'Curfew' web-series review: A rare whodunnit where it's not just about finding the killer

Cast: Sarah Parish, Mandip Gill and Alexandra Burke

Director: Joasia Goldyn

Language: English

Sarah Parish, Mandip Gill and Alexandra Burke have come together for a web series called Curfew. The meaning of the word means restriction. The basic essence of the show is how men have to be kept on a leash when women’s safety happens to be in jeopardy. The curfew happens to be between 7 PM and 7 AM for full 12 hours. Now, just imagine if a woman’s dead body is discovered in between. A suspense thriller, along with a social message can be a fantastic concoction. That’s exactly by this web series works.

The first thing that captures your attention is the camerawork. It’s jittery to the point of making you restless. It happens to be an adaptation of the novel After Dark. Veteran police officer Pamela Green (Sarah Parish) suspects that a man is responsible for the crime, despite the curfew - which requires all men to be tagged and monitored during restricted hours.

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Curfew is one of those rare whodunnits where it’s not just about finding the killer and why he did what he did. The central character of the show also has to battle her own biases and societal norms. Rarely do we see a web series dig deeper than the established narrative. It’s all about scratching the surface and trying to find metaphorical meanings and not just literal and linear. As the web series progresses, it becomes more and more complicated to decide which side choose- The men or women?

There are protests on the streets to end the curfew. In a world where women are emotionally and physically mauled by animals and monsters masquerading as men, it’s these very men who feel unfortunate inside their homes due to the curfew. Director Joasia Goldyn presents a social commentary on gender issues instead of making another run of the mill suspense drama. There’s a scene where a character says the murder must be done by a woman since all men are inside their homes. Our central character refuses to believe. Her biases take precedence over logic.

But that’s where Curfew scores. Pamela Green’s grief is something you sense, just like Kareena Kapoor Khan’s in The Buckingham Murders. This is not a perfect web series, but it is able to keep you on your toes right till the end. You may not be able to binge watch it, but try to make time for it.

Rating: 3 (out of 5 stars)

Curfew released on 16th May 2025 on Lionsgate Play