The
Stand
(1994 television miniseries)
- Information at Internet Movie Database
- Themes
- Apocalyptic
- The flu virus (sin/evil) destroys all but 1% of the world's population. The remaining people divide themselves into two camps.
- The Game Show Crucifixion in Las Vegas which serves to bring the "evil people" together for their apocalyptic self-destruction at the Hand of God. (DVD pt 4 ch 17 & 18) Stu: "I saw a pale horse..."
- Baptism
- Stu Redman in the rain as the flu is passed into the world (DVD part 1, chapter 3)
- Call
- Mother Abigail's prayer (DVD pt 2, ch 7) (she is reluctant to follow)
- Mother Abigail ("good") and Randall Flagg ("evil") each call their own chosen ones through dreams.
- Clean/Unclean
- The flu as evil/uncleanliness. The bureaucracy attempts to keep themselves pure from it by using sterile rooms/suits, but it goes right through their suits, and unwittingly their "sterile" behavior adds to its spread (DVD part 1, chapter 10)
- Nick Andros, Mother Abigail, Tom Cullen - seen as "unclean" by many, are compassionate saviors in the story.
- Confrontation with Evil
- The final apocalyptic confrontation in Las Vegas between the "good" and those who have followed the Evil One.
- Crucifixion
- Drug addicts in the realm of the evil figures are crucified.
- The Game Show Crucifixion of the martyrs. (DVD pt 4, ch 17)
- Difficulty Discerning Evil/Moral
Ambiguity
- The flu (sin/evil) escapes into the world when a man attempts to save his family from it. (DVD part 1, chapter 1)
- Dreams
- Mother Abigail ("good") and Randall Flagg ("evil") each call their own chosen ones through dreams.
- Exodus/Moses figures
- Mother Abigail's prayer (DVD pt 2, ch 7)
- Fear
- The plague is spread and not contained because of the fear of various characters - the man who attempts to escape with his family, the bureaucracy
- Randall Flagg (Satan figure) plays upon the fear of those he "calls" to his service.
- Female God types
- Mother Abigail welcomes and feeds her visitors, shares her wisdom and compassion.
- Guilt
- The Ed Harris character realizes that his attempt to cover up the reality of the flu (evil) has contributed to its destruction of the world. He pins a sign that reads "guilty" to his uniform, and kills himself.
- Institutional Evil
- "The Government" as symbol for institutional evil. The first concern is to cover up the plague (sin/evil), not to attempt to save folks from it. (DVD part 1, chapter 4)
- Integrity/Honor
- The Game Show Crucifixion where Mother Abigail's Saints keep their honor to the death, praising God for the elimination of evil even through their sacrificial death.
- Journey
- individuals journey to one of the two "camps" being called either by Mother Abigail or Randall Flagg
- the "quest journey" by the three, into evil and back
- Martyrdom/Persecution
- The Game Show Crucifixion in Las Vegas which serves to bring the "evil people" together for their apocalyptic self-destruction at the Hand of God. (DVD pt 4 ch 17)
- Mother types
- Mother Abigail welcomes and feeds her visitors, shares her wisdom and compassion.
- Prayer
- Mother Abigail's prayer (DVD pt 2, ch 7)
- Prophet
- Mother Abigail as one who knows those who come to her house, and knows what is happening in the struggle between good and evil.
- Kareem Abdul Jabbar as prophet: "He's closer now. The monster. The Dark Man. He's coming." (DVD part 1, chapter 21)
- Rebirth
- Larry and Nadine walk through the tunnel of death and horror and are reborn from New York City. (DVD pt. 2, ch 9)
- Resurrection
- Nick Andros visits at the end of the movie. The birth of a healthy baby.
- Sacrificial Death
- The Game Show Crucifixion in Las Vegas which serves to bring the "evil people" together for their apocalyptic self-destruction at the Hand of God. (DVD pt 4 ch 17)
- Satan
- Randall Flagg as the likeable, humorous, sexy embodiment of evil.
- Struggle with Evil
- "Satan" visits during Mother Abigail's prayer (DVD pt 2, ch 7)
- Suffering Servant
- Nick Andros is attacked as he attempts to be compassionate to the other prisoners (DVD, part 1)
- Temptation
- "Satan" visits during Mother Abigail's prayer (DVD pt 2, ch 7). Mother Abigail: If it's your will to bring 'em on, Lord, better do your will before I lose my guts.
- Apocalyptic
