Review by Frank Plowright

Merging the world of professional wrestling with the plot of Macbeth is some ballsy notion, and under a different creative team it would likely have been an idea best left on the beermat. John Lees and Alex Cormack, though, have already gifted us with the conceptual and character rich horror of Sink, so give them a chance and see where things head. You’ll be pleased you did.

In 1984 Chuck Frenzy is the king of the Louisiana wrestling circuit, but while he’s loyal to the federation employing him, his partner Sharlene is far more ambitious and constantly urging him on to something bigger. He has the chance to run from an encounter in the swamp, but doesn’t, and hears predictions uttered by something old and terrifying. Soon thereafter opportunity comes knocking in the form of a national wrestling champion and his entourage. Van Emerald seems a nice guy, and shows Chuck a way forward while also offering him a glimpse into what could be. Sharlene certainly wants it.

Substitute the championship belt for the kingdom, and the parallels with Macbeth fall into place. The predictions are initially more straightforward, with no downfall dependent on Birnam Wood removing to Dunsinane, but Lees is on top of that, as there’s a second encounter with ancient evil. Text pages reveal the love both creators hold for wrestling, and setting the series in 1984 enables them to look at the gradual construction of a commercial juggernaut, and to include all the beginnings of the showbiz elements surrounding the sport. When Chuck arrives, the character arcs are already in place, and just need a push in the right direction to change them a little.

TV wrestling is all about excess, and Cormack really delivers that, with raging title contenders, rich personalities and the addition of ghostly masked Mexican wrestlers in suits offering the full package. He’s great with the action as seen on the sample montage, and there’s no holding back on some really horrific scenes in and out of the ring.

The Crimson Cage is a marvellous conceit, and Lees and Cormack pull it off. Fans of Shakespeare may be appalled, but anyone who’s ever loved wrestling will love this.