The Strain / Thrilling fare

If your idea of vampires is a sparkling Edward Cullen and a barely expressive Bella romancing in the sky and on the meadows, then, voila! Here is a show that will completely change your understanding of the dark blood sucking creatures. The Strain is a different take on the fantasy characters bringing in a biological perspective. The plot of the series is not something Indian television has witnessed before. The vampires on this show are not school and college hopping, diary writing, sexy looking creatures. Instead they are as pale as death, have eyes like camera shutters and thrive inside creepy crawlies. When it comes to horror on Indian television, apart from a few shows like Aahat and Fear Files, telly viewers have yet to watch a high concept show such as The Strain.
The first episode begins on a plane from Berlin to New York. On its arrival at the airport, the plane shuts down. Several security forces and agencies are called as there is absolutely no movement or communication from the plane. Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, (played by Corey Stroll of House of Cards fame) the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team and his accomplice, Dr. Nora Martinez (Mía Maestro) are the first ones to enter the plane only to discover that four people on board are dead. They set out to investigate what caused their death. Nobody seems to have definite answers, except Professor Abraham Setrakian (David Bradley), a pawn shop owner. The captivating plot is accompanied with perfectly dark cinematography, accentuating the horror and mystery elements of the show. If you enjoy such spine-chilling drama and gruesome imagery, The Strain is the perfect show for you. You will definitely find instances that will make you sit right up and stare in awe and disbelief. For instance, the closing scene of the first episode, where all the corpses come alive and attack the doctor is nothing short of terrorism. However, if gory creatures and visuals make you sick, then stay away from the show as it does not shy away from vivid imagery.
The Strain is a bold and unique show that successfully combines the typical idiosyncrasies of a horror show, with a brilliant concept. It also has some compelling performances, is unconventional and yet remains true to its genre.

Verdict: A show meant for those who love ghastly visuals and unique plots.