Meet Outcast – your new summer TV obsession

The team behind The Walking Dead bring us an everyday tale of demonic possession

Outcast

by Lisa Howells |
Published on

It's as if the whole world going to hell and then getting eaten by zombies just isn't scary enough any more – we need something even more terrifying.

So, the team who created all-round mega-hit The Walking Dead has come up with another way to make us jump out of our skins with Outcast, FOX's brand-new show about demonic possession in small-town America. And trust us, you WILL be scared.

Outcast follows Kyle Barnes, an isolated loner with a mysterious past (naturally), who teams up with the local preacher to investigate a spate of demonic possessions in the fictional town of Rome in West Virginia.

Premiering on Tuesday 7 June, it's set to be a huge hit this summer, so here's why you need to get on board.

What is Outcast about?

Outcast
No one likes a creepy kid

For a start, you'll be scared silly. We know loads of people who can't watch The Walking Dead when it's on TV at 9pm, preferring to watch it on catch-up, because they are just too darn scared to go to bed afterwards.

Well, let us tell you this – nothing is scarier than someone who is possessed by the devil. And when that someone is a ten-year-old contortionist kid who splats cockroaches off walls with his own head, we fear we may never sleep again. Ever.

Outcast
Tidy up, Kyle!

It's super-cool

Like The Walking Dead, Outcast started life as a comic book straight out of the genius brain of Robert Kirkman. But while you can (kinda) be sure that a zombie apocalypse will never happen IRL, you can't be quite as confident with this possession theme.

It's darkly atmospheric, sinisterly Gothic and supernaturally creepy, with a great cast of characters to root for (or yell at). Plus, it's even pretty funny in places.

Outcast
Seen me somewhere before?

Outcast cast

Gone Girl's Patrick Fugit plays Kyle, and he's not exactly difficult to look at. Granted, he could do with a bit of shave and his approach to cleaning house leaves a lot to be desired, but you'll soon find yourself on his side, even when he is punching a ten-year-old demon child in the face (yes, that happens).

Other cast members include House Of Cards' Kate Lyn Sheil, Boardwalk Empire's Wrenn Schmidt and the mighty Reg E. Cathey, who you'll recognise from The Wire and pretty much every other TV show, ever.

Outcast
The Rev

The Gene Genie is also in it

Fans of political incorrectness, get excited – Life On Mars' epic Philip Glenister plays Reverend Anderson, a (drinking, gambling) Southern preacher who performs exorcisms.

Speaking to heat at the show's premiere in Rome, Philip told us: "I'm working on getting my own exorcism kit into the shops for Christmas – holy water, a cross, sage, all in a nice little bag."

He was joking, but we'd buy it.

When is Outcast on?

Outcast airs on Tuesday 7 June at 10pm on FOX.

Outcast trailer

Watch it here:

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