‘Wednesday’ review: Netflix Addams Family spinoff is Dark, Spooky and all sorts of kooky.

There is only one thing to keep in mind before watching Netflix’s Addams Family, 

it’s to expect the unexpected. Yes, the look – pigtails, pale skin, pinstripes – is similar to the ‘90s classic. Yes, she remains po-faced and prickly. Yes, it’s still set in a creepy mansion. But dip a toe beyond the first few episodes, and you’ll find a very different Wednesday to the one we’ve come to know.

It all starts with a long car journey. Our queen of mean is in serious trouble after setting killer piranhas on some school bullies, costing them their lives. As a result, she’s being packed off to Nevermore academy in the mountains.

Nevermore Academy is the alma mater of her mother, Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones), and father, Gomez (Luis Guzmán). Its curriculum is designed for outcasts, creeps and monsters, and the student body is filled with cliques of vampires, werewolves and sirens. But even they’re freaked out by Wednesday’s cadaver-white skin and all-black uniform. “Wednesday always looks half-dead,” explains Gomez. “Please excuse Wednesday. She’s allergic to color,” adds Morticia. The school’s suspiciously cheerful Principal Weems (Gwendoline Christie) has no intention of going easy on Wednesday.

Ortega kills as the prodigal teen who’d rather hang out in a crypt than a club. She embodies Wednesday with her flat affectation and utter disdain for her peers and life. Her goth inspired, zombie-like moves at the school dance to the tune of the Cramps’ “Goo Goo Muck” — with a deadly straight face, nonetheless created one of the top television most iconic moments of the year.

The black hearted heroine is sadistic, fearless and full of awesome sardonic one-liners. When describing how she’s plagued by visions, Wednesday says, “They come on without warning and feel like electroshock therapy, but without the satisfying after burn.” She doesn’t have an Insta or TikTok account because she finds “social media to be a soul-sucking void of meaningless affirmation.” And when her flamboyantly perky new roomie Enid (Emma Myers) gives her a tour of the school’s social scene, Wednesday makes it clear that she’s not interested in “tribal adolescent clichés.” (You will love Myers’ performance and character by the time the series is done.) Wednesday puts her inherent distrust of humankind to use when a mysterious creature with ties to the school starts killing off students and townsfolk. Like a gothic Nancy Drew, she relies on her powers of deduction — and the occasional torture session — to solve the mystery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christina Ricci, who played Wednesday in the 1991 film “The Addams Family” and its 1993 sequel, “Addams Family Values,” is Nevermore’s academy  “normie” teacher, Ms. Thornhill. She doesn’t have morphing skills or powers like the others. Her passion for teaching botany is what brought her to the school? You get the feeling pretty quickly she is not exactly what she seems. 

Gimmicky callbacks to the films and the 1964 TV series are rare and strategically deployed in this iteration of the franchise. Two snaps of the finger unlock the door to a secret society’s lair, and Lurch’s catchphrase, “You rang?,” only surfaces once and with perfect timing.

Thing, the creepy little hand with the loyalty and tenacity of a mastiff is the Watson to Wednesday’s Sherlock. Thing’s Expressions of shame, alarm and dejection are a full-bodied performance thanks to the wonders of CGI. Wednesday interrogates Thing when she discovers it hiding in her dorm room on the first day of school. “Mother and Father sent you to spy on me, didn’t they?” He signals “no” with the wag of a digit. “I’m not above breaking a few fingers,” she warns. Thing quakes, then quickly explains in sign language that it’s there for her own good. “Oh, Thing, you poor, naive appendage,” she says mockingly.

As much as Wednesday is an absorbing murder mystery, it’s also very much a coming-of-age story. The series puts a modern twist on a classic character, portraying even more of Wednesday’s quirks and nuances. Ortega is an absolute delight in the role, channeling Wednesday’s deadpan humor and morbid interest in death effortlessly. 

Burton’s preferences and style are all over this irresistibly quirky, sardonic series. Nevermore Academy is a beautifully ghoulish place, replete with gargoyles and spires, while the small historic town of Jericho outside draws tourists in with a cheesy re-creation of a Pilgrim village. The mix of witch-burning artifacts and kitsch fudge stands is a Burton playground.

There’s always a fine line when messing with a beloved pop culture institution like “The Addams Family,” but “Wednesday” is brilliant on every level. Its namesake doesn’t have to worry about her reputation being sullied.

Not like she’d ever care what we think anyway.