If your internet’s down, and something spooky’s going on, who you gonna call? Truth Seekers!

This 8-part comedy horror sees broadband technician Gus (Nick Frost) and his new partner Elton (Famalam’s Samson Kayo) investigate ghostly goings on which are causing technical faults with the internet. Based on the first two episodes this seems to revolve around a specific call out in each episode, with the cause being some variation of the paranormal. Their boss, Dave (Simon Pegg) seems to be aware of Gus’ Fortean interests, and although we get no answers there are hints of a more overarching plot to come. Our heroes are being followed by a mysterious young woman, who herself seems to be pursued by ghastly apparitions.

Tales of the paranormal have long tied in with the latest technological marvels of the day and it’s a reasonable conceit that one intangible, invisible force that no one really understands (wi-fi) should be affected by another. I’m sure it’s been done before but it’s an effective setup and a bit more interesting than if they’d just been bog-standard ghost hunters.

Conceived and written by Frost and Pegg, along with James Serafinowicz and Nat Saunders, this is unsurprisingly similar in tone to some of their previous work (Shaun of the Dead most obviously). Most of the humour comes from the slightly over the top characterizations and situations rather than gags, most of the actual jokes being fairly throwaway. As usual with their work there are plenty of overt references to other genre material, which I have to say was cute and quite innovative back in the days of Spaced (Frost and Pegg’s beloved sitcom from the late ‘90s/early ‘00s) but to my mind is rather wearing now. Elton’s agoraphobic sister is a cosplay enthusiast, so I expect there’ll be plenty more of this to come. Elton’s quest to find her a sink-plunger for her latest costume did make me smile I admit.

One of the most pleasing aspects of film and TV enthusiasts making their own shows is that they get to cast favourites from back in their youth. Here we have the legendary Malcolm McDowell as Gus’ somewhat befuddled father, and Patricia Brake (Fletcher’s daughter Ingrid in Porridge and Going Straight) as the elderly Miss Connelly. Episode two also sees Kevin Eldon, TV’s go-to eccentric, as the owner of a haunted hotel. I imagine we’ll be seeing quite a few familiar faces as the series progresses.

Once I got a handle on the tone of this series (more creepy than it is overtly funny) I found myself enjoying being along for the ride. This isn’t the latest Frost/Pegg vehicle some may be expecting, Pegg so far only really appearing as a cameo, but Frost and Kayo make for a pleasing duo themselves, and there are hints that both characters have hidden depths to be revealed.

Verdict: At around half an hour these two tales so far don’t outstay their welcome. With a number of effective spooky bits and some pleasantly familiar faces, I’m certainly looking forward to seeing where this takes us. 7/10

Andy Smith

 

Truth Seekers will be streaming on Amazon Prime in its entirety from 30th October