STREAM OF THE WEEK: THE STAND (Amazon Prime)
This 2020 miniseries kicks off with a deadly strain of influenza that wipes out almost the entire human race, so it is admittedly a bit of a heavy watch if you’re trying to escape the news with some light entertainment. But an overblown zombie film, this is not.
This miniseries is a reboot of sorts of the cult classic 1994 series which is based on the 1978 novel which is often hailed as Stephen King’s answer to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings saga. Think of the plague (referred to as Captain Trips) as the set-up for the real battle that unfolds here; the classic tale of good versus evil.
Several survivors begin seeing Mother Abagail (played brilliantly by Whoopi Goldberg in one of her most dramatic roles to date) in their dreams which leads them to a small town in Colorado where they work together to begin the process of rebuilding and repopulating.
On the other hand, Randall Flagg (“The Dark Man”) is building a civilization of his own filled with sex, drugs and overall debauchery, naturally located in Sin City itself, Las Vegas. Flagg, portrayed brilliantly by Alexander Skarsgård, is the real star of the show as his delightfully evil presence will send shivers down your spine.
By trying to tell such an epic saga in only nine episodes, this show is basically the definition of the word “ambitious.” Admittedly it moves very fast, introducing and building up characters quite quickly, and potentially ending them just as fast.
Not only is this not “light” watching, but it’s also probably one of the worst shows to watch in the background while cleaning the house or staring at your computer. For true enjoyment, turn your devices off, pop some popcorn and sit back and let the true master of horror take you on a journey!
Make sure you have some episodes of The Office or How I Met Your Mother to throw on before bed or else I can’t promise you won’t be having some “night visions” of your own.
The Stand is available to stream on Amazon Prime
