Yes, properly. The Strain is the real thing without being an endurance test.

How gory is The Strain?

Graphic gore and strong violence. If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.

What is The Strain rated, and is it OK for kids?

Real scares, several jump scares, and moderate sex and nudity. The TV-MA is earned, so not for kids.

The Strain (2014)

Series · 44m episodes · Rated TV-MA

Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi

A relentless viral outbreak in New York City unleashes an ancient evil, chilling humanity's fight for survival.

Suspenseful. A full-attention watch at full speed. Emotionally it is heavy.

Streaming on Hulu and AMC+.

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The Strain parents guide

Nothing past what a TV-MA promises: real scares and several jump scares.

Scare: Properly scary; Frightening, not just tense.
Jump scares: Several; More than a couple of sudden jolts.
Gore: Graphic gore; Blood and wounds shown clearly.
Violence: Strong violence; Violence is frequent or intense.
Sex and nudity: Moderate; Moderate means a sex scene or nudity on screen, even brief, or sexual violence that is described or implied but never shown.
Language: Moderate; Some strong profanity, a few f-words.

How we rate: an AI reads what is known about each title and tags it 0 to 3; we check the tags against a hand-rated set and correct them by hand when readers tell us. Estimates, not a scene-by-scene review. Spot a mistake? Tell us.

Three questions

Is The Strain scary?: Yes, properly. The Strain is the real thing without being an endurance test.
How gory is The Strain?: Graphic gore and strong violence. If graphic gore is a dealbreaker, skip it.
What is The Strain rated, and is it OK for kids?: Real scares, several jump scares, and moderate sex and nudity. The TV-MA is earned, so not for kids.

What is The Strain about?

A high concept thriller that tells the story of Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, the head of the Center for Disease Control Canary Team in New York City. He and his team are called upon to investigate a mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism. As the strain spreads, Eph, his team, and an assembly of everyday New Yorkers, wage war for the fate of humanity itself.