The Returned

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Summary

  • “The Returned” has better Rotten Tomatoes ratings (97%) than “The Walking Dead” (79%)
  • Stephen King praised the scary and sexy vibe of “The Returned” on social media
  • The French zombie series “Les Revenants” won an International Emmy & follows eerie supernatural occurrences.

As a cinephile with a penchant for spine-tingling zombie shows, I must admit that “The Walking Dead” is often hailed as the king among post-apocalyptic TV series by many fans. However, it’s not the only one that can send shivers down your spine. There’s an under-the-radar French show called “Les Revenants,” or “The Returned,” which boasts superior Rotten Tomatoes ratings than the beloved AMC series and has earned the endorsement of none other than Stephen King.

Fans recognize that King often shares his mini-reviews of movies and shows he watches on social media. Some might assume, given his creation of numerous horror classics, that he wouldn’t easily scare. However, as the “Master of Horror” attests, this assumption is off the mark. In fact, a 1980 supernatural horror film called The Changeling, directed by Peter Medak, left him utterly terrified due to its chilling ambiance. Previously, Stephen King declared that as an adult, his scariest film was George A. Romero’s low-budget masterpiece, Night of the Living Dead. Additionally, he noted that when he was 16 years old, Robert Wise’s 1963 movie The Haunting sent shivers down his spine. For those who enjoy a blend of zombie horror and supernatural chills, particularly missing the human survival focus of The Walking Dead, King suggests that you might find your next watch a thrilling weekend or after-work binge.

Stephen King Loved The Returned’s Supernatural Zombie Atmosphere

Despite the long-standing popularity of zombie shows and films such as “Night of the Living Dead,” “Dawn of the Dead,” “The Walking Dead,” and “iZombie,” some lesser-known gems can still go unnoticed. However, thanks to Stephen King’s recommendations, a relatively unknown French series has gained attention recently. Known for its “scary and sexy” qualities on Twitter, Les Revenants, a French supernatural drama television series created by Fabrice Gobert, was initially released in 2012 and is based on the 2004 French film “They Came Back.” The first season of this show was well-received by viewers and even won an International Emmy for Best Drama Series. Moreover, Les Revenants boasts a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes compared to “The Walking Dead’s” 79%.

I’m enjoying ‘The Returned.’ It’s both chilling and seductive. It’s refreshing to watch a non-American television series without the usual Americanization. The character of Victor is quite unsettling, he’s giving me nightmares.”

This version aims to maintain the original meaning while making it more natural and easier for a native English speaker to understand and read comfortably.

The show titled “Les Revenants” revolves around individuals who mysteriously returned to life following bizarre deaths, appearing once more in a quaint French village. As they attempt to resume their lives, peculiar supernatural events start unfolding such as power failures and the lowering of water levels at a reservoir, revealing deceased animals and an empty church. In 2015, a remake of this French series premiered on A&E under the name “The Returned.” Unlike its original counterpart, the American adaptation struggled to maintain viewer interest and critical praise, ultimately leading to its cancellation after just one season.

If you’re a fan of the undead, looking for something new to watch, consider checking out the series “Les Revenants“. At the moment, you can stream it on both Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.

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2025-05-12 14:05