Netflix viewers have limited time left to catch a highly acclaimed mini-series that comes with a strong recommendation from Stephen King.
This “superbly paced” series has been available for streaming on Netflix for almost five years. If you haven’t had the chance to watch it yet, consider this your nudge to do so.
Stephen King, known for his love of horror, often shares his TV recommendations with his followers on social media. He recently praised this “unbeatable” crime drama, which was watched for 50 million hours.
The series could have been easily overlooked by many.
Premiering in October 2020, just months into the global coronavirus pandemic, its plot about a deadly virus outbreak might have hit too close to home for viewers at the time.
During a period when reality was quite bleak, watching a thriller that mirrored real-world events was hardly appealing. However, now might be the right moment to give this series a try, or perhaps revisit it.
The show centers around a group of individuals, some family members, and some strangers, who must escape the city to survive.
In addition to the viral threat, they also confront moral challenges, strained relationships, and the unforgiving winter environment.
Unfortunately, the series is scheduled to leave Netflix in just over a week’s time.
The show in question is “To The Lake,” which received praise from Stephen King for its engaging storyline and cinematography.
King took to X, formerly known as Twitter, in the month of its release to share his thoughts: “TO THE LAKE, a pretty darn good Russian series on Netflix. Four things to know:”
“1. There’s a plague.”
“2. There’s lots of snow and cold (Russia, stupid).”
“3. Everybody drinks vodka.”
“4. Weak-ass spoiler alert: the little kid is a pain in the ass.”
In a subsequent post, King added more insights: “3 more things to know about TO THE LAKE:”
“1. Think spaghetti western, only with snow and plague-infested killer Russians.”
“2. The cinematography is cool. Some stuff is filmed upside-down. Why? Dunno.”
“3. The kid is still a pain in the ass.”
The show not only earned King’s endorsement but also achieved a perfect 100 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes. John Doyle from Globe and Mail described it as “superbly paced; thrilling, frightening and singularly enthralling.”
He also called it “one of the finds of the year.”
Brad Newsome from the Sydney Morning Herald agreed, stating: “Pandemic dramas are a dime a dozen, but this chilling new Russian series is an intriguingly different kind of animal.”
While fans rated “To The Lake” at 80 percent, many believed it deserved an even higher score.
One fan commented, “Simply superb. Pacing, dialogue, atmosphere, camera work and lighting, character development… a rare 10/10.”
Another viewer called the mini-series “pretty spectacular,” noting that “it doesn’t rely too heavily on ‘gore’ for thrills, but draws you into the characters’ lives with great layering and stories.”
A third described it as “sensational,” while another said: “By the end of the first episode I was hooked… Gripping, thrilling, amazing locations and there’s no let up in the action.”
They finished with a cautionary note: “Hold onto your seats right to the end and an amazing cliffhanger!”
You can stream “To The Lake” on Netflix until Tuesday, October 7.