Afflicted review

Production company – Ransom Media

Rating –

The youth of today eh? Going about with their silly haircuts and weird clothes. Spend all day staring at their phones don’t they? And if you ask them to do something, then they will invariably cut corners because their time is very important. I mean, who is going to heart react all those tiktoks and insta posts eh? And don’t get me started on their blah blah blah. Yeah whatever boomer.

I don’t really think like that (not all the time anyway), but there is always a grain of truth in all stereotypes isn’t there? So what happens when you entrust a very important job to your hoodoo apprentice? Your very young hoodoo apprentice? Well, this podcast examines just that, so let’s head off to East Texas, and join the audio-drama Afflicted.

So what’s it about?

Afflicted follows the aftermath of a magic spell gone wrong. Tasked with getting some grave dirt from a particular grave, apprentice Becky just gets some from the grave of a dead relative and doesn’t tell. She also finds an ancient book at the grave too. What’s the worst that could happen right? Surely nothing bad would happen with a mysterious spellbook from a cemetery. What ensues will bring the residents of Gunnaway to certain doom. That is unless hoodoo priestess Mama Cherie can undo what has been done.

As the residents of the small town come to terms with the aftermath, friends soon turn against each other as spiritual beliefs clash, and desperation takes hold.

Is it any good?

Let me put it this way. I have had this show in my list since it came out. I have had a review “written”, by that I mean it was just a heading in my Google docs. I have also restarted the show probably 5 times and never made it to the end.

I don’t know why this is. The sound design is good, the acting is ok, and the story is rather good. I just can’t get on with it. The fact that I have restarted this show many times, and each time I can never remember the story is telling.

The whole series is only ten episodes long, and I honestly don’t think I can make it to the end. Yes, I know that I have a “ten episode limit” for writing reviews, but sometimes you have to cut your losses and move on.

Final thoughts

I feel bad for scoring this so harshly. After all, on paper it ticks all the boxes I look for in an audiodrama. There’s just something I can’t put my finger on. It’s like that person you know that should be good friends with you. You have the same sense of humour, and the same interests, but you just can’t stand them.

If apocalyptic hoodoo horror is your bag, then by all means give it a go. Originally, I thought it was my bag, but I was wrong.

You can get Afflicted here:

For more great reviews, I recommend GreatPods

You had one job!