Eric review: Benedict Cumberbatch leads a weird, absorbing thriller

“Eric is that which we fear” is how Eric sums up its titular life-size puppet. He exists in Vincent Anderson’s (Benedict Cumberbatch) imagination, manifesting as his worst anxieties. The fuzzy blue creature’s presence is a sign of Vincent’s declining mental health, which reaches a breaking point when his young son goes missing. Netflix’s miniseries, which premieres May 30, uses this tragedy to unpack myriad personal, familial, and societal issues. It doesn’t do a great job navigating all its complexities equally, but Eric is weirdly compelling anyway thanks to its lead star.

Cumberbatch plays a grumpy and wry puppeteer who has screwed up every aspect of his life. Seriously, Vincent is disliked by everyone he meets because his ego is the size of the sun. The actor is no stranger to such extreme characters (Sherlock, The Power Of The Dog), so Eric is another outlet for him to swim in these waters. And to his credit, Cumberbatch delivers an affecting performance as Vincent battles inner demons, dismantles the self-conceit, and processes a range of feelings. He’s the show’s heart all the way through its (pretty muddled) end.

But first, let’s start to the beginning. A revered puppeteer, Vincent has pissed off everyone at his workplace, a Muppets-esque kids’ TV show called Good Day Sunshine. Meanwhile, his marriage with Cassie (Gaby Hoffmann) is in shambles. Their frequent loud arguments impact their nine-year-old, Edgar (Ivan Howe), who struggles to bond with his dad. He tries to do so by drawing a figure he hopes Vincent brings to life in the office. Edgar names his creation—you guessed it—Eric. So when the child vanishes one morning on his way to school, Vincent convinces himself this puppet his son sketched will somehow bring him back.

It kicks off a whimsical, emotional, and suspenseful saga for Vincent. He fancies himself a lone wolf because no one believes his theories about Edgar. He continually gets drunk and pushes everyone away, though, so his only companion lives entirely in his head. Eric (his subconscious) shadows Vincent through the streets and tunnels of Manhattan, gnawing at him about his ignorance and callousness. Why didn’t Vincent drop Edgar off as planned? Why did he reprimand his son so often? The bizarre visuals of Cumberbatch facing off, dancing, or chatting with a toothy stooge are reminiscent of Showtime’s Happy, starring Chris Meloni. Here, too, an eccentric situation sets the stage for a meditative story about remorse and intergenerational trauma.