Top 5 Most Terrifying Moments From Prime Video’s "Swarm"!

Satire and horror go together hand-in-hand in the Amazon Prime original series, "Swarm", created by "Watchmen" producer Janine Nabers and musician/actor/writer Donald Glover. "Swarm" follows the story of a young woman named Dre (Dominique Fishback) and her intense obsession with a fictional R&B musician named Ni'Jah that leads her on a killing spree across the country.

Throughout the season, Glover flexes his screenwriting ability, fresh off of the final season of his hit FX series "Atlanta", delving once again into the shrouded dangers of the music scene. While many audiences going into this new series might expect comedic writing reminiscent of Glover’s work on "Atlanta" to balance out the vicious themes of murderous devotion, "Swarm" proves itself to be a stand-alone journey into a fresh, new world of mystery and suspense. Dre’s devotion to her shining idol drives her to hectic situations involving hallucinatory concerts, nail-biting close calls, and interactions with multiple shadowy side characters with desires of their own. Let’s break down the top 5 most terrifying moments in "Swarm". SPOILERS AHEAD! 

5. Dre’s First Victim (Episode 1, “Stung”)

The ending of a series pilot is essential in providing a mood and launching point for the rest of a television series. "Swarm" executes this expertly with an ending so sudden and violent, viewers can’t help but click the “Next Episode” button as soon as the credits begin to roll. The final scene of the first episode, entitled “Stung”, functions as a release of anger and frustration for the protagonist, Dre, that has been building up her whole life. After the sad passing of Dre’s sister, Marissa (Chole Bailey), Dre visits Marissa’s creepy former boyfriend Khalid (Damson Idris). At first, the two share a deep conversation surrounding death on Khalid’s couch as Dre questions why Khalid didn’t attend Marissa's funeral. Khalid sobs as he reveals that he hasn’t seen a dead body before while Dre sits and silently listens. As Khalid moves to the kitchen to lighten the conversation, Dre can be seen grabbing a lamp in the background and moving in to bludgeon Khalid over the head. This sudden switch to violence by Dre serves as a turning point for the character, introducing her character trait of bloodlust (and junk foodlust) that continues throughout the season. 

4. Dre Hides Something In Her Trunk (Episode 2, “Honey”)

"Swarm"’s second episode follows the start of Dre’s cross-country journey revolving around hiding from the police and killing all who oppose Ni’Jah. In this episode, Dre works as a stripper in Tennessee where she is faced with the concept of friendship by a warm and inviting stripper named Hailey (Paris Jackson). After Dre kills Hailey’s abusive boyfriend, Dre comes to terms that she can only rely on herself while Hailey delivers a blissful monologue about joining Dre on the road. Dre ends this possibility by killing Hailey as well and stuffing both bodies in the back of her trunk.

Later in the episode, Dre’s cool nature is tested as her cover is almost blown. This terrifying scene follows Dre driving her co-workers home after a night out. Suddenly, her tire pops and the car comes screeching to a halt. The strippers exit the car and begin looking for a spare tire, starting with Dre’s trunk. As soon as one of the women attempts to open the trunk, Dre screams in rejection, running over to close it shut. Upon Dre’s quick cover-up, all of the women stare at Dre quizzically, jokingly asking if she is storing a dead body in there. What follows is another example of Dominique Fishback’s pitch-perfect performance as Dre as she delivers a spine-chilling laugh at the mention of a hidden body. She cackles loudly and by herself while the other women watch in confusion. This laugh is sudden and loud, breaking the silence of the evening and raising the tension of the scene, as audiences watch with bated breath to see if Dre’s secret will be revealed. 

3. "Who's Your Favorite Artist?" (Episode 3, “Taste”)

Dre’s chilling question of “Who’s your favorite artist?” may be the next “Here’s Johnny!” after watching the opening of "Swarm"’s 3rd episode, “Taste.” Dre is presented as a cold and collected killer who has fully embraced her new mission: eliminate any and all Ni’Jah haters that have posted slander online. In this scene, Dre explains to her latest victim why his favorite artist pales in comparison to Ni’Jah. As he pleads for mercy after being hit in the leg with a hammer, Dre slowly and menacingly walks towards the limping homeowner. Fishback’s cold explanation of Ni’Jah’s excellence draws attention to the character’s new pattern of killing and “the script” that she has crafted for herself. This scene is utterly terrifying, not only through Dre’s use of grotesque violence but also through Dre’s acceptance of herself as a killer. 

2.  Therapy Sessions with Eva (Episode 4, “Running Scared”)

As Dre’s journey to meet Ni’Jah continues, she finds herself in rural Tennessee near the Bonnaroo Music Festival where the artist is set to perform. Dre is quickly picked up by a clique of mysterious women who live nearby in a large house, led by Billie Eilish’s subdued Eva. As Dre begins her stay with the cryptic women’s retreat, the passage of time begins to blur and something seems off. During her stay, Dre’s phone is stolen while secret, cult-like meetings are held between the members of the retreat after nightfall. This mind-bending location and its mystifying characters perfectly serve as a moment of odd reflection for Dre while she is halted from her mission. As days blend together, Eva invites Dre for a counseling session in a dimly-lit attic with a stained-glass window. During these sessions, Dre’s multiple personas are stripped away and her true trauma is revealed as she repeats her name over and over to Eva’s menacing smile. As Dre’s past is revealed, audiences are encouraged to sit at the edge of their seats and watch as her history of violence is brought to the forefront. Billie Eilish’s portrayal of the sinister yet reassuring character of Eva provides Fishback’s Dre with a formidable opponent who is well versed in mental manipulation, making these scenes so frighteningly memorable. 

1. Dre Kills Rashida (Episode 7, “Only God Makes Happy Endings”)

After a long journey of changing names and switching states, Dre finds herself in a new city to continue her quest for Ni’Jah. In this final episode, entitled “Only God Makes Happy Endings”, Dre, now living under the assumed name Tony, comes face to face with a college student named Rashida (Kiersey Clemons) after giving her a ride home from a long night out. As Rashida expresses her distaste for Ni’Jah’s music, change is shown in Dre’s character as she allows herself to ignore their differing music tastes and instead fall in love with Rashida. This romantic arc of Dre’s character serves to further shock the audience, as the protagonist we associate with cold-blooded murder is shown buying flowers for her lover, meeting Rashida’s parents, and even moving in together. This blooming romance between the two characters gives us hope that Dre has moved past her bloodthirsty adoration of Ni’Jah, resulting in the viewer to reflect on how far they have come in following Dre’s dark journey. 

Throughout the season, Dre has shown her ability to fake feelings of romance and helplessness, all for the promise of getting closer to Ni’Jah. Despite this new relationship, Dre’s past feelings of murderous delusion re-emerge in the series’ most emotional and terrifying scene. Rashida expresses the importance of money after a hard day at work and finding out that Dre spent a large sum on front-row tickets for an upcoming Ni’jah concert. This is followed by a suspenseful sequence in which Rashida loudly chastises Dre for spending so much money as well as her disinterest in Ni’Jah. With sorrowful hearts, audiences can expect what follows next: Dre kills Rashida. Dominique Fishback’s performance as Dre shines in this scene, as Dre cries and professes her love for Rashida, reaffirming that she just wanted to share with her an artist that she truly loves. She strangles Rashida with tears in her eyes, proving how her love for Ni’Jah truly overshadows any other love that she comes across. 

What’s your favorite scary scene from Swarm?