Prime Video’s ‘Swarm’ Non-Spoiler Review – A Slow-Burning Study Of Stan Culture And Social Sicknesses

The Crew Behind Swarm

Swarm is created for television by Janine Nabers and Donald Glover.

Donald Glover, Janine Nabers, Stephen Glover, Fam Udeorji, Steven Prinz (Paper Girls), and Michael Schaefer (Now You See Me, The Lighthouse, Malcolm & Marie, The Northman, Barbarian) serve as the executive producers of the series. Ibra Ake and Jamal Olori serve as the co-executive producers, while Kara Brown is the supervising producer.

Alex Orr, Kris Baucom (Key and Peele, Barry, Hunters), and Dominique Fishback are the producers. Lauren Heath is the producer for Episode 6, “Fallin’ Through the Cracks”.

Gabriel Patay is the cinematographer for Episode 6. Drew Daniels (It Comes At Night, Red Rocket, Outer Range) is the director of photography for the rest of the series.

Sharidan Sotelo is the editor for the pilot episode, “Stung”, as well as Episodes 5 & 6. Franky Guttman is the editor for Episodes 2 & 4. Ali Greer (Black Monday, Schmigadoon!, Honk for Jesus. Save Your Soul., Barry) is the editor for Episodes 3 & 7.

Augie Robles is the assistant editor for the pilot as well as Episodes 5 & 6. Kchris de Gelsey (Barry) is the assistant editor for Episodes 2 & 4, while Donniel Drew is the assistant editor for Episodes 3 & the finale.

Karen Joseph Adcock and Malia Ann are the staff writers for Swarm. Etan Marciano serves as the writers’ assistant.

Sasha Smith serves as an intimacy coordinator for the pilot.

For Crafty Apes, Matt Akey (Midsommar, The Night House, The Babysitter: Killer Queen, Army of the Dead, Halloween Kills, Halloween Ends, Violent Night, Creed III) serves as the visual effects executive producer. Samantha Bailor (Vacation Friends, Legacies, Shining Girls, The Staircase, Creed III) is the VFX producer. Josh Bailor (Creepshow) is the VFX supervisor.

Music

Michael Uzowuru (Guava Island) scores the music for the series. Jonathan Leahy (Fruitvale Station, Mr. Robot, Bill & Ted Face the Music, Welcome to Chippendales) and Alison Moses are the music supervisors.

Tim Kimmel (Game of Thrones, Hulu’s Castle Rock, HBO’s Lovecraft Country, Netflix’s The Chair, Prime Video’s Hunters) is the supervising sound editor. Bradley Katona is the sound effects editor. Bryant J. Fuhrmann and Bryan Carrigan (Netflix’s Love, HBO’s Euphoria, AMC’s Preacher, The Chi, Abbott Elementary) are the music editors.

Casting Team

Carmen Cuba (Devs, HBO’s We Are Who We Are, HBO Max’s Kimi, Netflix’s Entergalactic) is the casting director for the series. Tara Feldstein Bennett and Chase Paris are both the Atlanta casting directors for Episode 2 to the finale.

Charley Medigovich is the casting associate for every episode except Episode 6. Katie Noyes is the casting assistant for every episode except Episode 6. Terence Harris is the key extras casting director for Episode 6.

Sande Alessi and Harris are both the extras casting directors for every episode except Episode 6. Beau B. Byron is an extras casting director for the pilot episode. Shayne Hartigan is the extras casting director for Episodes 2 through 7. Amy Venghaus is an extras casting director for Episode 3, “Taste”.

Byron and Venghaus are also both credited as extras casting associates for the finale, “Only God Makes Happy Endings”.

Set Pieces and Costumes

Javed Noorullah is the production designer for Episode 6. Sara K. White (The Flight Attendant Season 1, Spoiler Alert) is the production designer for the other episodes of the series.

Brett Hatcher is the art director for the pilot episode. Julia Jenko is the art director for the rest of the series except Episode 6.

Jeff Harris is the set designer for Episodes 2 & 3. Willow Watson is the set designer for the following two episodes along with the finale. Madelaine Frezza is the set decorator for the pilot. Laura Belle Wallgren (My Best Friend’s Exorcism) is the set decorator for the rest of the series except Episode 6. Liz Ayala is the set decorator for Episode 6.

Dom Dawson (Southbound, DMZ) serves as the series’ costume designer. Brittny Chapman (Black Lightning) is the assistant costume designer for every episode except Episode 6.

Makeup

Michele Lewis (The Harder They Fall, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey) is the head of the makeup department for the pilot. Man Soo “Paul” Cha is the makeup department head for the rest of the series except Episode 6. Tatiana Kazan is the makeup department head for Episode 6.

Kellie Robinson is the key makeup artist for the pilot. Caroline Monge is the key makeup artist for the rest of the series except Episode 6. Sarah Okun is the key makeup artist for Episode 6.

Lewis is also Fishback’s makeup artist for Episodes 2 through 5 along with the finale.

Kazan is the makeup artist for Episodes 4, 5 & the finale. Alex Lucas is the additional makeup artist for Episodes 2 & 3. Sarah Okun is the additional makeup artist for the finale.

Stephen Prouty is the special effects makeup supervisor for the pilot. Prouty also serves as the special effects makeup head for Episodes 2 through 5 & 7.

Hugo Villasenor is the special effects makeup artist for the pilot. Forrest Hill is the SFX makeup artist for Episodes 2, 4, 5, & the finale.

Hair

Neveesa Nixon (Black Panther: Wakanda Forever) is the head of the hair department for every episode except Episode 6. Aiyda Fraser Duncan is the hair department head for Episode 6.

Kim Berry is the key hairstylist for the pilot. Larraya Bynum (Bad Boys for Life, Werewolf by Night) is the key hairstylist for the rest of the series except Episode 6. Crystal Woodford and Nicole Askew both serve as the key hairstylists for Episode 6.

Deaundra Metzger is Fishback’s hairstylist for every episode except Episode 6.

Aiyda Fraser Duncan is the hairstylist for Episodes 2 through 5 & 7. Rosheika Lanham is the hairstylist for Episodes 4, 5, & the finale.

Erik Taylor serves as the barber for the pilot. Cornell Selassie is the barber for the rest of the series except Episode 6.

The Cast of Swarm

Dominique Fishback (The Hate U Give, Project Power, Judas and the Black Messiah, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts) portrays Andrea “Dre” Greene, the protagonist of Swarm.

Guest Stars:

Chloe Bailey guest stars as Marissa Jackson, Dre’s foster sister and Houston roommate.

In the pilot, Damson Idris (FX’s Snowfall) plays Khalid, Marissa’s boyfriend. Karen Rodriguez (Shining Girls) portrays Ericka, a colleague of Dre and Marissa’s at a mall in Houston. Rory Culkin (Signs, Scream 4, Castle Rock) also guest stars.

In Episode 2, Paris Jackson (Scream: Resurrection, American Horror Stories, Sex Appeal) portrays Hailey/ a stripper named Halsey. X Mayo (The Farewell, The Blackening) portrays a fellow stripper. Atkins Estimond plays Reggie Wilkins, a Ni’Jah hater.

In Episode 3, Byron Bowers (The Chi, No Sudden Move, Kimi, HBO’s Irma Vep) plays George Clemons, a Tier 2 crew member of the Caché tour lighting department. Stephen Glover guest stars as Caché, Ni’Jah’s partner.

In Episode 4, Kate Lyn Sheil (House of Cards, Outcast, The Idol) guest stars as Crickett, a girl who saves Dre from being harassed by a cop. Victoria Blade (WandaVision, One True Loves), Danielia Maximillian (Adult Swim’s Yule Log), Kenzie Dalton, Heather Hayes, and Chelsea Yakura Kurtz (Scandal, The CW’s The Flash, Mr. Harrigan’s Phone) portray Crickett’s friends, Salem, Grace, Audrey, Janine, and Isis, respectively.

Billie Eilish portrays a character named Eva, the “executive director” and leader of a women’s empowerment group.

In Episode 5, Leon portrays Harris Jackson Sr. Karen Rodriguez reprises her role as Ericka. Rickey Thompson portrays Kenny.

In Episode 6, Heather Alicia Simms (Luke Cage) guest stars as Loretta Greene, a detective at the Memphis Police Department.

In the finale, Kiersey Clemons (Dope, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Scoob!, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Somebody I Used to Know) guest stars as Rashida. Cree Summer (Rugrats, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Codename: Kids Next Door, Atlanta) and Norm Lewis (Scandal, Da 5 Bloods) guest star as Rashida’s mother and father, respectively.

Co-Stars:

In the pilot episode, Nirine S. Brown plays Ni’Jah, a pop star and an idol to both Dre and Marissa.

Christopher Avila plays Caesar, a friend of Marissa and Ericka’s. Geeta S. Munshi plays Vaishnavi, a proprietor of Briley Market. Pam Trotter plays a Black mom at a mall in Houston.

Nicole Mangi appears as a nurse at a hospital. Derrick T. Tuggle plays a funeral director, while Kevin Tribble plays funeral director #2.

Kai Turé (The Hate U Give) plays a young Dre. Kyleigh Reese plays a young Marissa.

Episode 2

Karina Chery, NaSwana Moon, and Brii Reneé portray Paris, Mocha, and Bianca, three strippers, respectively.

Casey Mills plays Sir, Hailey’s boyfriend. Tray Chaney plays Kent, a patron at a strip club.

Kyle Anspach plays Brad, a white man at a house party.

Episode 3

Ashley Dougherty plays Alice Dudley, a right-wing personality.

Nirine S. Brown reprises her role as Ni’Jah.

Ny’Jal Mosley portrays Daython/ Twitter user, illumiRoddi. Aaron Goldenberg portrays Danny, a white man who mistakes Dre for another Black woman. Abraham Hsu plays Andy, a crewmate of George Clemons.

Zonta plays Elaine. Darren Cain plays Jesse. Kara Brown plays Kara.

Cadie Hill plays an Efflux employee.

Ricardo Cisneros (Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. Season 7 Episode 8) and Marcos Hobson play kitchen workers #1 & 2, respectively.

Episode 4

Hayes Mercure plays a cop.

Lucas Kerr and Bryan Terry Snell play security #1 & 2 at a Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tennessee, respectively.

Episode 5

Kimberly Ann Parker portrays Patricia Jackson—Dre Greene’s foster mother, Marissa Jackson’s mother, and Harris Jackson’s wife.

Episode 6

London Rose portrays a young Dre. Teresa Graves (Atlanta Season 4 Episode 4) portrays Patricia Jackson.

Luis R. Hernandez plays an investigator.

Coletrane Williams portrays Talib, Khalid’s brother.

Chris Gerard portrays Darryl Robinson, a member of the Hive.

Lauren Lee portrays Gwen Guillroy, a former peer of Dre and Marissa’s.

Bonita Elery plays Rebecca Kirby, Dre’s former case worker.

Brooke Jaye Taylor plays Meghan Pitts, Dre and Marissa’s former teacher.

Finale

Nirine S. Brown reprises her role as Ni’Jah.

Don-Dimitri Joseph is credited as “Guy in the Taco Truck”.

Jason Kehler plays an Uber driver.

Breanna Allen plays a plus-sized woman.

Athena McDowell appears as a florist.

Mickey Cole Jr. plays a ticket taker at a Ni’Jah concert. Jessica Farmer plays a booth worker. Alec James portrays a ticket scalper.

Meg Barlowe appears as Becca, Rashida’s college roommate.

Terrell S. Allen plays a boyfriend.

Verilenzo Hawk plays a barista.

Brittany Sullivan, Desiree Dixon, Kristen Stephens, Jhayla Don, Rachel Gladney, and Alannah Wilhite play Running Scared Dancers #1 through 6. Troy Faruk and Bruce Shepperson play Ni’Jah’s security #1 and 2, respectively.

Performances and Character Developments

Fishback as Dre is such a unique portrayal of what an unstable fan (i.e. a stan) is. The character does have her moments, but a climactic point for her deals with a deep digging-up of her past. With the help of one guest character, Fishback brings out the worst and harshest of Dre. I found this to be my favorite part of the series. Dre seldom has a relationship with anybody, and so it gets tedious observing her travel through the Same cycles. The transformative nature of the character is excellent given the passage of time. I would suggest pacing yourself if you are going into this series for the first time.

Guest Appearances

There is a reason why Bailey’s Marissa is considered a guest role. From the beginning of the series, we are shown her scars, indicative of the troubles that she faces and struggles to overcome. The singer-actor has an excellent monologue in the third episode that hints at how much of herself she sees in an Other. Ultimately, I see Marissa being a Same alongside Ni’Jah, which is not revealed until the final shot of the series. I appreciate Bailey’s role in Swarm, although I cannot help but wanted more of her even when the series had met its conclusion.

Surprisingly, I learned so much about Jackson and her character, Hailey/ Halsey, in the episode that she appears. Unfortunately, she gets a smaller window of screen time than Marissa. Yet, in that window, we see a human being who wants to explore her potential. The character is also an Other, but not one who meets Dre’s standards. If anything, she is just as much of an evident Other as Marissa. I personally did not like how temporary Jackson is in the series, but I do appreciate her in the time that she is on-screen.

Lastly, I found myself shocked at how harsh Clemons is as Rashida. She has a huge acting moment in one of her final scenes. It should not go unnoticed, and her views toward another character are agreeable and reasonable.

Billie Eilish

Managing Editor’s Note: With the series finally officially streaming on Prime Video, I can finally update this review with my thoughts on Eva.

In Episode 4, Billie Eilish is such a soft-spoken, mysterious character as Eva. One of my favorite scenes from the series has got to be between her and Fishback’s Dre in some hidden room of the girls’ house. Eva’s snapping, the back-and-forth question and answering between the two characters, Daniels’s excellent framing of both actors, along with Guttman and Gelsey’s editing makes for a highly intriguing sequence. Eilish is a superior performance out of the entire group of women. Even watching the character meet her fate is intense, and the way Ibra Ake and Stephen Glover build up to that moment is well-written.

I would not be surprised if Eilish gets an Emmy nomination or some kind of recognition for her performance as a supporting role here. If not, at least we know that she put in as much effort as possible to get the part down.

Final Thoughts on Janine Nabers and Donald Glover’s Swarm

If you are looking to watch this series, then I would not suggest binge-watching all seven episodes at once as it can be quite overwhelming. There is so much to absorb that I feel that pacing would do better justice. Swarm has more high moments than low ones, especially a well-written and perfectly produced scene from Eilish. It is safe to say that if you loved the “Sunken Place” scene from Jordan Peele’s Get Out, then you might be fond of the television version of it in this series. Overall, this horror thriller is a comprehensive depiction of life through the eyes of a stan.

Swarm streams via Prime Video starting this Friday, March 17th!

Have you seen Donald Glover’s previous series, Atlanta? If so, what are your thoughts? Let us know! For more comedy, drama, horror, and thriller-related news and reviews visit and follow The Cinema Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!