Outcast is also shot on location, with South Carolina doubling as "Rome, West Virginia." This not only lends an authenticity to the proceedings, but further deepens the dreariness and isolation that is so key to a story like this. Of course, in the same way that zombies are just a backdrop for larger themes and the character development on The Walking Dead, so too are demons on Outcast.
Behind all the contorting bodies and hellspeak, Kirkman is clearly telling a story of domestic abuse and its effect on those who have tried to escape it. This is uniquely addressed in flashbacks to Kyle's childhood, as his mother -- seemingly possessed -- acts out in violent outbursts. The obvious theme here is "inner demons versus actual demons," but the way it's played is skillfully intercut and extremely potent.
Make no mistake though: Outcast has plenty of supernatural mayhem too -- and given that it's on premium cable, the series doesn't shy away at all from the horror elements. Actually, if anything, it's heightened even more than in the comic, which itself is disturbing and grotesque. The opening image of the series will give you a good sense of just how far the show is willing to go when it comes to blood and gore. In that way, it's very similar to The Walking Dead -- in a good way.
