Ebon Moss-Bachrach delivered a harrowing performance in this AMC horror series

He has found a new home in Chicago, but Ebon Moss-Bachrach once proved that he was the king of the Boston accent. Noted for his spot-on Chicago dialect as Cousin Richie in The bearit’s a notoriously difficult accent to master. Equally difficult is the Boston accent (and since Moss-Bachrach himself is from Massachusetts), he went back to his roots and took the accent in stride in the underrated AMC horror series. NOS4A2before he The bear. He plays a working-class father with a drinking problem. His harrowing performance took the series to a new level and finally gave him a well-deserved leading role.

Based on the bestselling novel by Joe HillThe AMC original series ran for two seasons and received mixed reviews, although all of the main cast were highlighted as highlights of the series. Ashleigh Cummings plays Vic McQueen, an 18-year-old motorcyclist who grows up in Boston and discovers that she has supernatural abilities. She later uses these powers to track down a vampire-like child kidnapper. In a mixture of horror, teen angst and family drama NOS4A2 shone most when it focused on the dynamics of Vic’s familyMoss-Bachrach delivers a remarkable portrayal of a father who tries to be there for his daughter with the same determination as The bear That’s why his fans love him.

The bear

Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto, a young chef from the world of fine dining, returns to Chicago after a tragedy to run his family’s sandwich shop. Navigating the chaotic environment of the small kitchen, Carmy must navigate the difficulties of turning the failing business back on its feet while also dealing with his own grief and personal demons. The series delves deep into the intense world of culinary arts, highlighting the challenges of running a restaurant, the bonds that form among staff, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.

Release date

23 June 2022

Main genre

theatre

Seasons

3

history of

Christopher Storer

Authors

Christopher Storer

Streaming service(s)

Hulu, Disney+

Directors

Christopher Storer

Showrunner

Christopher Storer

Expand

What is “NOS4A2” about?

NOS4A2 is set in the working-class town of Haverhill, Massachusetts, where high school student Vic lives with her shattered parents Chris (Moss-Bachrach) and Linda (Virginia Kull). Vic dreams of going to art college, which her parents cannot afford and which her mother does not approve of. She grows up in a broken home. Due to her father’s alcoholism, she was often the victim of violent arguments between her parents. While riding her motorcycle through the forest that offers her refuge, she discovers that she has gained the ability to go anywhere via a bridge in the forest that is only available to her.

This becomes useful when the monstrous Charlie Manx, played by a menacing Zachary Quintobegins to kidnap children in their vicinity so that he can feed on their souls and remain immortal. He takes them to a parallel world he created called Christmasland (where it is always Christmas), He turns the children into ageless, bloodthirsty vampires. It’s a crazy Neverland, and Vic is the only one who can reach it thanks to her motorcycle and the bridge in the forest. When Charlie starts frantically picking up children, he also starts chasing Vic as she tries to save the children.

Ebon Moss-Bachrach plays a combative, alcoholic father who rides a motorcycle in “NOS4A2”

Cummings is excellent as Vic McQueen, a rare teen heroine who doesn’t chase love but chases monsters on a motorcycle while wearing a killer leather jacket. The series belongs to Moss-Bachrach, though; He delivers a compelling portrayal of a father struggling through life, and even though you’re not supposed to like him, you can’t help but feel sympathy for him as he sinks deeper into alcoholism.. He and his partner in the main scene, Virginia Kull, are hideous and heartbreaking together as they shamelessly argue in front of their daughter about watches, credit cards, and affairs he’s having with women.

There’s an effortless coolness to Moss-Bachrach, riding his motorcycle around town and telling his daughter, “Well, this is a lot better than being normal,” when she worries she’s weird. Chris has an antidote for any insecurity or self-doubt Vic has, and Moss-Bachrach sells it with his gruff confidence – but that’s where the danger lies. He’s somewhere between a friend and a father who puts his daughter in difficult situations, while turning himself into a monster through drinking. Moss-Bachrach balances well on the ropeand can transform from a loving, kind-hearted father into a hard-drinking, bitter war veteran in the blink of an eye.

In “NOS4A2” Ebon Moss-Bachrach delivers a grueling performance in the fight against alcoholism

When introducing Chris McQueen, the drink is shown first and then he himself to illustrate where his priorities lie. Moos-Bachrachseems like a contradiction to him; two people separate when they are sober and when they are drunk.NOS4A2 delivers a rare, insightful portrayal of addiction, and can’t help but portray him as a cartoonish bad father, which is what makes him and the series so exceptional as a family drama.

Speaking to AMC about the complexities of playing someone battling addiction, Moss-Bachrach said, “It’s interesting to play a guy who would take a bullet for his kid but doesn’t know how to stop drinking… But none of that gets in the way of the love he feels for his kid – or rather, it gets in the way of his Capability to be a good father, but it never gets in the way of his loving intentions.”

Related

“The Fantastic Four”: Ebon Moss-Bachrach was ready to play the thing his whole life

The actor from “The Bear” also gives an insight into the setting of the film and reveals when he was officially cast in the role.

Chris isn’t great, but he’s not evil either, and that’s the whole point of Moss-Bachrach’s portrayal. He’s so easy to love, which makes it all the more devastating when he’s violent and drinks too much. Moss-Bachrach can transform in an instant, including a scene where he sings The Beatles‘ song “Here Comes the Sun” while playing guitar and showing off his musical prowess. He dedicates the song to his daughter, and we catch a glimpse of the man he once was as he stokes the campfire. Moss-Bachrach dreamed of being a musician before joining the Army, and delivers a lived-in, understated portrayal of a man who once had a goal but struggles to find it again. The scene is harrowing as Chris sings while the camera pans to his wife, Linda, with a large, blooming bruise on her cheek. The bruise on Linda’s face haunts Vic, as it is a scar to what her father is capable of, even when he’s his happy self.

“NOS4A2” successfully delivers an exciting family saga

Moss-Bachrach’s fearless devotion to the role of Chris and Kull’s courage as a protective mother make NOS4A2 such a disturbing, underrated family saga. Chris and Linda are the contrast to all the fantasy horror happening around them and give the series depth that would otherwise be missing. When they leave the small town of Boston, NOS4A2 can lose its footing, but Moss-Bachrach and Kull are always there to keep the show grounded with their raw, gritty portrayals of a marriage riddled with violence.

Chris Moss-Bachrach’s favorite saying to his daughter is: “If you let fear rule your life, you will miss her. Never marry and never have children.” He is intimidating and playful at the same time, with the spontaneity of a child, but he can get out of control at any time— and that’s what makes him both thrilling and terrifying to watch. With his impressive portrayal of a deadpan Boston drunk, he’s a car crash waiting to happen when he reaches for another drink, and Moss-Bachrach knows it.

NOS4A2 can be streamed in the US on AMC+

Watch on AMC+