New FX series ‘The Strain’ promises a fresh, new take on the vampire genre as show runner Carlton Cuse explains the differences with this show and others in the same genre…
Horror fans will always have a few debates that will never really end.
Freddy vs. Jason vs. Michael Myers?
Fast zombies vs. slow zombies?
And human like vampires vs. vicious, animal like vampires?
Lately the vampire genre has been a popular one on TV and in films with shows like True Blood showing off fangs and skin at an alarming rate while books/movies like Twilight manage to turn the age old bloodsuckers into emo tweens hell bent to kill us with stupid story lines long before the lack of plasma in our veins.
For every Bill Compton that struts around in tight fitting clothes spouting off romantic words to get a woman into bed, I’m reminded of a scene in the John Carpenter movie ‘Vampires‘. Now say what you will about the movie (personally I still love it) but there was one very good scene where the star of the movie, James Woods breaks down to his new priest what vampires are really all about.
Fans of that version of vampires will probably really enjoy the new series currently in development for FX called ‘The Strain‘
Based off of a three book series of the same name by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan, The Strain follows CDC doctor Ephraim ‘Eph’ Goodweather as he investigates a new virus that’s creating a particularly vicious brand of vampires.
New show runner Carlton Cuse (Lost, Bates Motel) spoke at the Television Critic’s Association on Tuesday where he promised a brand of vampire rarely seen on television these days. There won’t be much for conversation and if clothes are coming off it’s incidental as they search for a new place to draw blood. These vampires are killers with one goal in mind — sucking humanity dry.
“You’ll never look at vampires the same way. These are not sparkly, brooding dudes with fangs and romantic problems,” Cuse said. “These vampires, or to use the Romanian word, tragoi, are really scary creatures.”
According to Cuse, the vampires in The Strain are definitely not romantic and aren’t looking for sex in any way, shape or form. Actually sex is impossible because when the virus invades a host and they become a vampire, their genitals literally fall off.
The new pilot took a total of 18 months to develop and that’s why Cuse believes ‘The Strain‘ will be a cinematic experience brought to life on the small screen when it debuts. The first episode was directed by Del Toro and if the show is well received, they plan on running for at least three to five seasons based on the three book series the show was created from.
The Strain should present a very interesting take on the vampire genre as FX gets into the supernatural business in 2014.
