"To The Lake" Review: A Chillingly Effective Russian Pandemic Offering

"To The Lake" is a Russian offering acquired by NetFlix in 2020. It is based on a 2011 novel named "Vongozero" by Yana Vagner.

A mysterious illness begins infecting the inhabitants of Moscow. It's side effects include red eyeballs, white irises, and blood spewing from orifices. Death follows soon thereafter.

As society descends into chaos, a group of people try to escape the city. There's Sergey and his new wife Anya. His previous wife Irina is still holding a major grudge against him for abandoning her and their young son Anton. Anya also has a teenage son named Misha. He has Aspergers syndrome. We also meet neighbor Lyonya, his very pregnant wife Marina and Lyonya's rebellious teenage daughter Polina.

Sergey's estranged father Boris (they havent seen each other in 30 years) mysteriously appears and tells them of a cabin on an isolated island in Lake Vongozero. They might be safe there.It wont be an easy trip. Their destination is some 500+ miles north in Karelia. Together the group sets out. It's a harrowing journey. There's danger and death at every turn. There are threats not only from outside but also from within the group. The odds are seriously stacked against them but what choice do they have but to keep trying?

Grade: 5 Monsters (out of 5). Excellent! I believe this is the first Russian series I've ever seen. I really enjoyed it. The danger is palpable.The cinematography really makes us feel for those trapped in this frozen Hell. Arial shots add to the feeling of isolation. The pacing is good. All of the characters are evenly developed. We grow to care about these people.

But do you want to watch a series about a pandemic during our current IRL pandemic? It's seems many people (including myself) are doing just that. Sure this series happens during a mysterious worldwide (we assume) crisis but the story is really more about the people trying to survive We never learn what caused this event in the first place. I highly recommend "To The Lake" And with just eight episodes, it's a super fast watch.

A second season of "To The Lake" is already in the works. I'm super happy to hear that since the ending left many new questions. Definitely count me in.