‘Stranger Things’ Fans Should Watch 2-Season Mystery Thriller ‘Les Revenants’ (And It’s Streaming Free)

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It’s hard to believe it’s only been six weeks since the final episode of Stranger Things aired! Fans are still feeling sad about the ending and eager to find out what’s next for the popular Netflix series, but it’s unlikely anything will quite capture the magic of the original. Luckily, there are plenty of other shows out there with a similar horror-fantasy feel. Many fans have probably already watched popular options like Dark and From, but if you’re looking for something new, we have a great suggestion. Best of all, it’s available to stream for free on Tubi, which is supported by ads.

Before Stranger Things became a hit, a French series called Les Revenants (originally titled They Came Back) offered a unique take on supernatural horror in 2012. Though based on the 2004 film of the same name, the TV show unfolds as a slow-burn mystery with a perfect atmosphere and impactful moments. While Stranger Things provides a more accessible introduction to the horror genre, Les Revenants is a truly disturbing and often sad exploration of the supernatural, reminiscent of Stephen King’s famous quote: “Sometimes dead is better.”

‘Les Revenants’ Is One of the Best “Zombie” Shows in Modern Television


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The French series Les Revenants centers around a quiet town disrupted when people thought to be dead suddenly return home, seemingly unharmed but with no recollection of their fate. These returns happen alongside strange occurrences, and the reason for everything unfolds gradually, proving to be deeply puzzling. We recommend going into the show without knowing too much to get the most out of it.

The French drama Les Revenants won an International Emmy and received widespread praise when it first aired. It was lauded as a sophisticated take on the zombie genre, maintaining a genuinely creepy atmosphere without relying on excessive gore. The first season boasts a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and the second season isn’t far behind with 95%. Even horror legend Stephen King was a fan, and publicly shared his enthusiasm for the show.

The Series Puts a New Spin on a Familiar Concept

If the idea behind Les Revenants seems familiar, that’s because it is. When the original series premiered, A&E was starting to produce scripted dramas, and they partnered with Carlton Cuse, a co-creator of Lost, to adapt the French mystery for American audiences. They titled the U.S. version The Returned, a direct translation of “revenants”—which is essentially a sophisticated term for ghosts.

The basic idea behind Les Revenants isn’t entirely original. It’s interesting that this concept has appeared in other works without any legal challenges. Jason Mott’s 2013 novel, The Returned, shares a striking resemblance to the original film by Campillo. This novel was then adapted into the 2014 TV series Resurrection (likely renamed because The Returned was already in use). While Resurrection was arguably more captivating than the show created by Cuse, it was ultimately canceled after two seasons due to low viewership.

Several movies explore the idea of people coming back from the dead, and a couple are particularly noteworthy. The 2013 film The Returned offers a clever take on a world where zombies can be cured. However, the 2024 film Handling the Undead is arguably the best in this subgenre of horror. Adapted from the novel of the same name by John Ajvide Lindqvist (author of Let the Right One In), this slow-burn mystery will genuinely unsettle you with its unique and haunting depiction of the undead returning to complete unfinished business.




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2026-02-23 22:17