This is one those shows you can easily enjoy, something light hearted and not too serious, it is a shame the show was cancelled but I'm glad we at the very least have three great seasons to enjoy.
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Clive_W27 October 2019
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peeedeee-9428119 October 2019Yes, I get it that it's very similar to Ash Vs Evil Dead. That's how I've always thought of it, but it did have its charm. I was hoping that I would still get some Evil Dead fix from this show once AvED was cancelled, but this show suffered the same fate!! :( Even the same number of seasons - only 3. Each season being short (10 or so episodes) with 1/2hr episodes. I hope someone somewhere picks up this series or starts another evil dead type series. These are always a lot of fun. Too many horror shows/movies are just too serious, and not well done. This was at least well done, with likeable characters (except for Stan's daughter, who was annoying). Oh well, it was a great run while it lasted. I guess we can say we have 6 seasons of 'Evil Dead' goodness, if you combine this and AvED.
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wabevilacqua3 November 2016Right, so first things first: This isn't a total ripoff from Ash vs Evil Dead.
It really seems that way with the name being so similar, and then you go on to read the summary where it says it's about a reluctant aging hero fighting off infernal foes. But the similarities kind of end right there. Now, there isn't to say that there are no similarities with the Evil Dead franchise. The one-liners are there, the make up effects, the camera angles borrowed directly from Raimi's bag of tricks. But, watching the show, this all feels a lot more like homages and references to the Evil Dead (and other horror classics) than a blatant ripoff. As the pilot progresses, we come to see that the story does have it's own thing going on. And Sheriff Miller himself is pretty different from Ash. He's way less immoral and bohemian, and way smarter. He's kind of a retired badass. Now that I think of it, he shares way more similarities with Dr. Cox (John C. McGinley's character in Scrubs) than to Ash.
But that's enough about the show's relation to AVED. Let's move on.
First off, the acting in this one is top notch, specially for a (apparently) low-budget show. John McGinley delivers a spot on interpretation as Sheriff Stan Miller (but then again, the character does fall directly into his playhouse). Deborah Baker and Nate Mooney also give very endearing and funny performances during their quick, yet very entertaining screen time.
The comedy part of the show is great. It didn't have me rolling of laughter or anything, but the writing and jokes are pretty witty and with excellent timing. And the horror part of the show is surprisingly strong too. The second episode has one very interesting scene that I won't spoil. The creepy scenes are full of atmosphere, and the excellent (and quite unique) soundtrack only adds to the mood.
I do have two complaints about the show though: First, 20 minutes per episode is quite short for this kind of show, and because of that, the first episode had some pacing issues. Sometime a lot of stuff happened in a short period of time, and some of the plot elements didn't really had enough time to establish themselves in a satisfying and "believeble" way. The second episode does have way better pacing though. The second complaint I have is about the action sequences. I think the big baddies of each episode deserved a way more climatic and intense battle before they were dispatched, to give the show more intensity, but that really wasn't the case. Well, I hope the coming episodes features more hard hitting battles.
All in all, this show is a delight for horror fans. It's funny, it's creepy. And if you're an Evil Dead fan like I am, I think you will enjoy the references and the similar tone like I did. -
randymcbeast17 November 2016I just finished watching s01e06 and I just had to take the time out and give a very positive shout out for this great new TV show.
It looked like a goofy and low budget production to start but there would be occasional flashes of brilliance that kept it on my watch list. Thankfully I did too because the show keeps reaching new heights week after week.
The show is just fun to watch. You quickly fall in love with the actors and with the story which is probably why the episodes fell like they're getting better each week.
The previous few episodes had some great moments but this sixth episode really had me rolling at certain points. I can't wait for the rest of the season. -
lferne012 November 2017I discovered this show the day before Halloween and binged watched the whole thing! The humor/horror mix is just right and brings out the best in all the characters. The special effects are surprisingly good for what is billed as a low-budget show. I am a long time horror fan and I am always impressed when I see a monster or creature that looks completely original. Yes, the show is campy and cheesy at times, but when done in a self-aware manner this becomes part of the fun. The story's structure is well done with a continually developing plot that still leaves room for stand-alone, monster-of-the-week type episodes that can still tie back in to the overall mythology.
My only complaint is that there isn't enough of it! I can accept a 21 minute show, but I would gladly watch a season that had twice as many episodes. Here's hoping that IFC gives us more! -
chrisnyce8526 August 2018Just finished Season 2 and can't wait to stream season 3 and beyond!
This is a great take on a classic storyline. A centuries-old vendetta haunts the Sherriff's of a backwoods town and manifests itself in all kinds of comical, yet just a bit scary forms. McGinley and Varney have a sweet brother-sisterly kind of relationship that is pure joy to watch, and there's a great supporting cast.
So, here's the progression I follow. I was a fan of Sarah Chalke from Rosanne, a fan of Christa Miller from The Drew Carey Show, and a fan of John C. from Platoon and Office Space. So, I gave Scrubs a chance and fell in love with it. I started watching Stan Against Evil BECAUSE I had been entertained so much by John C's character on Scrubs. I don't know what that other show is yet, but I will probably go watch it now because of John C. and Stan Against Evil.
I respect that some other reviewers may feel it's a bit to close for comfort to this Ash vs. Evil Dead, so I'm sure those same people didn't like Casino because DeNiro and Pesci had characters kind of similar to those they played in Goodfellas. You see, that's how the arts work. People see a painting by an artist or hear a song they like, and they want to see/hear/watch other works by the same artist. or they discover similar works by other artists so they become fans of that artist as well. That's why I like BB King AND Eric Clapton AND George Thorogood AND Stevie Ray Vaughn AND Johnny Lang AND Gary Clark. -
SnoopyStyle15 February 2019Willard's Mill, New Hampshire is a cursed town where in around 1700, Constable Eccles burned 172 suspected witches. Since then, every sheriff has met an early unnatural death. Stanley Miller (John C. McGinley) is the former sheriff forced to resign after an incident at his wife's funeral to the horror of his daughter Denise Miller (Deborah Baker Jr.). Single mom Evie Barret (Janet Varney) is the new sheriff. Leon Drinkwater (Nate Mooney) is the idiot deputy. Stan uncovers his wife's secret works and necklace which unbeknownst to him protected the brash cop.
This is a fun little series on IFC and I do mean small. Everybody is trying. McGinley is a solid comedic actor. He does the frustrated sarcasm very well. Varney also does frustrated very well. I enjoy this cast. It's a show with its tongue well within its cheek. It's cancelled after three short seasons. -
I recently discovered this little gem of a show on Hulu and can't get enough. I love the characters, storyline and setting. The only thing I dislike about the show is there are only 3 seasons. I really hope that either Hulu or Netflix will realize they need to make a SEASON 4. Pleeeeeeeease!!!
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douglasjeffreys-688-7030015 November 2016*Spoilers* First, let me state the obvious. The shows are too short, and John C. McGinley is hilarious. Clearly this is inspired by "Ash vs. Evil Dead" but it is not a rip-off. Sheriff Stanley Miller (John C. McGinley) attends the funeral of his recently deceased wife and gets into a violent confrontation with a witch that only he can see. Thus forced to retire he soon discovers his late wife was protecting him from a 400+ year old curse that caused the untimely and horrifying demise of all the previous town sheriffs. He now must ally himself with the new sheriff, who just happens to be a woman...And from out-of- town to boot, to fight off a seemingly never-ending horde of witches, demons and devils. Add to this a whole town full of colorful characters and an odd daughter and you have the perfect foils for McGinley's old-fashioned, misogynistic, sarcastic humor. If you have a slightly warped sense of humor, a love of shows about the para-normal & supernatural, you will enjoy this show. It is programmed into my DVR so I won't miss a minute.
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cstover-284685 December 2018...that was left when Ash vs. Evil Dead was canceled. I loved Ash vs. Evil Dead and was highly disappointed when it got the axe. But at least I still have this show to get me by. It's definitely a very similar vibe and does a great job of mixing horror and comedy in a way that works very well. John C. McGinley is awesome as Stan Miller and brings a lot of the same angry sarcasm that we came to love from him on Scrubs. If you liked Ash vs. Evil Dead or just enjoy gorey horror/comedy, then I highly recommend this show.
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Sanityisdead6 June 2021Dr Cox have to deal with annoying demons, witches, people and other stuff. Fun watch.
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scotty-2929317 January 2019Some people are saying Stan against evil is a rip off of ash vs evil dead, yes it is a similar in a lot of ways but in my opinion 10x funnier than ash. John C McGinley absolutely nailed it if you loved him as Dr Coxs in scrubs you'll love this. funniest tv show i have watched in a while
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paul_haakonsen27 November 2016So "Stan Against Evil" came out in 2016. Excuse me, but has creator Dana Gould not been watching "Ash vs Evil Dead"? Did he want to make an homage to "Ash vs Evil Dead"? Or did he just blatantly rip off everything from that successful show to make "Stan Against Evil"? I do not know. I can only speculate.
Regardless, "Stan Against Evil" turned out to be an entertaining enough show for what it was. But the similarities to "Ash vs Evil Dead" were just an overshadowing factor that served as an anchor around the foot of "Stan Against Evil". I mean, heck, even the title itself is so close to "Ash vs Evil Dead" that it borders on being something that The Asylum would have put out there.
As for the characters in "Stan Against Evil", well they were well-detailed and well-fleshed out on the screen. But again, the similarities to "Ash vs Evil Dead" was just too much. Stan, who is played quite well by John C. McGinley, is an aging man with a big attitude and it seems that the entire world is just out to get him and his sly remarks.
Lets just stop to take in another similarity between the two shows; the book. There is a most vicious and gruesome book in both shows. Coincidence? I beg to differ.
The episodes though are fun and do provide good entertainment, however they seem awfully short, running at just 30 minutes each. But if you enjoyed "Ash vs Evil Dead", then you will also enjoy "Stan Against Evil", if you can look past the in-your-face-similarities between the two shows. The eight episodes of season 1 just flies by in an instant, and I do hope that they return for more than just a single season.
"Stan Against Evil" has good effects as well, which do help the show in a favorable way. A show or movie set in a horror genre needs to have good effects, as it is a make or break kind of a factor.
I enjoyed "Stan Against Evil", despite of it being a blatant rip-off of "Ash vs Evil Dead" (in my opinion). And I was more than impressed with John C. McGinley's performance. It was a blast to watch him in a show and a role such as this. -
runefanger1 November 2016The source of all Stan against Evil's problems seem to stem from it's 20 minute run time. There is no time for proper establishment of the characters, no time for establishing the world and no time for establishing the plot in a non ham-fisted way. The actors do their best, but they have very little to work with here.
The show obviously takes a lot of cues from Ash vs Evil dead, but misses the target.
Ash vs Evil Dead already had an established world and an established main character, but they still gave the pilot episode 40 minutes to get the show off the ground despite having a much simpler premise, plot wise, than Stan Against Evil tries to have.
Stan Against Evil is a mediocre show at best. -
wrightb-6274421 August 2017Having just returned from a five day multi-generational vacation to Niagara Falls, ON, I was looking for some quirky binge show. I wanted something fun and not too mentally or emotionally challenging. This comedy-horror show hit the spot. The special effects are cheesy in the best way. It totally adds to the humor. laughed out loud. It is the combo of good writing and excellent acting.. Sure it is like some comedy-horror movies, but the unique characters set it apart and make it worth watching. The characters are endearing, wacky, and somehow believable. Stan's daughter is the best. The costume designers did a great job on her wardrobe.
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christopherhemsath4 September 2018Great show with witty comments and good storyline that you can pick up at any time or episode and still enjoy the show
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I've struggled with Stan Against Evil in the past, I've wanted to like it as the concept appeals and I'm very fond of the two leads, John C. McGinley and Janet Varney are good value in every episode, but it felt a bit too by the numbers and the monster of the week episodes were always rather a tad predictable. It also came off second best when compared to Ash Vs Evil Dead which was far more inventive and playful when it came to over the top comedy horror. So I've missed the odd episode over the past two seasons (despite their only being eight each time) but tuned in to the season 2 finale as I heard it was a strong one.
In it Stan attempts to travel back in time to save the life of his dead wife Claire, and whilst Evie discovers it appears to work as she turns up at Stan's house to find Claire alive, Stan himself turns out to have been deceased for a year so Evie has to travel back in time herself to save him. This leads to Leon (Nate Moody) being decapitated, and a touching reunion between Stan and Claire, but despite their best efforts they're unable to save her life. I'm not quite sure how this adds up as we saw her alive in the revised time line, and Evie didn't turn up on the scene until after she'd been killed, and adding to the confusion when they return to the present day Evie thinks Leon might be alive despite the fact that she saw his head separated from the rest of his body. I was willing to give the show the benefit of the doubt and presumed they'd answer such questions in the next episode, but unfortunately that isn't the case.
Instead the series is preoccupied with the fact that when they returned to the present everything has gone terrible wrong, with hell having taken over Earth. The first four minutes of the new episode are a recap of the previous two episodes which is a bit much considering it's only a 21 minutes show, but I guess they're hoping new viewers might be along for the ride so I'll forgive them this time but I hope it's not a regular feature of the series. After that we pick up straight away from the previous season's cliffhanger with Evie attacked by a demon who she quickly dispatches. But then Leon turns up and arrests her and it's revealed that she actually killed Stan and so ends up in a psychiatric hospital, which is always the kind of plotline I hate the most in supernatural shows. At least they don't spend too much time there, and it's explained that they're trapped in their own versions of Hell with Stan looking like a demon to everyone he meets. The whole thing is resolved with ease though, and in a way which isn't that satisfying either.
There are a good few things to like about the episode, the jovial doctor who treats Evie produces some strong laughs, and Stan's dialogue is amusing from time to time, but it's without a doubt still a flawed piece. Leon as always is a little too dumb, a little too idiotic for my liking given that he passed police training (and I've seen all of the Police Academy films so know how difficult that is) and it's a frustrating element and a real shame they went down this particular road with the character. And as mentioned, plot wise everything's resolved a little too quickly and it doesn't feel like the characters have done enough to save the world. It is hinted at that this storyline isn't yet over so I'm willing to give the show a chance, but I really hope it ups it's game in the third season or I may well find myself once again only watching it from time to time. -
wisneskilife23 November 2018There's nothing on television like Stan Against Evil. It's the greatest combination of comedy, horror, and dorkiness. Every episode is unique, but the overarching story is actually really amazing. Stan says some of the funniest one liners I've ever heard. Truly a gem of a show.
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ten-thousand-marbles1 January 2022This rather ridiculous comedy from IFC is quite entertaining. It's unfortunate it ran only twenty four episodes, and ends on an apparent cliffhanger. The cast and writing are both excellent. The only issue is that they sometimes shovel on the nonsense to the point it takes over the plotline.
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Absolutely loved this show. It's hilarious and John C McGinley is perfect for the role of Stan.
There is one thing I don't like about Stan Against Evil... the fact there's only 24 episodes!! I wish we could've gotten at least 1 more season of this show.. I feel like the ending didn't seem like a series finale but more like a season finale! -
Bored_Dragon18 November 2020In a small town in New Hampshire, in 1693, a local sheriff burned 172 women on charges of being witches. From then until today(ish), every subsequent sheriff has tragically ended his career. And then Sheriff Stanley Miller mysteriously lived to retirement. Stanley is played by John C. McGinley, known for his role as Dr. Cox in the series "Scrubs". If you liked Perry Cox, don't miss this show, because these two characters are very similar in character and sense of humor. Janet Varney plays Evie Barret, a policewoman who comes to town for the position of new sheriff and who has to join forces with retired Stanley in order to fight the demons who are trying to get their heads. The series is something like low-budget "Ash vs. Evil Dead" meats "Sleepy Hollow", with production closer to "Todd and the Book of Pure Evil". The three seasons of eight twenty-minute episodes each are short and fast-paced enough for binge-watching the whole thing at once. As each episode brings a stand-alone story and a new demon, twenty minutes is not enough to elaborate it properly, so the whole thing seems hasty and cheap, but that's not a problem when it comes to "tongue-in-cheek" horror-comedy, full of parody and references to the world of film and television. If you liked any of the above-mentioned shows, you will enjoy this one as well.
7,5/10 -
Campy fun with lots of quotable lines. The references and dialog strands are all sharp and fun. The references are reminiscent of "Psych". The writing and the acting are spot on! Comparable to a low-budget "Buffy". The monsters are fun and the effects are surprisingly good. A favorite character was the crazy man in episode two. Upsettingly, he doesn't seem destined for episode three. I've never seen a character quite like that. The creativity and camp are a delightful combination. It was a perfect mesh of actor, director and writer. Perfection. Great show to watch with friends and a few beers. Can't wait to see if it continues at this level of entertainment. If it does, it should last.
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jasonpauljones-646901 December 2023The first 6 episodes are fantastic - funny, entertaining, sometimes shocking. The new sheriff lady reminds me of a cross between Kate McKinnon and Elizabeth Montgomery from 'Bewitched'. And like Sam in that show, Evie in this one has to combat dodgy characters and save the day. She works well with Stan, the now retired sheriff, who begrudgingly allows her to take stock of the situation and direct traffic. They play off each other with comedic volleys and it's a show that you can just switch off with and sink into its comforting environment. The final 2 episodes, however, are distinctly different as the dialogue becomes unfunny and it all looks like it should have been done with 6 episodes. Looking forward to season 2.
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AvidWatcher10115 August 2022Gave up early on this one. Nothing new here, a poor man's Ash vs the Evil Dead. "Stan" was so annoyingly repetetive I could predict his lines by half way through ep 1. Pass.
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And the title makes it clear Dana Gould doesn't care either. Evil Dead is its own genre and except for a movie called House from 1985 I don't recall much else in that narrow niche. Multiple zombie series, multiple vampire series, so why not multiple cheesy supernatural splatter series? John McGinley is a great choice for the lead too. I have to agree with those who say the length isn't enough.They barely have time to tell the story before its done.
Keep it coming!