Going by the synopsis, I was expecting a straightforward story about a possessed smart speaker, something with elements of Grady Hendrix's Horrorstor. This Thing Between Us is definitely not that book, but I liked what it is: a cosmic horror tale about a young widower dealing with grief and the politicization of his wife's tragic death, one small element of which is in fact a creepy smart speaker.

Lately I have really fallen in love with media about grief, or have become aware that I already loved media about grief. I rewatched the first three John Wick movies and then went to see the fourth. I rewatched both seasons of Fleabag. I devoured How to Sell a Haunted House and Mad Honey. I'm currently kind of preoccupied with loss and drawn to stories that explore how people confront, live with, are consumed by it.

And I think that cosmic horror is especially suited to exploring this topic. When you're grieving, it does feel like the entire universe is a cold and calculating entity turned against you. The enormity of your pain is as incomprehensible as a malevolent consciousness that lurks behind the dead and ancient stars. It just fits. And Gus Moreno gets it.