CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA, from creator Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (Riverdale), and based on the Archie comic, is a dark re-imagining of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch which centers around Sabrina Spellman and the struggles she faces from being a half mortal/half witch. The show features Kiernan Shipka (The Blackcoat’s Daughter), Ross Lynch (My Friend Dahmer), Lucy Davis (Wonder Woman), Michelle Gomez (Doctor Who), Richard Coyle (Prince of Persia) and Miranda Otto (Annabelle: Creation).

On the cusp of her 16th birthday, Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka) finds herself on the brink of a major life decision – choosing between the witch world and the legacy her father left behind or that of a mortal life, surrounded by her closest friends. As Sabrina struggles with her ultimate decision, she transverses between the dark world of witchcraft and the occult, while hiding her true identity from those closest to her, including her best friends Rosalind (Jaz Sinclair) and Susie (Lachlan Watson), and her incredibly loving boyfriend, Harvey Kinkle (Ross Lynch). As the importance of her birthday approaches, she must stand against the evil forces that not only threaten her and her family, but that of the mortal world as well.

I’ll be the first to admit, I wasn’t super excited when I heard about CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA. Having grown up during the time as Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, my immediate assumption was that this new show would be similar to the former but just updated to take place in modern times; however, I quickly learned that I couldn’t have been more wrong. What CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA offers is a much more dark and sinister story that kept me wanting more each time an episode ended. So much so, that once I blew through the entire first season, I immediately wanted to know when Season 2 would be coming out so that I could satiate my new obsession. What I’m trying to say, in the words of Aunt Hilda and Aunt Zelda, is “praise Satan” because this show is superb.

Full disclosure, I have not read the comic books which this show is based off of. However, if this show is any indication of what the comic books entail than sign me the fuck up! Everything about CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA pulled me in but what really stood out from everything else was the visual feast that the show possesses. If you are anything like me (i.e. spooky girl who loves all macabre things) than you are going to fall head over heels for the production design. I would give just about anything to live in the Spellman’s House with all their spectacular rooms and eccentric knick-knacks. Most importantly, the house reminded me of one that would be situated just off the beaten path in Salem, MA – which is one of my favorite places in the world. I can’t express enough just how beautiful this show is on an artistic level because words won’t do it justice. The amount of care and detail that went into consistently bringing a fresh look and design to the show is one that should be celebrated.

Also, with the exception of The Haunting of Hill House (which, after you watch CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA you should tune into IMMEDIATELY), I found myself incredibly invested in each of the characters, which is a rarity. As much as I love this new and, in my opinion, improved Sabrina, I found myself instantly attracted to the Weird Sisters. Though they weren’t the nicest people, I loved their style and dedication to Satanic rituals and witchcraft. Plus, they were badass babes who had no problem putting arrogant high school boys in their place. Most importantly, CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA was filled with a diverse cast of unique characters, as well as real world scenarios that are pertinent in today’s society. Though the show is fictional based, I think it was commendable to highlight topics such as bullying, sexual identity, female empowerment, family dynamics, and the damaging effects that male entitlement can have.

With all that said, I literally cannot recommend this show enough. CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA blew me away and has easily become one of my favorite series of the year. It goes without saying that I absolutely loved the more sinister tone that this series showcased, especially the deeper into the series you go. This is a show that will easily be binge worthy but I suggest taking your time going through each episode to really take in all the phenomenal details that it has to offer, especially as you become more emotionally invested. So do yourself a favor and get together with your favorite coven of witches, indulge in some delectable treats, and immerse yourself in the Dark Lord’s presence when CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA hits Netflix October 26th!

Also, below you will find a slideshow of photos from when I attended the Spellman House pop-up last weekend! Guests had the chance to experience different moments from the show which included Baxter High and the Spellman House, while deciding if they wanted to go down the Path of Night or the Path of Light. As far as pop-up events go, this was a blast and gave guests the chance to learn more of what the show had to offer. Those who went through the experience also had the choice to get a mini makeover, provided by the fine folks over at Teen Vogue. As you can probably imagine, I went for the more spooky get up which included spider nails, dark lipstick, and a crown of dead flowers. Overall, CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA has captured my dark heart and in both their pop-up event and the soon-to-be-released show. Make sure to check out CHILLING ADVENTURES OF SABRINA when it premieres Oct. 26 on Netflix and let us know what you think!

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Shannon McGrew

Founder/Co-Owner at Nightmarish Conjurings

Shannon is the Founder of Nightmarish Conjurings and a lover of all things horror and haunt related. When she's not obsessively collecting all things "Trick 'R Treat" related, or trying to convince everyone that "Hereditary" is one of the greatest horror films ever made, you can find her designing interiors for commercial restaurants. An avid haunt fan, Shannon spends the entire year visiting haunts and immersive experiences throughout the Southern California area and hopes to one day design her own haunted attraction.

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