Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Comedy-driven horror has fantasy gore, cursing.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Stan Against Evil
What's the Story?
STAN AGAINST EVIL is a comedy series about a fallen sheriff trying to destroy the demons taking over his small New England town. After the death of his wife, Willard's Fall sheriff Stanley Miller (John C. McGinley) is forced to retire from his position thanks to his erratic behavior. But when new sheriff Evelyn "Evie" Barret (Janet Varney) takes over, she soon discovers that whoever is sheriff of the town is haunted by demons -- one for each of the 172 people accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake at the same location centuries ago. Stan and Evie join forces to save the unsuspecting town, and fight them head on with the help of Stan's daughter Denise (Deborah Baker Jr.) and Sheriff Deputy Leon Drinkwater (Nate Mooney).
Is It Any Good?
This fun show combines humor and horror to create a series designed to be more quirky than frightening. While it feels similar to the popular series Ash vs. Evil Dead, it is milder, thanks to the bloody-but-silly scenes created by low-budget special effects.
Stan Against Evil isn't particularly original, but there's enough well-delivered inappropriate one-liners (thanks to McGinley's solid performance) that keep it moving. It's got some campy elements, too, which add to the entertainment. If you're looking for some chuckles and aren't turned off by over-the-top fantasy gore, you'll find some here.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about mixing comedy and horror. How can these two categories of entertainment be effectively combined for audiences? How can this combination go very wrong? How well does Stan Against Evil do?
When movies and shows like Stan Against Evil feature violence in a funny or silly context, does this change the impact they may have on viewers?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 31, 2016
- Cast : John C. McGinley , Deborah Baker Jr. , Janet Varney
- Network : IFC
- Genre : Comedy
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 18, 2022
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