The heart of great horror and suspense lies in the genre’s examination of the human condition, of stories past and present that some would rather leave untold. And of the realization that dastardly acts are always motivated from within, sometimes mysteriously so. These seem to be ideas encapsulated by the upcoming second season of AMC’s “The Terror,” this one titled “Infamy” and focusing on the notorious Japanese internment camps that popped up around America during World War II.
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The first season of the Ridley Scott-produced anthology series followed a doomed British voyage in the 19th century that delved into the effects paranoia, extreme isolation paired up with a terrifying abominable monster. This updated season looks to double down on its narrative technique of connecting historically-inspired tragedies with subtly supernatural twists.
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At the same time, AMC is bringing the series closer to 2019 and closer to home. The surge of Central American migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border to seek asylum, resulting in making tent cities and shelters to house them, has led to some making the connection to detention camps, at least colloquially.
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The official synopsis of “The Terror: Infamy” reads as follows on AMC’s website:
“Set during World War II, The Terror: Infamy centers on a series of bizarre deaths that haunt a Japanese-American community and a young man’s journey to understand and combat the malevolent entity responsible.”
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In other words: Expect something more grounded than other popular horror anthology series like, say, the increasingly campy “American Horror Story,” with scares rooted in sociopolitical consequence instead of pop culture throwback.
The cast of “The Terror: Infamy,” according to Screen Rant, is expected to include Derek Mio (“Greek,” “G.B.F.”) Kiki Sukezane (“Heroes Reborn,” “Lost In Space”), Shingo Usami (“Riceballs,” “Unbroken”), Naoko Mori (“Everest,” Torchwood”) and, most notably, “Star Trek” icon George Takei. The show premiers August 12 on AMC. Watch the new Comic-Con trailer and character introduction featurette below.