If it isn't obvious, I love horror and well-written stories. I am a fan of the slow, more psychological horror, stuff that creeps like the last hour of a workday - anticipation mixed with the slowing of time. Because of this fact, I used to be a big fan of American Horror Story and was immediately captivated by the characters, the drama, the scares. However, like many, I lost interest around the Hotel installment and just stopped caring around Roanoke (don't even get me started on Cult). There's something as a fan of horror and of a well spun yarn that's incredibly appealing when it comes to a menagerie of tales being thrown together in cohesive stylings. Collections of classic horror tales, an anthology series, shows like Black Mirror and the hope that the Universal Studios movie monster series won't be a total flop. That's good content. Opposite of that, nobody really sits down and thinks "hm, I willingly want to watch SyFy today, that's my channel to go to for 'good' content" - true, they blessed us with Sharknado in all its glory, but other than a few shows here and there over the years it just kind of existed as the channel you default to when nothing else was on. Enter Channel Zero, a surprisingly under-the-radar masterpiece of unsettling horror that just kind of exists - which is a really powerful aspect of this show. It just exists, it just is, and it weaves dark tales that are uniquely unsettling and well-paced. In an era of anticipated, cheap jump-scares, Channel Zero dared to be different. The show is phenomenal, the production quality is stunning, and if you're a horror fan in need of a good binge-worthy series this fall season, let AHS lie in the gravesite it dug itself into and turn on SyFy's Channel Zero (all episodes now streaming on SyFy, btw). At it's core, Channel Zero is like many 'horror' shows on the air right now. It's a dark, unsettling anthology series based off of the internet phenomenon known as CreepyPasta - short internet stories from the twisted minds of the inhabitants of web-based troll-zones made specifically to creep, scare, and cringe their readers in all sorts of traumatizing ways. They are iconic because they are from the minds of normal people, uncensored and raw on the lawless planes of the internet, allowing for an uncensored terror trip not abiding by typical story-telling rules. CreepyPasta is the reason we have Slenderman, The Rake, and why the typical nerd hesitates to open any .exe file on their computer. It's a compelling concept for a television show and with years of material to work through, you can expect a genuinely deranged good time with every season. Channel Zero's first season was based off the notorious "Candle Cove" story (a personal favorite of mine). Season two is based off of the lesser known (but equally disturbing) "NoEnd House". Between the two viewers are delighted and disturbed by stark imagery, music timed to perfection, and downright haunting narratives sure to send shivers down your spine (and develop a really unhealthy fear of teeth). I would suggest reading the original stories (or listening to a talented YouTuber narrate them) while watching the show as well, to catch the differences as well as the incredibly on-point retellings on screen. Plus they're just fun ways to spend a few minutes as well. For those of you who are interested the stories are as follows (for those not interested or if you're wanting to go in blind, you can skip to the next paragraph): Candle Cove tells a story of Mike Painter returning home to find an oddly familiar trend resurfacing - a seemingly innocent television show nobody can quite remember is causing children to go missing, murder rates to soar, and a monster made entirely of human teeth to ravage the town. Resurfaced murders, small town conflict, and supernatural beings threaten the peaceful town of Iron Hill, leaving Mike at the center of it all with suspicion falling directly on his paranoid head. NoEnd House is a narrative of a group of teens who dare to take on a viral challenge of a mysterious haunted house that pops up overnight and showcases each individuals' darkest fears. But the house isn't all it seems, and the safety of the exit sign may just be the start of a nightmare fueled reality with no escape. Two drastically different tales but equally as entrancing and masterfully crafted. The thing I love about this show is it is painstakingly slow. In all the right ways. Straying away from the fast-paced, jump-scare infested world of modern horror, Channel Zero has slowed the pace to a near crawl to allow for maximum cringe and anxiety. It's welcomed and executed perfectly. The overall feel, subtle music, and gruesome sound effects create a haunting aesthetic that feels darkly real, which is what makes it such a gripping show. It does what many horror shows try and fail to do - it plays the long con with emotions and fear in tangible ways. It feels plausible, and it keeps you looking over your shoulder ever so slightly. Slowly creeping scares and a lack of regard for playing it safe (and that general lackadaisical nature of SyFy we all know and love) allowed Channel Zero to get the genre back to what fans crave. No jump-scares or cheap thrills, it's just as satisfying as a slow burn of perfectly aged whiskey that draws you in and grips tight. They rise to near uncomfortable levels of crawling-paced reveals that get you begging for something to happen just so you can catch your breath, but never quite letting you do so. Every shadow in your home will haunt you long after the episode ends - a telltale sign of a good story, in my opinion. Everything about the show plays with the senses and emotions - amplified sound effects paired with off-screen camera shots let the imagination take you to dark places, scripts allow for trembling voices and panicked bargaining in the face of danger, and it's easy to fall in love with the traumatized characters because they feel relatable. You become invested, and if the ending of Candle Cove is a precursor of what's to come, it's a painful thing to watch your heroes go down so hard. It's a binge-worthy experience, with some equally binge-worthy source material, that could very easily rise to the top of the horror television genre if season two continues strong. I, personally, prefer the narrative of season one (it might be my undying love for Paul Schneider but we won't discuss that), but I am thoroughly enjoying season two and found myself slinking down under my blanket at the final scene of last night's episode. Best watched in the dark, with the sound up ever so slightly, it's my recommendation for your upcoming Halloween season fright-night watching. It's worthy of praise and bears good tidings for some of the future programs on the SyFy docket as well. Channel Zero proves itself as an impressive contender for top dog in the syndicated horror series competition, bringing fresh views and crawling scares that are refreshing in a world of jump scares, reboots, and recycled ghost stories. It's a short, addicting thrill ride that plays out like the creeping darkness of autumn and you definitely should be watching SyFy's Channel Zero. Written by Alycia D. (MaybeMockingbird ) All pictures are copyright SyFy Channel. Channel Zero, season two, is on SyFy every Wednesday at 10/9c and all episodes are currently streaming on SyFy apps and on-demand.
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AuthorJust your average geek chic gamer chick into all things ghostly and geeky (and vice versa) Archives
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