By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
Audible Originals is about to transport listeners to the Arctic on an expedition to try and save the future of humanity! With a full-cast and high-end production, is The Nox worth your time?
The blend of grounded sci-fi and suggested horror elements helps keep the listener on the edge of their seat. A narrative that is continually weaving and twisting, major revelation drops, and well flesh-out characters all play their part in the makeup of this exciting and engrossing series. The plot and characters all feel very natural and, most importantly, believable! This just makes the drama and horror moments ten times more impactful. The writers expertly manage to transport you to the isolated white nothingness of the Arctic – the perfect setting for this story!
In terms of the cast, Lashana Lynch (No Time to Die, Captain Marvel) takes the lead, and makes her audiobook debut in the process! Her performance was delightful, transitioning back and forth from strength to fragility, as she struggles to keep herself sane, as the mystery unravels and the tension spikes. She is supported by the talented Kelly Paterniti (Home and Away), Chipo Chung (Doctor Who, His Dark Materials), Kae Alexander (Bad Education, Game of Thrones) and Michiel Huisman (Game of Thrones, The Haunting of Hill House) – all of whom bring such excellent performances to their very unique and differing characters. Ralph Ineson (Willow (2022), The Green Knight) is a man whose voice needs no introduction, and he was born for this type of production. In fact, his voice has never sounded so good! While his voice is always the most recognisable feature, I always feel he is a vastly overlooked and underrated performer. The emotional elements he showcases with his character were some of the best moments in the entire production. His character was deeply complex and it’s the beauty of the performance that really sells it!
As with most Audible Originals, the production quality is superb! The audio is clean and crisp, and the editing is super slick. With full-cast productions like this, the edit is key, especially when scenes raise the drama and tension levels. The music and sound effects are also first-rate, and really add an extra layer to the series that just propels it to the next level.
Thought-provoking and chillingly haunting, The Nox is a gripping, grounded and atmospheric sci-fi eco-horror series, performed beautifully by an incredible ensemble cast. Audible Originals has another surefire hit on its hands!
X-Geeks 