Cabinet of Curiosities season 1, episode 7 recap – “The Viewing”

We recap the Netflix Horror anthological series Guillermo del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities season 1, episode 7, “The Viewing,” which contains spoilers and the ending.

The seventh installment of Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities is a fun homage to the B horror movies made famous in the 70s. When it comes to replicating the magic of B movies, everything is on point, from the cinematography to the cheesy music to the CGI monster. This episode was written and directed by Panos Cosmatos, who previously directed the Nicolas Cage horror, Mandy. 

Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities season 1, episode 7 recap

“The Viewing” is set in the late seventies and it opens with four characters who responded to an invitation from a mysterious host to the Sandpiper House. All four of them are celebrities in their respective fields and all four made appearances on late-night television. Charlotte (Charlyne Yi) is an astrophysicist who’s researching the existence of extraterrestrials. Randall (Eric André) is a well-known musical genius. Guy Landon (Steve Agee) is a talented author, while Targ Reinhard (Michael Therriault) is considered to be an extraordinary researcher. The group’s wealthy host, Lionel Lassiter (Peter Weller), and his female companion, Dr. Zahra (Sofia Boutella), engage in some casual drug use before the four invitees arrive. 

A mysterious driver wearing a cool 70s mustache, Hector (Saad Siddiqui) takes the group to Sandpiper House, where they’re set to spend an unexpected evening. At the house, everything seems off from the start. Each guest notices their favorite drink ready for them on the round table. When the host makes his appearance, he offers to share some very expensive Whisky with the group that allegedly survived World War Two. Randall is the only one apprehensive about indulging, suggesting the musician has been sober for quite some time. Later on, Lionel offers his guests some cocaine he laces with what appears to be gold dust. Slowly, Randall and the rest of the group give in and become more and more intoxicated as the night progresses. 

During the evening, the guests discuss their respective credentials and lives. Randall is unsure if his next album will be successful. Dr. Zahra reveals she used to be a private physician to a very dangerous man who nearly killed her. Lionel explains he has a habit of collecting unusual items and reveals he invited everyone there due to their unique talents, specifically Charlotte as she’s a scientist looking into the possibility of alien life existing. 

Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities season 1, episode 7 ending

After getting all four characters very high on his white powder, Lionel takes them into a separate room and shows them the real reason he’s invited them over. He has been harboring a strange-looking rock that appears to be out of this world. Charlotte and Targ are fascinated with it. Randall is mostly annoyed that he can’t smoke in the room, while Guy shows little interest in the object. When they ask Lionel to explain what it is, he simply states that he has no idea and was hoping the four would be able to figure it out. 

The group doesn’t have much time to debate, as the rock from outer space starts making a high-pitched noise before something starts hatching out of it. After Targ’s face melts away, Guy yells “It’s probing me,” before his head explodes. Dr. Zahra, in a trance-like state, touches the alien monster and her body gruesomely melts away. Charlotte and Randall make a run for it to avoid the same fate. However, Lionel, still in shock, sits there helplessly as the alien turns into a gooey substance and submerges him in it before turning him into a humanoid monster. Poor Hector tries to shoot the now-humanoid creature that’s also able to talk, but meets a similarly gruesome fate. 

In the end, Charlotte and Randall have made it to the car and are driving out of there. Yet, the Lionel/Alien hybrid monster is still loose, and the last shot shows it reaching the city, where it will probably wreck a lot of havoc. 

What did you think of Guillermo Del Toro’s Cabinet of Curiosities, episode 7? Comment below.

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