Common Sense Media Review
Dramatic horror adaptation has vampires, bloody violence.
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The Passage
What's the Story?
Based on the dystopian trilogy written by Justin Cronin, THE PASSAGE follows a federal agent, a young girl, and the creation of monsters in the name of science. The United States is being threatened by a deadly flu epidemic, and the scientists at the secret medical facility known as Project Noah, run by Dr. Major Nichole Skyes (Caroline Chilkezie) and former CIA operative Clark Richards (Vincent Piazza), are working with a dangerous virus that may lead to the cure of all diseases -- or wipe out the human race by turning test subjects into vampires. When Federal Agent Brad Wolgast (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) is tasked with delivering a recently orphaned young girl named Amy Bellafonte (Saniyya Sidney) to the facility, he goes rogue and decides to protect her at any cost. While the pair attempt to flee, the work being conducted at Project Noah is threatening to have apocalyptic results.
Is It Any Good?
This intense series effectively combines drama and horror to create a solid television adaptation of a dark, apocalyptic book series. While the idea of horrifying nonhumans taking over the world is troubling, the inhumanity presented by the scientists who unleash that nightmare might be even scarier. Viewers who like dystopian or horror TV shows will find it worth watching. But those familiar with the trilogy might question if this adaption can stay true to the heart of the overall story, which stretches over 1,000 years. Nonetheless, The Passage is entertaining, and will leave viewers wondering about who the real monsters are.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about dystopian worlds. What is a dystopia? What kinds of events present themselves in The Passage that point to the creation of one?
What kinds of changes have to be made to a story when adapting a novel into a television series? What kinds of changes had to be made to Justin Cronin's original story in order to produce The Passage for TV?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 14, 2019
- Cast : Saniyya Sidney , Mark Paul Gosselaar , Vincent Piazza
- Network : Fox
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : August 16, 2021
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