Trigger warning for parents of young fans: The series with the superstar is about excessive violence, murder, suicide and eating disorders. Why is it still enormously worth watching?
It’s fair to say that singer-songwriter Billie Eilish isn’t preoccupied with death. Very young and suicidal. Her language of tears is the subject of a generation. In her music videos, for example, the 21-year-old plays with the mystified idea of death by poison, as if Russian roulette were the leftover “don’t worry yourself” game of youth on the brink; a last generation. Millions follow her on Instagram: even climate activist Greta Thunberg, who is otherwise followed by all young people. A morbid aesthetic paired with an ethereal voice and the break into the defiantly danceable not only earn Eilish a string of Grammys, but also set her apart from the pop beauties finely tuned to the taste of the audience – whatever that means: one could make comparisons with Lady Gaga, Lana del Ray or Amy Winehouse and would only get an “insufficient”. Because Eilish eludes all the drawers with a decidedly bored facial expression. She even held up the distorting mirror to the body positivity movement, which women really can’t stand against, and which the singer celebrated for years because of her baggy looks, when she posed for British Vogue in a bodice like a pin- up girl. “I can do whatever I want!” She told her critics: If that’s not feminism, I don’t know what is.
Billie Eilish’s first song was about the zombie apocalypse and was inspired by The Walking Dead. At least that’s what she said in an interview. So it’s almost natural that the child of two actors would make her own acting debut in a horror series. Whereby it is not entirely clear whether the new series “Bienenschwarm” (originally “Swarm” and not to be confused with the unsuccessful Frank Schätzing film adaptation “Der Schwarm”, which is called “The Swarm” in English) is in such a way well-worn and bloodstained genre. The series has been available exclusively on Amazon Prime since mid-March, and the seven episodes are open to viewers aged 16 and over. Sure, to reach the fans of superstar Eilish – but disturbing them would be the more appropriate term, because escalating violence, coupled with emotional coldness, demands a lot from young or injured viewers’ souls.
Nevertheless, the format follows the path of a teenage comedy, but is also a social study, road movie, mockumentary – the production, which is considered the hottest series of the year, plays with the attributions like Billie Eilish does with her hair colors. What the fuck – what the fuck? This could actually be inserted every 20 lines in a text about Billie Eilish: Please think the sentence over and over again for the rest of the text.
Eilish’s acting debut also offers “Freie Presse” the opportunity to dare a premiere – and to start a new podcast with “Nachtfresser”, which from now on regularly deals with the series universe of Netflix and Co. The abysses of the first black serial killer in “Bee Swarm” offers a good start, especially since the title role of the mini-series is brilliantly cast by the new discovery Dominique Fishback. Billie Eilish, we can say that much, appears on the show like she’s the sun it all revolves around. As far as the reviews are concerned, it’s the same: Your well-regarded and very mature, almost wise-looking impact in the acting field has been determining the reviews of the streaming service’s new bold throw for weeks.
Eilish only got a lead role in one episode. But it has it all. That’s notable, and funny, in that the actual star is a fictional R&B artist modeled after the real-life character of soul goddess Beyoncé and her more or less toxic fans on social media channels. But as cult leader Eva, Eilish convinces with an insane presence and the certainty that evil has many faces. Introduced as a feminist advocate, her role quickly shows that dams of power and manipulation break down where weaknesses are suspected. dependencies arise.
Eva also takes advantage of this. It’s a dangerous game to have a serial killer on the board of the ludo game. But only the viewer knows that at the moment. The perfect mix for goosebump moments without stumbling around on well-trodden horror paths. If anyone knows about subtle horror, it has to be Billie Eilish. “Only god makes happy endings,” says the series: Only God creates a happy ending. But what does that look like? At the end of life there is death. What horror, what irony. Or as Billie Eilish would say: Well, you already know.
You can find the “Nachtfresser” podcast wherever there are podcasts … or directly HERE!