Keke Palmer Leads the Contemporary Reimagining of 'The 'Burbs'
Creepy house? Nosey neighbors? Suburban secrets collide in this comedic thriller adaptation of a cult classic
The ‘Burbs turns suburbia into the ultimate mystery playground.
The lawns are freshly mowed, the neighbors are kind, and the homes all look like they were pulled from a Hallmark movie. And yet, the series adaptation of The ‘Burbs wastes no time letting you know that things are not as they appear.
Created, written, and executive produced by Celeste Hughey, the series brings the cult classic 1989 film into a modern landscape with a fresh comedic and mystery-driven twist. Executive producers also include Keke Palmer, Seth McFarlane, Erica Huggins, Aimee Carlson, Brian Grazer, Kristen Zolner, and Natalie Berkus.
The ‘Burbs stars Keke Palmer (Nope, Hustlers) and Jack Whitehall (Jungle Cruise, Fresh Meat) as Samira and Rob Fisher, alongside an incredible ensemble cast featuring Paula Pell (Girls5eva), Julia Duffy (Newhart), Kapil Talwalkar (Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist), Mark Proksch (What We Do in the Shadows), and Justin Kirk (Weeds).
For fans of the original film, the nostalgia bug didn’t miss the creator at all. During an interview with Scenes in Color, Celeste revealed that the set of the TV adaptation is the same set used for the 1989 film—bridging the original and the reimagining in the most deliciously eerie way possible.
From the opening theme song, The ‘Burbs purpose is crystal clear: mystery, comedy, and a lot of chaos. The title card leans into this feeling with strange, playful, and puppeteering-like visuals and a beat that makes you dance before each episode begins. And right away in the pilot episode, the central plot is revealed to the audience.
Wife moves into the neighborhood. She spots a creepy house across the street. Husband says it’s empty, but wife feels the likelihood of that to be false. It’s time to investigate.
As a lawyer on maternity leave with an abundance of free time on her hands, Samira decides to add private investigator to her resume. What commences as playful curiosity to break the mundanity of her day quickly unravels into a full-blown suburban mystery—a mystery that neighbors appear to have tiptoed around but never fully explored, including her husband.
The final result: a modern reimagining that feels like the lovechild of Knives Out Mystery, Scooby-Doo, and Desperate Housewives.
In this series, Keke Palmer also finds catharsis in being a mother on screen. Keke's natural charisma and comedic instincts perfectly imbue the role of Samira. During an interview with E! News, Keke also explains how the role felt personal.
“I was a little bit nervous but then hearing how they were going to remake it into its own thing, it just really excited me—especially being a mom and finally playing a mom.”
That authenticity bleeds into the character in the best way. And in Hinkley Hills, Samira feels out of place—geographically, socially, and culturally—and Keke leans into her personality to amplify those worries within the character beautifully.
Jack Whitehall describes the series as the perfect genre mashup during that same interview:
“I think that’s the great appeal of a show like this. You get to sort of sit in multiple genres…it has a horror element to it. It’s very funny…but also at the heart of it is a story about this couple who are pulled apart then find their way back together.”
That tonal balance is the secret. The show is funny without losing the element of mystery and suspenseful without losing the heart of the relationships.
And the supporting cast contributes to that heart, with scene-stealers across the board.
Kyrie McAlpin is an acting genius as Rory—a razor-sharp Girl Scout with entrepreneurial ambitions and flawless comedic timing
Mark Proksch makes Tod’s one-liner deliveries instant classics—lines that will stand the test of time as “notable quotables”
Paula Pell steals almost every moment with Dana’s anxiety-driven and ill-timed puns where silence is the actual key to safety
It’s ridiculous. It’s clever. It’s entertaining.
As the plot unfolds—every discovery exposed like a layered onion—each episode adds another question, a new clue, and multiple moments of “wait…what?” While the audience may not get all the answers right away, one thing is undeniably clear about The ‘Burbs: it’s that dang good.
We’re ready to join Samira and the gang in the neighborhood watch. Are you?
The ‘Burbs premieres with all 8 episodes releasing Sunday, February 8, on Peacock. Check out the trailer below.
© Kivonshe | So There’s That
Original editorial commentary on film and television. All rights reserved. Reproduction or redistribution without attribution is not permitted.