Photo courtesy of Netflix
When Oren Peli’s excellent 2012 Amazon River creep show, The River was cancelled after just one season, it was the first of many disappointing decisions from most networks that started to churn out reality TV tripe instead of relatable, properly written series. I was a huge fan of The River in that it explored the lesser-known tribal folklore of the Amazon jungle by means of a supernatural element embedded in the close interaction and the psychology of families.
Imagine my delight then, when I discovered a Netflix series in 2021 that rekindled that beautifully obscure side of Brazil and its folklore in the two-season adventure that is Invisible City(original title: Cidade InvisÃvel). The Portuguese language series is dubbed, but it does not take away from the solid foundation, voice and story of this fantasy drama.
In fact, Invisible City is much like the first X-Men films which introduced me to a world of fascinating characters capable of wondrous and wicked feats. It is a contemporary-flavor cop drama that is hardly more than a gossamer skin over the beastly muscle of the mythos of Brazil. The creators and writers of Invisible City cleverly conceal the underworld of mythical creatures that live amongst the modern mortals in an urban environment. The latter makes for fascinating conjecture as to the possible hidden identity of just about every character you meet.
The show starts as a police action drama, gradually introducing the audience to what we think are regular people. As it progresses, though, more of the fantastical lurk in plain sight. Starring Marco Pigossi as Eric, a cynical police officer of the Environmental Police Unit, we follow him as he treads into a nightmarish tragedy, after which he becomes obsessed with howand why it happened.
This leads him to meet, fight and ultimately believe in several mythical creatures from Brazilian folklore, but the characters in Invisible City evolve in such a way that it blurs the lines between the erroneous concept of good and evil. It explores humanity even in those who are immortal. It also touches on how seemingly good people could have reason to do bad things and that even monsters can weep.
Without preaching or any annoying opinionated coercion, Invisible City strongly endeavors to remind us of the power of Nature and the abilities of creatures we often mistake for lesser species. With that, it also prompts us to notice our own powers in human nature such as compassion and will power by how the characters choose to pursue their own paths. The show also easily slides from reality to astral places, making it feel completely natural.
Shot in Rio de Janeiro, Invisible City boasts an array of good actors in its cast, stunning natural settings and awesome effects that perfectly encapsulates the vibe of the urban legend, occult scrutiny and intriguing lore with a believable turn on every episode.
For lovers of shows like Supernatural or The River, this is a feast to the eye and heart. An innate love for nature and a thrill ride of battle between mortals and myths, all meandering towards a powerful climax, Invisible City is entertaining and haunting. Feel free to walk in its jungle, but mind the butterflies!
—Tasha Danzig