
Family movie night? There's an app for that
Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.
Stan Against Evil
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Comedy-driven horror has fantasy gore, cursing.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Stan Against Evil
Community Reviews
Based on 2 parent reviews
Please come back
Fun series for mature preteens who like to be a little scared.
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: TV-14
- Last updated: October 13, 2022
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate