M. Night Shyamalan’s 4-Part Apple TV Psychological Thriller Was Praised By Stephen King And Guillermo Del Toro

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M. Night Shyamalan’s films can be hit or miss, but his Apple TV+ series, Servant, is a standout thriller. Known for surprising twists, Shyamalan’s career itself has taken some unexpected turns over the years.

M. Night Shyamalan initially became famous for directing popular movies like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs. However, films like The Happening, Avatar: The Last Airbender, and After Earth weren’t as successful and slowed his career momentum. More recently, though, films like The Visit, Split, and his 2024 thriller Trap have been praised as a return to form for Shyamalan.

What Is Servant About?

Shyamalan has had several apparent career revivals, leading many to believe he’s a generally successful director, even if his work varies in quality. Supporting this idea is the Apple TV+ psychological horror series Servant, which features Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Nell Tiger Free, and Rupert Grint.

The film Servant tells the story of Dorothy and Sean, a couple deeply affected by the loss of their baby. Following their therapist’s suggestion to cope with their grief, they decide to treat a lifelike doll as if it were their child and hire a nanny, Leanne, to look after it.

Things take a really unsettling turn in Servant because the nanny, Leanne, is anything but typical. It’s hard to say much more without spoiling the story, but the show’s many twists make even simple scenes – like visiting the baby’s room or seeing the nanny smile at the doll – feel deeply creepy and disturbing.

What Stephen King And Guillermo Del Toro Said About Servant

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Though Servant received excellent reviews when it first came out, some of the most enthusiastic reactions came from well-known figures in the horror world. Horror author Stephen King, for example, shared on X that the series was “spooky as hell,” and described it as “extremely creepy and totally involving.”

Horror director Guillermo del Toro, known for films like The Shape of Water, called the show “beautifully crafted” and specifically complimented the precise direction and camera work in the episodes directed by M. Night Shyamalan. Although Shyamalan didn’t create the entire story of Servant, his distinctive style is clearly visible throughout the series.

Servant Is M. Night Shyamalan At His Best

Tony Basgallop, the creator of Servant, deserves a lot of praise for the show’s intricate and surprising plot. However, M. Night Shyamalan, who served as showrunner, clearly left his mark. Servant delivers the kind of unsettling atmosphere and unexpected twists that fans of Shyamalan’s previous films will instantly recognize, unfolding slowly and building suspense over its three seasons.

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2026-02-07 22:28