As the premiere of Guillermo del Toro's new FX series "The Strain" draws closer, some fans should be prepared to draw farther away from their TV screens. The new show which is adapted from del Toro's novel with executive producer Chuck Hogan of the same name shows the "true" or rather the more mythological version of vampires. Gone are their glistening skin popularized by "Twilight" and their sexy, yet bloody romps with humans that fans love in HBO's "True Blood." Instead fans will come to love the vampires depicted on "The Strain" for a completely different set of reasons, not because they are sexy and sophisticated, but because these vampires are utterly terrifying. “We are not trying to make a romantic figure of the vampire,” del Toro revealed. “The history and mythology of them is completely new. The way they feed is very brutal.”
Actor Corey Stoll plays Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, who serves as the head of the CDC Canary Team in New York City. The doctor and his team are called in to investigate a biological threat after a plane lands suddenly and mysteriously on the tarmac of JFK. Once boarded the plane, they discover signs of mythological vampirism, along with two hundred corpses. However the situation soon begins to spiral out of hand, when the supposed corpses begin to disappear for the city morgues. The series synopsis states, that Goodweather along with a small group of informed helpers, “find themselves battling to protect not only their own loved ones, but the entire city, from an ancient threat to humanity.” As opposed to the idea of vampires that has become popularized in recent years, as sexy, sultry and tolerate of humans, the vampirism in “The Strain” takes on a biological virus approach, even the title and promotional posters for the new series pronounce the difference between the glorified Edward Cullen and the true mythological version of these infesting, blood sucking beasts. According to del Toro, his vampires are more of a “parasitic monster” -- a creature who is “truly unholy, brutal an unstoppable.”
Fans will most likely be delighted by two major aspects of “The Strain,” first the series’ down right horrific bloodshed and the supernatural, yet weirdly believable back story. It combines a few of viewer’s favorite things, vampires, mythology, history and of course apocalyptic realities, that grow harsher as the story progresses. Despite being an already well-established story with a lrag fan base, Del Toro and Chuck Hogan have seemingly pieced together a new series based off recent success, the brutality of “Game of Thrones,” the vampires of “True Blood,” the apocalyptic virus of “The Walking Dead,” and last but certainly not least, the science of “Breaking Bad.” With all of these elements in one series, it’s hard to believe it will not be good to watch! It seems like del Toro agrees with our initial interpretation of “The Strain,” stating “I think that in my opinion a good show that is driven by horror has character, science, drama, is fast paced, fun and engaging, there is always room for that.”
“The Strain” premieres on FX on Sunday, July 13 at 10 p.m., be sure to tune in and keep checking back with Latin Times for more previews, spoilers and recaps!
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