The Strain, the FX horror series created by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, is now available to stream. The four-season vampire series is part of Shudder’s refreshed catalog, meaning that starting June 22, subscribers of the horror-exclusive platform (which also applies to AMC+ subscribers) now have the chance to stream one of the best and most original horror series on modern television. The Strain was based on Hogan and del Toro’s vampire trilogy known as The Strain Trilogy. The first book was titled The Strain, and the following sequels were called The Fall and The Night Eternal. The series, which consists of 46 episodes, follows a CDC head who starts investigating a mysterious plane landing where all the passengers appear to be dead. It doesn’t take long for him to uncover a conspiracy that involves a virus that turns people into vampires. Per the series’ plot synopsis:
A thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, Eph, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers, wage war for the fate of humanity itself.

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Del Toro and Hogan remained showrunners for the entire series. The Strain featured a great ensemble cast that included Corey Stoll, David Bradley, Kevin Durand, Mía Maestro, Jonathan Hyde, Sean Astin, Samantha Mathis and Natalie Brown, among others. Directors included industry greats like Jennifer Lynch, Peter Weller, Carlton Cuse, Vincenzo Natali, and del Toro himself, who directed the pilot episode. The series holds an average score of 79% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is the result of mixed reception throughout the four seasons. Season 4 remains at the top, boasting a score of 100%, while Season 3 has a 55% score. It sits beside American Horror Story as one of the best horror shows originally produced by FX.
Guillermo del Toro’s Unique Approach to the Vast World of Vampires

October Films

The Strain presents the director’s singular take on vampires as framed through the lens of a public health crisis. This twist on vampire tropes was planned by Guillermo del Toro since he began thinking about writing the books. He selected Chuck Hogan to join him in crafting a new and different kind of vampire story. Subsequently, the TV version closely followed the original narrative, which had a grounded and realistic feel to it. Del Toro, however, had already explored alternative interpretations of vampirism in previous works like Cronos, and the criminally underrated superhero sequel Blade II. In Cronos, an elderly man finds a device that’ll give him eternal life, but some sacrifices have to be made; the 1992 film offers a spin on the vampire genre by getting rid of the mythology of bloodsuckers, and focusing on the health implications. Blade II included a very interesting layer to the story in which vampires, as well as humans, are being threatened by a mutant species (the creature designs of the film are stunning).