SHOW:
Prank Encounters - S2
WHERE TO WATCH:
OUR RATING:
4/5 Stars
WHAT IT'S ABOUT:
Hosted by Gaten Matarazzo, each episode of this terrifying and hilarious prank show takes two complete strangers on the surprise ride of a lifetime. It's business as usual until their paths collide and their one-day assignments turn into supernatural surprises. Where fear meets funny, Prank Encounters is the most elaborate hidden camera prank show ever devised.
WHAT WE THOUGHT:
Remember Scare Tactics with host Tracy Morgan? It was a sci-fi themed prank show using Hollywood style special effects to scare people. The situations were so "out of this world" the contestants on the show literally felt like they were in a movie, which they kind of were.
Then in October 2019 Netflix introduced Prank Encounters with the kid from Stranger Things, Gaten Matarazzo, as the host. It’s the same premise as Tracy’s Scare Tactics but in this show they scare two people and the pranks are horror themed and extremely elaborate and well-planned.
With episodes titled 'Spider Mansion' and 'Graveyard Shift' you know exactly what's coming.
The second season of the show dropped on 1 April 2021 and I binged it the same night. I know some people think the reactions are faked and everything on the show is scripted, but if that’s the case we need some Emmy Awards handed out here please. In my opinion the reactions are genuine and the pranks genius.
Other criticism of the series includes that the premise of the show was being disrespectful towards people in search of employment. A spokesperson for Netflix stated that individuals involved were financially compensated for their time, knew the job they were applying for was just for one night, and had fun being in the show.
"Fun" being the important word here. It really is a fun show if you love pranks and seeing people react. I can watch hours of YouTube prank videos and I myself have been known to pull off a few good pranks myself. (Winks at my co-workers)
Listen, there’s no deep analysis here. Either you like prank shows or you don’t. If you do. You’re going to binge this season so quick. If you don’t. Just skip it.