ABC Family’s “Ravenswood” proves killers always catch the slowest of a pack.

“Ravenswood” is a spinoff of ABC Family’s popular “Pretty Little Liars.” Unlike its parent show, “Ravenswood” takes a supernatural thriller approach to the teen drama genre.

The series premiere Tuesday seemed to trip over itself and left me scratching my head once the credits rolled. Poor acting and lazy writing ran rampant. It was difficult to make it through the first episode since it lost me right from the start.

One of the many ailments this show suffers from is its inability to present its own backstory. The beginning made me feel like I joined in the middle of the season. The creators seem to assume viewers know everything about the story. The show is aimed for the “Pretty Little Liars” audience, and it fails even there.

“Pretty Little Liars” succeeded through its mystery, but lacks any hints of ghosts and ghouls. “Ravenswood” is trying to incorporate the fad of jump-scare horrors on television but lacks the creativity audiences are used to seeing in similar shows.

Even the characters seem uninterested in the events occurring. The show lacks any dynamic actors that make me want to come back for more. ABC Family continues to show off its wonderful arrangement of cardboard, but now in spooky formation.

To be fair, I am certainly not in “Ravenswood’s” target demographic. The show does offer romance, an interesting mystery and a creepy atmosphere. It has the pieces to a puzzle of a good TV show; the creators just need to put those together.

ABC Family’s new series also has the misfortune to be on in a season saturated with great television. High-quality programming has become the norm. With a college student’s schedule, picking between “The Walking Dead” and “Ravenswood” isn’t a tough decision for me.

I hope to see “Ravenswood’s” backstory fleshed out more. Setting a strong background creates for a more encapsulating universe.

“Ravenswood” has stiff competition in horror TV with Halloween approaching. When competing against shows like “American Horror Story” and the new “Sleepy Hollow,” “Ravenswood” has its work cut out for it.