We watch Channel Zero
Nick Antosca's creepypasta-inspired TV horror series is an underrated liminal classic
With everything book-related going on, I haven't had much down time to watch shows or play games (by the time I get good at Helldivers 2, the bugs will have evolved sentience and signed treaties). However, I did find time to acquire a box set of the incredible horror TV show Channel Zero, one of my favourites of the last five years, and overdue a rewatch.
Masterminded by Nick Antosca (Hannibal, Antlers, Brand New Cherry Flavor), each series is inspired by a different 'creepypasta' tale. The creepypasta phenomenon began on 4chan, with stories that resembled urban legends for the internet era.
Antosca's series offers homages along the way to horror greats like John Carpenter, Dario Argento and David Lynch, but succeeds in creating four wholly original uncanny, visually rich cinematic tapestries, evoking the metaphysical horrors of Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves, and the online ARG (alternate reality game) series Marble Hornets. No-one else but Antosca has successfully captured this uniquely modern, liminal horror on screen as well as he did in Channel Zero.
The show is underrated, despite critical acclaim. All but a dedicated fan base slept on it, perhaps because it aired in a weird time slot on the doomed SyFy network, or perhaps because the show’s weird vibe was just wrong for network TV (deliciously, tantalisingly wrong). Either way, it still managed an impressive four seasons. Even now, Channel Zero lacks a mainstream home on streaming platforms. I had to buy a French DVD box set to get a copy. There's no official Region 2 box set on BluRay.
Antosca's rise hasn't slowed. The surreal, sweaty, violent delights of Brand New Cherry Flavor found a more comfortable home on Netflix. He contributed to Don Mancini's gonzo Chucky reboot, and was briefly linked to a Friday the 13th spinoff, among other projects. Wherever he lands, he's one to watch, and his back catalogue is well worth exploring (I hope to make it as far back as his early novels one day soon).
I write about creepypasta, liminal space, and the growth of media inspired by internet storytelling in my new book. I will also be entering into the notorious 'Backrooms' on an upcoming episode of the show.
For now, I'm looking forward to diving back into Antosca's vivid, bloody, disturbing, emotionally wrenching horror quartet, which richly deserves to join the modern ‘elevated horror’ canon alongside the works of JordanPeele, Ari Aster and others.
A previous version of this page misattributed the Chucky reboot to Don Coscarelli. This had been corrected.
Coming attractions
Here's what I've been up to, and what's coming soon...
STRANGE EXILES 24/25: I have two episodes lined up and almost ready to go. Watch out for a guest announcement soon!
THE DARKEST TIMELINE: LIVING IN A WORLD WITH NO FUTURE is available for pre-order now.
THIS IS REVOLUTION: A fantastic chat about the apocalypse with author and musician Jason Myles of cult bands Bitter Lake and La Fin Absolute du Monde.
THEORIZE AND BE DAMNED: Introducing The Darkest Timeline with authors and Revol Press founders Mike Watson and Daniel Melo!
LIVE 22 May: Theory Underground X Strange Exiles in conversation at Glasgow Zine Library. Get tickets!
LIVE 26 May: Glasgow Review of Books hip-hop and poetry special with Darren McGarvey, Johnny Cypher Music, Texture and more.
More events, interviews and podcasts coming soon! Thanks for stopping by.
-Bram, Glasgow, May 2024