Review: FROM – Season 1, Episode 1: Long Day’s Journey Into Night

Introduction

The premiere episode of FROM, titled Long Day’s Journey Into Night, serves as a gripping introduction to a series that blends psychological horror, mystery, and survival drama. Created by John Griffin and produced by the Russo brothers, FROM presents a nightmarish scenario where travelers find themselves inexplicably trapped in a mysterious small town from which there is no escape. As darkness falls, the town reveals its most terrifying secret—monstrous creatures that prey on those who do not seek shelter in time.

With its unsettling atmosphere, strong performances, and a compelling central mystery, Long Day’s Journey Into Night effectively establishes the rules of the world while leaving viewers with more questions than answers. The episode’s eerie setting, slow-burning suspense, and sense of existential dread immediately set the tone for what promises to be an intense and thought-provoking series.

評論：《FROM》– 第 1 季，第 1 集：《漫長白晝入夜行》

導言

《FROM》的首播集《漫長白晝入夜行》（Long Day’s Journey Into Night）是一場令人屏息的開端，為這部融合心理驚悚、懸疑與生存劇元素的影集奠定了基礎。該劇由約翰·格里芬（John Griffin）創作，並由羅素兄弟（Russo Brothers）監製，講述了一群旅行者無法解釋地被困在一座神秘小鎮的故事——一個沒有出口、無法逃離的詭異之地。然而，這座小鎮最駭人的秘密並不僅僅是它的封閉性，而是當黑夜降臨時，潛伏在陰影中的怪物將獵殺任何沒有及時尋找庇護的人。

本集透過極具壓迫感的氛圍、強烈的角色演出，以及懸疑感十足的核心謎團，成功建立起這個令人不寒而慄的世界觀。從詭異的環境設定，到緩慢推進卻充滿緊張感的劇情，再到深植於角色內心的存在主義恐懼，這集巧妙地為整部劇奠定基調，也讓觀眾在好奇與不安之間持續掙扎。

The Story

The episode opens with Sheriff Boyd Stevens (Harold Perrineau) patrolling the town’s eerie, desolate streets as dusk approaches. The tension builds as the audience is introduced to the town’s most horrifying reality: once night falls, supernatural creatures emerge from the surrounding woods, hunting anyone who remains outside. To survive, the townspeople must retreat indoors and secure themselves behind strange talismans that seem to repel the creatures.

Meanwhile, a family on a road trip—Jim Matthews, his wife Tabitha, and their children Julie and Ethan—find themselves inexplicably caught in a looping road that always leads them back to the town. Their arrival is met with cautious but urgent instructions from the townsfolk, who know that nightfall is fast approaching. The Matthews family’s disoriented reaction mirrors the viewer’s own confusion, making their experience the perfect lens through which to introduce the town’s strange and terrifying rules.

As the episode unfolds, we are introduced to other key residents, including Father Khatri, a pragmatic yet enigmatic priest, and Kenny, the sheriff’s loyal deputy. Tensions rise when an elderly resident, afraid and desperate, refuses to heed the town’s warnings, ultimately falling victim to the nightmarish creatures in a scene that graphically demonstrates the horrifying stakes. The episode concludes with Sheriff Boyd grimly preparing for another long night, reinforcing the sense of inescapable doom that permeates the town.

劇情

本集開場時，警長博伊德·史蒂文斯（Boyd Stevens，由哈羅德·佩里諾飾演）正在黃昏時分巡邏這座詭異而荒涼的小鎮街道。隨著夜幕降臨，觀眾很快被帶入這個小鎮最可怕的現實——一旦天黑，超自然生物便會從周圍的森林中現身，獵殺任何仍然留在戶外的人。為了生存，鎮民們必須撤回室內，並使用一種神秘的護身符將門窗封鎖起來，這些護身符似乎能夠驅退這些恐怖生物。

與此同時，一家正在自駕旅行的馬修斯一家——吉姆（Jim Matthews）、他的妻子塔比莎（Tabitha），以及他們的孩子茱莉（Julie）和伊森（Ethan）——意外地陷入了一條詭異的環狀道路，無論如何行駛，最終都會回到這座小鎮。他們的到來引起了鎮民們既謹慎又焦急的反應，因為大家都知道，夜幕即將降臨，危險迫在眉睫。馬修斯一家困惑而驚恐的反應，也成為觀眾探索這座小鎮奇怪且駭人規則的完美視角。

隨著劇情推進，我們逐漸認識了鎮上的其他重要居民，包括卡特里神父（Father Khatri），一位既務實又神秘的牧師，以及博伊德的忠誠副手肯尼（Kenny）。當一名年邁的鎮民因恐懼和絕望而拒絕遵從小鎮的生存法則，最終在黑夜中慘遭怪物獵殺時，這場駭人聽聞的屠殺清楚地向觀眾展示了違反規則的可怕後果。隨著夜色漸深，博伊德警長面對即將到來的黑夜，神情沉重地準備迎接另一場惡夢般的夜晚，進一步強化了這座小鎮無法逃離的絕望氛圍。

Themes and Analysis

Fear of the Unknown – One of FROM’s most unsettling aspects is its refusal to explain the nature of the town, the creatures, or the supernatural forces at play. The town exists in a space where normal rules of time and geography do not apply, creating an ever-present sense of unease. This taps into a fundamental human fear—being trapped in a situation that defies logic or reason.

Isolation and Helplessness – The episode effectively builds a suffocating atmosphere of isolation. The road that leads travelers back to the same place symbolizes a loss of control, stripping the characters of their agency and forcing them into a reality governed by unknown and terrifying rules.

Survival and Community Dynamics – In a world where survival depends on strict rules and cooperation, tensions naturally arise. The town is not just dealing with a supernatural threat but also with the psychological toll of long-term confinement. Sheriff Boyd emerges as a leader holding the fragile community together, but the cracks in their system are already visible, hinting at deeper conflicts ahead.

Monsters as Metaphors – The shadowy figures that appear at night, smiling eerily before unleashing unimaginable violence, represent a classic horror trope—the idea that true terror lies not in grotesque appearances, but in the subversion of normalcy. These creatures do not chase their victims; instead, they manipulate, coax, and lull them into a false sense of security before attacking. This makes them even more terrifying, as they challenge the instinctive human trust in friendly, familiar faces.

主題與解析

對未知的恐懼 ——《FROM》最令人不安的特點之一，就是它對於這座小鎮、這些怪物，甚至超自然現象的本質幾乎毫無解釋。這座小鎮存在於一個違反常理的空間中，時間和地理規則在此似乎完全失效，讓人時刻感受到深深的不安。這正好觸及了人類最根本的恐懼之一——被困在一個毫無邏輯或理性可循的詭異情境中，無法理解也無法掌控自己的命運。

孤立與無助 ——本集成功地營造出一種令人窒息的孤立感。那條讓旅人無論如何行駛都會回到原點的公路，象徵著一種對現實掌控權的徹底喪失。角色們被剝奪了選擇的自由，被迫接受一個未知且恐怖的生存規則，這種無助感進一步加深了觀眾對劇情的投入感。

生存與社群動態 ——在這個世界裡，生存取決於嚴格的規則和集體合作，而這也導致了內部的緊張局勢。在對抗超自然威脅的同時，鎮民們也必須面對長期困在此地所帶來的心理壓力。警長博伊德（Boyd）作為社群的領導者，努力維持這個脆弱的秩序，但從本集的一些細節來看，鎮上的緊張氣氛已經開始浮現，暗示著未來可能出現更深層次的衝突與裂痕。

怪物的象徵意義 ——夜晚現身的那些影子般的生物，總是帶著詭異微笑，然後再毫不留情地施加難以想像的暴力，這呼應了經典恐怖元素——最可怕的不是駭人的外表，而是對「正常」的顛覆與利用。這些怪物並不會像傳統獵食者那樣追趕獵物，而是透過操控、哄騙、引誘人們放下戒心後再發動致命攻擊。這種手法使它們更加令人膽寒，因為它們顛覆了人類本能對於「友善與熟悉面孔」的信任，使得觀眾無法預測下一秒的恐懼將以何種形式降臨。

Strengths of the Episode

Tense and Unsettling Atmosphere – The cinematography, sound design, and pacing work in perfect harmony to create a sense of dread that lingers throughout the episode. The gradual transition from day to night mirrors the audience’s growing realization that something is deeply wrong.

Strong Performances – Harold Perrineau delivers a standout performance as Sheriff Boyd, exuding both authority and vulnerability. Catalina Sandino Moreno and Eion Bailey convincingly portray Jim and Tabitha’s growing panic, while the supporting cast helps flesh out the town’s eerie, lived-in quality.

Effective World-Building – Without overloading the audience with exposition, the episode establishes the town’s rules, dangers, and community structure in a way that feels organic. The use of the Matthews family as newcomers helps guide the audience through these discoveries naturally.

Engaging Mystery – The episode raises far more questions than it answers, keeping viewers hooked. Where is this town? Why are the people trapped? What are the creatures? The absence of immediate explanations encourages speculation and theory-building, making the show deeply immersive.

本集的優勢

緊張而令人不安的氛圍 —— 本集的攝影、美術設計、音效與敘事節奏完美結合，營造出一種揮之不去的恐懼感。隨著白晝逐漸消逝、黑夜降臨，觀眾的直覺也同步發現這個小鎮存在著某種極端詭異的不對勁感，這種漸進式的恐懼鋪陳讓人完全沉浸在劇情之中。

出色的演出 —— 哈羅德·佩里諾（Harold Perrineau）在本集中展現了令人印象深刻的表現，他飾演的警長博伊德既充滿領導威嚴，又隱隱透露出無奈與脆弱。卡塔莉娜·桑地諾·莫雷諾（Catalina Sandino Moreno）與艾恩·貝利（Eion Bailey）則成功詮釋了吉姆與塔比莎（Jim & Tabitha）面對無法理解的恐懼時，逐步崩潰的驚慌情緒。而配角群的精湛演出也讓這座小鎮的詭異氛圍顯得更加真實。

有效的世界觀建構 —— 本集巧妙地建立了這座小鎮的生存法則、潛伏的危險，以及居民們的社群結構，卻又不會以過量的資訊轟炸觀眾。編劇選擇透過馬修斯一家（Matthews Family）這組新來者的視角，讓觀眾隨著他們的經歷自然地揭開小鎮的種種秘密，這種循序漸進的敘事方式讓世界觀更具沉浸感與說服力。

引人入勝的謎團 —— 本集留下的疑問遠多於提供的答案，使得觀眾欲罷不能：這座小鎮究竟位於何處？為何人們會被困在此？這些夜晚出現的生物究竟是什麼？劇情沒有急於解釋一切，而是巧妙地營造懸念，促使觀眾自主推理、討論與構思各種理論，這正是讓一部懸疑驚悚劇集變得深具吸引力的關鍵因素。

Weaknesses of the Episode

Slow Pacing for Some Viewers – While the episode builds tension effectively, its methodical pacing may feel too slow for those expecting fast-paced horror. The slow-burn approach focuses on atmosphere and character development, which may not appeal to audiences looking for immediate action.

Limited Character Development in Some Areas – While Boyd is well-established as a leader, some secondary characters, such as Kenny and Father Khatri, receive only minimal development in this episode. However, this is likely intentional, as the show is designed to gradually expand on its characters over time.

Lack of Immediate Explanations – The refusal to provide answers is a deliberate narrative choice, but it may frustrate viewers who prefer more straightforward storytelling. Those looking for immediate clarity regarding the town’s origins or the creatures may find the lack of exposition challenging.

本集的缺點

對某些觀眾來說節奏過慢 —— 雖然本集成功建立了緊張感，但它循序漸進的敘事方式可能對期待高速發展的觀眾來說顯得過於緩慢。本劇採取「慢燒」（slow-burn）手法，將重點放在氛圍塑造與角色刻畫，而非直接進入恐怖驚悚的高潮，這種敘事風格可能不適合想要快速進入動作場面的觀眾。

部分角色發展較為有限 —— 雖然警長博伊德的角色定位相當鮮明，且作為領導者的形象塑造成功，但其他次要角色，如副警長肯尼（Kenny）與卡特里神父（Father Khatri），在本集中獲得的篇幅較少，導致他們的個性與背景仍然模糊。然而，這很可能是製作團隊的有意安排，因為本劇顯然希望透過後續集數逐步深入刻畫角色，而非在第一集就揭露過多細節。

缺乏立即性的解釋 —— 本集刻意不向觀眾提供太多線索，這是一種特定的敘事選擇，旨在維持神秘感與懸疑氛圍。然而，這種做法可能會讓部分偏好直線敘事的觀眾感到挫折。如果有人希望迅速了解這座小鎮的起源、居民被困的原因，或者怪物的真正來歷，那麼本集的謎團設計可能會讓他們感到困惑或不耐煩。

Final Thoughts

Long Day’s Journey Into Night is an impressive and chilling debut for FROM, masterfully blending horror, mystery, and survival drama. It introduces a world that is both hauntingly surreal and viscerally terrifying, keeping viewers on edge with its cryptic storytelling and oppressive atmosphere. The episode effectively sets up the show’s central mystery while delivering moments of genuine horror that will leave audiences eager for more.

While its slow-burn pacing and lack of immediate answers may not appeal to everyone, these elements contribute to the show’s immersive and unsettling quality. With strong performances, an eerie setting, and an intriguing premise, FROM has all the makings of a standout psychological horror series.

Final Rating: 8.5/10

最終評價

《漫長的一日進入黑夜》作為《FROM》的首播集，展現了一場令人印象深刻且令人不寒而慄的開端，巧妙融合了恐怖、懸疑與生存劇元素。本集成功塑造了一個既詭異超現實、又令人毛骨悚然的世界，透過神秘而晦澀的敘事方式，以及壓迫感十足的氛圍，讓觀眾時刻保持高度緊張。本集不僅有效地奠定了本劇的核心謎團，也帶來了數個真正令人恐懼的時刻，使觀眾迫不及待想要揭開更多秘密。

雖然節奏偏慢且未立即給出明確答案，這可能讓部分觀眾感到焦躁，但正是這些元素加深了本劇的沉浸感與詭異魅力。憑藉強大的演員表現、陰森詭譎的場景營造，以及極具吸引力的故事設定，《FROM》展現出成為一部傑出心理恐怖劇的潛力。

最終評分：8.5/10