Why You Should Be Watching 'Channel Zero'

It's no secret that the horror genre is flourishing right now, not just on the big screen, but on the small screen too. With shows like The Haunting of Hill House gaining massive acclaim and future projects such as Jordan Peele's Twilight Zone reboot on the way, television is becoming just as big a contributor to the horror genre as its big screen counterpart. A true gem amidst all the televised terror however, is SyFy's anthology horror series Channel Zero.

Created by Nick Antosca, who worked extensively on NBC's Hannibal, Channel Zero is an anthology horror series that takes inspiration from various internet 'creepypastas', with each season focusing on a new story and characters. Creepypastas, as most of you know, are horror-themed stories or images that circulate around the web, often originating on sites like Reddit, spawning the likes of Slenderman and the likes. Now I know how that premise sounds, especially considering how the recent Slenderman film fared, but Channel Zero merely uses these stories as foundations for something much more terrifying. Here are some of the reasons why you should be watching Channel Zero.

It's Creepy

It should go without saying that a horror show be scary, but maintaining that sense of dread over the course of several episodes is no easy feat (just look at American Horror Story). However, Nick Antosca and his team of writers manage to tap into the darkest corners of their collective minds to create a uniquely nightmarish experience each season. The show relies heavily on imagery and atmosphere to creep under its audience's skin, not so much to outright shock them, but moreso to chill them to the bone. Antosca has a keen eye for imagery and uses this talent to bring these nightmarish tales to life. Bordering on the surreal at times, Channel Zero walks the line between reality and dreams in a manner similar to certain episodes of Twin Peaks, both the original run and the return. Coming from someone who has seen a lot of horror films and tv shows, I can honestly say that no modern series manages to build an atmosphere as bone-chilling as Chanel Zero.

It's Concise

Perhaps the reason that those behind the show are able to maintain that sense of dread is because each season is fairly concise, with 6 episodes per season and four seasons so far. This almost makes each season feel like its own 6-hour horror film as opposed to a television series, and is a great format for storytelling on the small screen. This means that each season feels tightly written, with no filler episodes, loose ends, or simply running out of ideas. It gives the writers the freedom to tell these well-developed stories without having to make them too overdrawn or longer than they need to be. 

The Cast

But it's not all about the storytelling, it also plays host to an extremely talented cast in each season, with a few genre favourites popping up every now and again. Veteran Irish actress Fiona Shaw had a fairly prominent role in season one, while the always excellent John Carroll Lynch plays a really eerie role in the second season. Even the hitcher himself, Rutger Hauer, had a recurring role in season three as the sinister Joseph Peach, the patriarch of an inter-dimensional cannibal family. It's not all about the big names though, as Channel Zero has also managed to highlight a number of really talented newcomers as well, including Amy Forsyth (Hellfest), Olivia Luccardi (It Follows) and Brandon Scott (Blair Witch) who has appeared in both seasons 3 and 4. For a show with such a small budget it's crucial that Channel Zero have a strong cast to carry the material, and it could not be in more capable hands.

The Creatures

My favourite aspect of Channel Zero however, is the menagerie of nightmare creatures it has dreamed up over the years. The first season became synonymous with the eerie looking Tooth Child, a humanoid creature made entirely of teeth who has become something of a poster boy for the series. Tooth Child was just the beginning however, as later seasons gave us the likes of a grotesque meat-man, and a pale-faced scuttling being reminiscent of Kayako Sakei from The Grudge. The most recent season really turned the terror up to eleven however, with the twisted, contorting creature known as Pretzel Jack. This clown-faced being bends and contorts into strange and unnatural shapes while pursuing his victims, and was played by real-life contortionist Troy James as opposed to using CGI. What made him so interesting however was how he developed over the course of the season, but if you want to know more about that then you'll have to watch.

It's Compelling

Balancing out all of the terror however, is some truly compelling writing from Antosca and co. They create and develop characters that we care for, layered protagonists that we can empathise with and get behind in the struggle against their supernatural adversaries. For every nightmare monster our protagonists face, there is an equal number of inner demons up against them as well which makes their overall journey much more engaging. Something that stood out for me in season 3 particularly was how the show handles the subject of mental illness. Horror hasn't always been kind to mental illness and even now there are some films that still stigmatise it or misinterpret it. The third season of Channel Zero however, deals with a character who suffers deeply with depression, which manifests itself in the form of a terrifying monster constantly pursuing her. Instead of adding to the stigma, the show tackles mental illness in a similar manner to The Babadook, portraying it as monsters that our protagonists must live with and face down when the time comes. It's clearly a show with a strong team of writers behind it.

So if you're looking for some more terrifying television to indulge in, look no further than Channel Zero. Blending nightmarish atmosphere with compelling storytelling, strong performances, and unique monsters, the series stands out as one of the most original horror series on television right now. And with 6 episodes per season, it's the perfect show to binge.