Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Cabinet of Curiosities episode 5"Pickman's Model", Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities episode 5, features an extremely talented cast and some memorable characters. Guillermo Del Toro's horror anthology series consists of 8 stand-alone horror vignettes and features contributions from a diverse group of directors, writers, and actors. This episode, based on an H.P. Lovecraft short story of the same name, was written for television by Lee Patterson and is directed by Keith Thomas - the director of the 2019 horror film The Vigil.
"Pickman's Model" tells the story of William Thurber, an aspiring young artist studying at an art college in Arkham (a fictional Massachusets city in Lovecraft's work) whose life takes a dark turn after he becomes involved with mysterious classmate Richard Pickman. Pickman is an aloof and introverted figure who, like the central character of "Graveyard Rats", spends most of his time in cemeteries after dark. After Pickman shows the curious Thurber his horrifying body of work one night in 1909, Thurber himself begins to experience strange visions and see the world as Pickman does. When Pickman makes a surprise return in 1926, Thurber - now a successful artist living a comfortable life with his wife Rebecca and son James - begins to experience these dark visions once again. Here is the complete cast guide to "Pickman's Model", Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities episode 5.
Ben Barnes as William Thurber
Ben Barnes plays the protagonist William Thurber, a talented and straight-laced artist who has mastered his teacher's motto of "paint what you see". Barnes has enjoyed an extended and successful acting career in television and film. The English actor played Prince Caspian in The Chronicles of Narnia franchise and the title role in Dorian Gray, the 2009 adaptation of Oscar Wilde's famous novel. Barnes currently stars as "The Darkling" General Kirigan in Netflix's fantasy epic Shadow & Bone, and more recently played Billy Russel/Jigsaw in Marvel's The Punisher and Logan Delos in HBO's Westworld.
Crispin Glover as Richard Upton Pickman
Joining Barnes is Crispin Glover as Richard Pickman, a tortured artist who is plagued by visions of dark entities and represents these visions in his disturbing artwork. Glover has played some iconic roles in his long acting career including Layne in the 1986 crime drama River's Edge, Andy Warhol in The Doors, Bobby McBurney in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, and Thin Man in Charlie's Angels and its 2003 sequel. Glover is perhaps best known for playing George McFly in Back To The Future - though he was replaced by Jeffrey Weissman for the sequels. Glover also played Mr. World in the television adaptation of Neil Gaiman's American Gods and even played Grendel in 2007's Beowulf in a motion capture performance.
Oriana Leman as Rebecca
Oriana Leman stars as Rebecca, an Arkham aristocrat who poses for Thurber's paintings and enjoys a surreptitious relationship with the young artist before later marrying him. Leman is a young filmmaker and actress with an exciting career ahead of her. While Leman has only had a short career so far, she wrote, directed, and starred in a 2020 short film The Whale, and recently played Carly Miller in Netflix's Locke & Key season 3.
Pickman's Model Supporting Cast & Characters
Seamus Patterson as Joe Minot: A classmate and friend of William Thurber. Patterson has previously starred in Channel Zero, Seance, and Guest of Honour, and recently played Harral in Star Trek: Discovery.
Laurie Murdoch as Doctor Reid: An art enthusiast and expert. Murdoch is known for his roles in The Mist series, Rookie Blue, and the best picture-winning Spotlight. Murdoch also made a cameo appearance in Amazon's Reacher.
Remy Flint as James: William and Rebecca's son. His role in Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities episode 5 "Pickman's Model" is his first acting credit.
All episodes of Guillermo Del Toro's Cabinet of Curiosities are now available on Netflix