For those of us waiting for Stranger Things to return and IT: Welcome to Derry to start, maybe The Institute will tide us over? The series, based on the Stephen King book of the same name, starts streaming on MGM+ on July 13.
It caught my eye because, in addition to Stephen King being one of the executive producers, so is Jack Bender (who also directs). King is incentive enough, but I especially perked up when I saw Bender was also involved. He’s one of the producers and directors for FROM. (He also hails from Lost fame.)
I got distinct FROM vibes watching The Institute‘s trailer. Not that there are creepy monsters that come out at night to eat the town’s residents. It was more the scenery and general cinematography. Overcast and gloomy. Isolated. Gritty. Very reminiscent of the Canadian filming location in FROM.
Sure enough, The Institute was also filmed in Canada. In fact, both are filmed near Halifax, Nova Scotia. That’s just one more mark in its favor as far as I’m concerned. (I’m a little obsessed with Canada, so any chance I get to experience it, even if it’s vicariously through the tele, I’m in.)
Let’s explore more what it’s about and who’s in it.
The Institute Synopsis
MGM+ describes the series as follows:
‘The Institute’ follows the story of teen genius Luke Ellis, who is kidnapped and awakens at The Institute, a facility full of children who all got there the same way he did and who are all possessed of unusual abilities. In a nearby town, haunted former police officer Tim Jamieson has come looking to start a new life, but the peace and quiet won’t last, as his story and Luke’s are destined to collide.
Cast
The other thing that caught my eye about the series was Mary Louise Parker (Fried Green Tomatoes, Weeds). I’ve been a fan of hers since my coming-of-age years in the 80s. She’s not normally known for playing scary, no-nonsense characters, but she looks absolutely terrifying in the role of Ms. Sigsby.
Joining her are Ben Barnes (Black Mirror, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian), newcomer Joe Freeman, Simone Miller (Detention Adventure), Fionn Laird, Hannah Galway (Sex/Life), Julian Richings (X-Men: The Last Stand, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief), Robert Joy (Land of the Dead, From), and Martin Roach (The Umbrella Academy, Shape of Water).
Trailer
Check-In
What do you think about The Institute?
Courtney Mroch is a globe-trotting restless spirit who’s both possessed by wanderlust and the spirit of adventure, and obsessed with true crime, horror, the paranormal, and weird days. Perhaps it has something to do with her genes? She is related to occult royalty, after all. Marie Laveau, the famous Voodoo practitioner of New Orleans, is one of her ancestors. (Yes, really! As explained here.) That could also explain her infatuation with skeletons.
Speaking of mystical, to learn how Courtney channeled her battle with cancer to conjure up this site, check out HJ’s Origin Story.
Loading ...
Stephen King is such a good storyteller, but in The Institute, his overt political intrusions took me out of the story, and didn’t make for a run read, so I didn’t finish it. I read novels to escape our crazy world. I don’t like contemporary political commentary from either side of the aisle inserted into stories I’m reading. All that to say, I’m not enthusiastic about watching The Institute. Eh, but maybe it’s more neutral on the screen.
AHHHHH!!!! Priscilla, I’m SO happy you shared this. I never read The Institute, but I’m so relieved to hear even you come across books that you can’t finish…by huge authors. I can see why you’d be less than enthused about seeing The Institute turned into a series for sure. As usual, all your comment has done has made me have even greater respect for you.
And in a weird way it’s brought me such a sense of comfort because I couldn’t finish 2 books in the last year. One for a similar reason, the other not, and honestly when I marked them “couldn’t finish,” I thought to myself, “I bet Priscilla never does this. Surely she sees every book through.” Not necessarily!!! lol