An increasing number of eminent filmmakers are trying their hand on television, releasing their own shows, despite the fact that the peak of euphoria about this has ended. The viewer gradually comes to understand that famous names do not guarantee the success of the project, because in the series there are laws that are different from the cinema. But after the appearance of the television film “Strain” (the release date was July 13, 2014) on the FX TV channel, faith in the promising future of the “small format” quickly returned to the majority and prompted to be filled with respect for its creator, the great Guillermo Del Toro.
Contrast of opinions
In general, the reviews about the series “Strain” are positive. For example, based on 37 reviews published on the Metacritic website, the series has a rating of 72 out of 100, according to IMDb - 7.50. Estimates of foreign experts are close in importance to domestic: Certified Fresh rating of the TV show is 7.5 out of 10, Rotten Tomatoes - 86% out of 100%. In fairness, it’s worth mentioning that it’s rare, but there are reviews about the TV series “Strain” written in a negative way. Due to the fact that the project was shot not for the broadcast, but for the cable channel, it is purely outwardly very naturalistic and cruel, so some reviewers were outraged by the scenes of turning the character's head into a bloody mess and the like liberties. And the poster, which depicts a worm crawling out of the eye, inherited from the contributing authors. They even provoked a small scandal about this. The Strain authors, ignoring the attacks of moralistic journalists, explained the content of the poster so that the viewer needs to be set up in an appropriate way.
Literary source
The serial The Strain is a film adaptation of the novel of the same name by the duet of the master of monstrous stories Guillermo Del Toro and the author of the work “City of Thieves” by Chuck Hogan. The idea of ​​the now completed vampire trilogy appeared among the authors in 2006 in the form of a script, but after it was transformed into a novel, and in 2014 it reached its desired goal - the screen, however, is not wide. Due to the fact that the work was adapted to the serial format by the creators themselves, their author’s intention was transferred to the screen in full, reviews of the series “Strain” confirm this. Many viewers, after watching the pilot episode of the television movie, claimed that the vampire theme and Del Toro were so harmonious and obvious, so the question arises as to why the Mexican director hasn’t filmed Bram Stoker's Dracula in the “B” category, adjusted for the vampirism movie story and personal pickiness to details.
How it all began
The series premiered at the ATX television festival in Austin, Texas, in early June 2014. All those present could appreciate the pilot episode of the television film "Strain". The release date of the first season in the Russian Federation is January 2, 2016.
According to the reviews of experts present at the premiere, the charm of the pilot series of the television movie is not in such a promising development of the plot, but in its structure - this is the case when the rich experience of the director in a big movie went exclusively for the benefit of the project. Most of the creators of the series like to throw a lot of fog in the initial episodes, to arrange a lot of question marks. Unlike professional serial makers, Del Toro shot the pilot in the form of a not complete, but quite integral little movie. According to film critics, the director exhaustively introduces the heroes to the viewer, skillfully awakening curiosity and keeping the viewer empty-handed.
What will the pilot episode show?
So, as already mentioned, the series “Strain” (season 1) begins a pilot release. In it, the viewer can see the main monster in all its glory (a typical Deltor monster, something in between the monsters from "Mutants" and "Blade 2"). In addition, the watcher’s nerves will certainly be pulled to the limit by the scene of the mass return to the life of the undead, and the culmination scene with an insinuating tapping on the glass will promptly recall one of the most frightening episodes in the history of the film industry and literature from King’s Salem’s fate. By the way, the series “Strain” (season 1 especially) contains typical King’s elements - hints at the global scale of the impending disaster, characteristic but ambiguous in terms of the generally accepted moral character of the heroes, a slight “swirling” of the plot that does not pull the blanket over itself, but is a peculiar highlight.
A brief description of the storyline. Start
The series “Strain”, the actors and roles were selected personally by Guillermo Del Toro, begins with a demonstration of New York, frozen in anticipation of a solar eclipse, which should happen for the first time in 400 years. Soon, the Moon will effectively cover the sun in a piece, and after that it will immerse the world into the night for 5 minutes. Before this significant event, a Boeing passenger with no signs of life on board lands at JFK Airport . All its curtains are tightly closed, the engines are silent, and 200 passengers do not leave their seats, as they show no signs of life. Due to the hype, the government sends a group of virologists led by Efraim Goodweather to the scene. Ef (actor Corey Stoll), a real hard worker, abusing alcohol because of family troubles. The hero intends to understand the causes of the tragedy, especially since the four deceased come to their senses, giving scientists hope for a rational explanation.
Aware - means armed
To help understand the reasons for what was happening, the scientists could be an elderly professor at the same time an Armenian and a Jew named Abraham Setrakyan (David Bradley), who managed to survive the Holocaust. A professor with a professorship currently owns a pawnshop, preserving among all kinds of antiques the heart of a vampire in a flask and an ancient blade. The third component of the triangle is an archaic box, decorated with openwork carvings, identical in shape to the coffin, filled with earth, in which capillary worms are teeming. Inexplicably, he was transported aboard the "dead" Boeing, and shortly after landing, he also mysteriously disappeared from the field of view of the virological team.
The public is indignant, political officials are trying to hush up the matter, Setrakyan sharpens the blade, and Goodweather is perplexed. Over time, vampires emerge from the shadows - wise by rich experience, and converts who are approaching an eclipse on hand to globally infect others. Film critics, leaving feedback on the series "Strain", appreciated the intrigue and the creation of a tense atmosphere of narration.
Performers of the roles of the first plan. Corey stoll
The television film "Strain", the actors and roles of which are known and loved by fans of the project, can rightfully be proud of the performers of the roles of central characters.
American actor Corey Stoll has long been known as a performer of secondary and episodic roles. But after the role in the Netflix series “House of Cards”, which became his breakthrough, the performer was nominated for the Golden Globe. After such recognition, Stoll’s career went up, he took part in the project “Law and Order”, “Naval Police: Special Department”, “Ambulance”. The filmography of the actor also contains full-length films: “Ant-Man”, “Air Marshal”, “Lucky Number Slevin”, “Midnight in Paris”. Since 2014, he became the lead performer in the series The Strain. Corey Stoll starred in the Del Toro project for all three seasons.
David John Bradley
The British theater, television and film actor David John Bradley is a world-famous performer, he is a BAFTA TV award winner. The range of acting works by Bradley is more than diverse - he took part in classic film adaptations and modern youth films like “The Type of Cool Pointers”. The most famous actor for his role in the epic about the adventures of Harry Potter. In addition, he starred in the most popular television series of our time: Game of Thrones, Doctor Who and The Strain. David Bradley and Corey Stoll created a great acting duet.
Advantages and disadvantages
Among the advantages of the project, eminent filmmakers cite the innovation of Del Toro and Hogan, who invented their own story of vampirism. According to their idea, it is not a curse that turns a miserable vampire, but a parasitic worm that manipulates the carrier and the state of their body. The authors were not afraid to deprive the ancient bloodsucking gloss and external attractiveness.
The most demanding experts include the writer's detail of the finished television movie to the disadvantages. Noting that even shock episodes do not save the project from predictability and sluggishness. The television movie, which has gone so far for three or four seasons, is swinging only towards the middle of the first, when people’s initial appeals to vampires are completed, the ancients begin to discuss the nature of human beings with flashbacks from concentration camps.
Currently, the series consists of three seasons, having crossed the equator, the creators promise to "throw firewood into the firebox", thereby taking the tragedy to a new level.