Parents' Guide to

The Strain

By Kari Croop, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 17+

Mature horror series is too dark and intense for kids.

TV FX Drama 2014
The Strain Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

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age 16+

Based on 5 parent reviews

Dhinkson
Dhinkson Adult
November 23, 2020
age 18+

The Strain

I was drawn in by youtube videos on the series and at first the story was so good I was willing to overlook its flaws. But by season 3 it just got absolutely brainless. obvious glaring flaws. No more use of UV light. No equipping soldiers with uv lights and silver infused armor. Icorst always allowed to miraculously escape. Either the dumbasses in this show only get up at 5 pm or day light only last about 3 hrs. The list of stupid goes on and on. If it wasn't for the Borne and Oldman this show would be a 1000% waste of time.
slasher23
slasher23 Adult
August 16, 2014
age 16+
brutal a gory a some scary

This title has:

Too much violence
See all 5 parent reviews

What's the Story?

When a commercial plane comes to a deadly quiet standstill at JFK International Airport with more than 200 people on board, officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- including Dr. Ephraim Goodweather (Corey Stoll) and his team (Mia Maestro and Sean Astin) -- are some of the first to arrive on the scene. But THE STRAIN that's infected the passengers is unlike anything they've ever seen before.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (5):
Kids say (3):

This series gets off to an awfully slow start -- and maybe that's by design, considering the startling twists that lie in wait as the series progresses. Sprung from the mind of acclaimed film director Guillermo Del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth), The Strain is so startling you might find yourself reluctantly watching through your fingers to see just how scary it gets (and we assure you: It gets pretty scary).

Del Toro's filmmaking influence is readily apparent, and, in spite of some hammy dialogue, there's much to admire in the otherwise artful details. It's also great to see House of Cards' Stoll resurrected on the small screen. But The Strain's creepy charms won't appeal to everyone, and the coarse language and violent visuals push it squarely into the realm of mature content.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about infectious diseases, vampires, and the real-life fears that fuel The Strain's fantastical concept. What's the appeal behind shows designed to scare us? Why do we watch -- even when we're watching with our hands over our eyes?

  • How does The Strain compare to other dramas with supernatural story lines? In what ways does the creator/director's film background influence the show's look and feel?

  • Do you think The Strain deserves a TV-MA rating? Where's the line when it comes to content that's too scary for kids?

TV Details

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.

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