymotion, having signed a deal with the site granting it a month-long exclusive window on Compulsions. Already the popular video site had been featuring the trailer for the series front and center, and it now leads with the first episode surrounded by some custom front page skinning.
Last night in Los Angeles, in a packed screening premiere at Cinespace a room full of some 200 or so lucky ones had a chance to collectively writhe and squirm through the first 4 episodes. “I know the expectations are high,” wrote creator Bernie Su in a post before the premiere, “especially for independent web content but I honestly don’t know if the general audience will love it or not. Our show is dark, intense, and gritty. Though I can say this… our show is definitely something else.”
The series centers on three hidden desires, or compulsions, afflicting three respective main characters. There’s Mark (Craig Frank), the compulsive sadist chillingly unaffected by his routine torture games. Mark’s mysterious handler Justine (Janna Bossier) who’s compulsive “trophy hunting” has something to do with tracking down a missing “package.” And Mark’s office co-worker Cassandra (Annemarie Pazmino) who delivers a tech-infused modern day twist on compulsive voyeurism.
Casting for the series is superb—a healthy dose of web series notables, but without any hint of stunt casting. The standout here though is Craig Frank, known previously for his array of comedy roles in series like The Crew
, Private High Musical and Craig and the Werewolf. His layered performance contrasting unassuming office lackey with charged torture junkie is what carries the opening episodes. Only in the office scenes does Frank start dolling out pitch perfect straight man comedy, next to his comically gabby coworker (Sean Spence), giving the live screening crowd its sparse laugh breaks. Seth Caskey and After Judgment star Taryn O’Neill guest star in fearless roles as Adam and Sara, two of Mark’s uncooperative victims.In a Q&A sessions after the screening, someone in the crowd asked Su what his own compulsion is, to which the always color coordinated Su quickly replied— “I’m a compulsive attention grabber.” And so far grabbing attention is something has pulled off deftly. The next test is whether or not the show can keep (and build) on it.
Episode 1, “Unleash,” premiered today (below). New episodes roll out each weekday through December 10.
Peloton is dismissing a chunk of its workforce, including its top executive. Barry McCarthy announced that he is…
Meta is looking to improve creator and brand experiences on its platform by investing in AI. The…
Bob Does Sports, the self-dubbed home of "brilliantly dumb sporting adventures" hosted by Robby Berger,…
Influencer marketing agency Billion Dollar Boy is launching a new membership community that's "dedicated to…
Welcome to Millionaires, where we profile creators who have recently crossed the one million follower…
Welcome to Creators on the Rise, where we find and profile breakout creators who are…