The Strain (2014)

The Strain is a dark, fast-paced horror drama TV series that begins when a mysterious viral outbreak in New York City reveals the return of an ancient, parasitic strain of vampirism. Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, head of the CDC’s Canary Team, leads the investigation alongside a small, mismatched group — including a Holocaust survivor who knows the old evil’s history and a gritty, resourceful everyman — as they race to understand and stop the contagion. As the infection spreads, the show shifts from procedural investigation to all-out urban warfare, forcing scientists, survivors, and citizens into morally fraught choices to save humanity. Watching The Strain delivers a blend of medical-thriller urgency and supernatural dread: expect tense, investigative setups, escalating body-horror and gore, claustrophobic city-wide panic, and moments of bleak, mythic horror. The atmosphere is gritty and visceral, with slowly revealed lore that ties scientific explanations to ancient myth. Character-driven arcs and ensemble conflict ground the spectacle—viewers get both scientific sleuthing and personal drama as the stakes grow ever larger. If you enjoy shows that mix suspense, action, and unsettling creature design with ethical dilemmas and a long-form descent into apocalypse, The Strain offers a gripping, often brutal ride into what happens when science and nightmare collide.

Actors: Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Kevin Durand

Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Horror

7.3 /10 7.3 /10