Critics Deliver Mixed Reviews for Kaia Gerber and Homer Gere's 'The Shards'

The new teen horror series "The Shards," co-created by Kaia Gerber and Homer Gere, has drawn a wave of mixed reviews from critics. The FX and Disney+ production, adapted from Bret Easton Ellis's 2022 novel, is described as a violent and sexually charged story set in 1980s Los Angeles, focusing on a group of affluent high schoolers targeted by a serial killer.

Critics have noted the series' prominent cast of individuals with industry connections, often referred to as 'nepobabies,' and have pointed to what they describe as 'tedious 80s nostalgia.' Some reviews have labeled the show a 'monotonous, predictable satire.'

Anita Singh of The Telegraph awarded the series one star, criticizing its setting and themes. She wrote, "In The Shards (Disney+), a semi-autobiographical adaptation of his 2022 novel, we're back yet again in the world of privileged Los Angeles high schoolers whose days and nights are a monotonous rota of mall visits and coke-fuelled pool parties, accessorised with Mercedes convertibles and Rive Gauche by Yves Saint Laurent." Singh also questioned the series' impact, stating, "He and series co-creator Ryan Murphy throw in a horror plot about a serial killer stalking these young people, but the ennui is catching: honestly, who cares?"

Ann Marie Hourihane of The Irish Independent questioned the target audience for such teen dramas, suggesting they might be "propaganda for California? For the US in general? Or are they a cheap thrill for voyeuristic adults?" She added, "most of them are so monotonous that they might as well be pornography."

Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter commented that the series appears to be made for those who are indifferent to the distinction between kitsch, camp, and nostalgia. He described the mood as "eerie, but never really scary; it's a bloodless series despite the Trawler's mauled victims." Fienberg also noted a lack of emotional connection to the characters, stating, "You won't really like anybody - Bret's genuine warmth for Ryan, key to building reader empathy in the book, is mostly absent here - because nobody is really human."

However, not all reviews were negative. Kaiya Shunyata for RogerEbert.com gave the show three out of four stars, calling it "magnetic as it is trite." Shunyata acknowledged narrative setbacks and performance flaws but found the show to be "one of the most entertaining shows of the summer." The reviewer praised its boldness, stating, "This is a series that knows exactly what it is, and what audience it was made for, and while some swings feel like they were created with the purpose of alienating the audience, they're also so bold that you can't help but admire their audacity."

Helen Daly of The Radio Times gave "The Shards" four stars, noting that creator Ryan Murphy "finds a way to ease us into this very particular life before using classic horror tropes to create tension." Daly, however, felt the atmosphere faltered in the fifth episode, which deviated from the novel's plot for a dance competition, but stated the series redeemed itself in the latter half.

James Poniewozik of The New York Times contrasted the series with "Stranger Things," describing "The Shards" as "raw, mean and cut-glass sharp, with a soundtrack of chilly, sleek New Wave." He observed that the character study aspect became overshadowed by a "grisly murder story," with exaggerated elements dominating the latter part of the season. Poniewozik also suggested the story, which was self-contained in the novel, felt overextended in its setup for a potential multi-season run.

John Anderson of the Wall Street Journal characterized the series as problematic, suggesting Ellis's recurring themes made it a parody. He noted the casting of "some of the more attractive young people available" and described the characters' lifestyles as excessively extravagant.

Robert Lloyd of The LA Times admitted that the show's premise was not initially appealing but acknowledged its potential to be loved by a specific audience. He described it as "absurd and always melodramatic," offering it as a prime example for those seeking a "slick miniseries about cocaine-sniffing kids (and adults), murder, animal mutilation, sex and sports cars in New Wave L.A."

Roxana Hadadi in Vulture critiqued that the series did not fulfill the promise of its early episodes. Hadadi stated, "The ambiguity and nuance of the book disappear, and The Shards shrinks from a story about how coming of age as a closeted boy is analogous to a streak of catastrophic violence to a stuttering mixtape of needle drops and story lines recycled from Euphoria and Glee."

"The Shards" is a fictionalized account of author Bret Easton Ellis's adolescence, with many characters based on real individuals. The series stars Igby Rigney as Bret, an aspiring writer whose reality shifts with the arrival of Robert Mallory, played by Homer Gere. Kaia Gerber portrays Susan Reynolds, a member of Bret's elite social circle. The series also features Wes Bentley, Evan Rachel Wood, and Jordan Roth as adult characters.

Originally developed by Luca Guadagnino for HBO, the project was revived by Murphy and FX. The series' premiere brought Gerber and Gere into the spotlight, with Gerber having established a career in modeling and acting, and Gere also making his acting debut in the show.