This week we talk about our favourite horror TV programmes. Some of these could be better classified as science fiction, drama or even comedy, but they all disturbed us in that special way that horror should.
Comedies are supposed to make you laugh until you cry.
These programmes span over fifty years of television, and while some may be a bit tame by today’s standards, they all still stand up as stories. Paul has verified this using his children as experimental test subjects. Electric shocks were applied only as necessary.
When did you say this was made?
If you don’t want to know what the programmes are until you hear us ramble on about them, look away now.
I think I see spoilers up ahead.
The programmes we each chose are as follow.
Scott:
Matt:
Paul:
You can find all the episodes of Beasts, The Kingdom, They Came from Somewhere Else, Jam and Urban Gothic on YouTube. Be warned that Jam is strong stuff, with lots of swearing, nudity and situations that will make your soul wither up and die.
Happy viewing, and don’t have nightmares!
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Great show guys. I obviously led a sheltered TV watching childhood I’d only heard of two of the series. Few things for me to have a look at.
Sorry scott dont listen to me I’m half deaf lol 🙂
and Matt Stop killing my monoluguers. One of these days you willkill the wrong person 🙂
Keep up the good work. Really enjoying the podcast.
Cheers
Matt (The other one)
Moi? Hehe 😉 I’ll need to make a note to find a resurrection spell… (just in case!).
Glad you enjoyed the show! Certainly having a lot of fun making them – and surprised we’ve managed to do two lists and not trod on each others toes. Law of averages says it must happen eventually though 😉
– Matt, the Original!
Nigel Kneale is pretty much the best TV writer ever.
I’d recommend Sapphire & Steel, The Omega Factor and Ultraviolet.
I prefer Blade Runner with the monologue too. And Paul’s Western themed CoC scenario, which starts with kids in a cave, is very reminiscent of the themes of the Twilight Zone, and one my favourite convention experiences.
I did love the Kingdom, it was up there with Twin Peaks.
No argument about Nigel Kneale. I would have put The Stone Tape on my list if I hadn’t already included one Kneale-scripted programme.
Oddly enough, we did end up discussing Sapphire and Steel and Ultraviolet, but we had to cut that bit for length.
The Omega Factor nearly made my shortlist, as I loved it when I was a teenager, but when I watched it again a few years ago I thought it had aged badly. Maybe I should give it another go.
I don’t think of myself as a big horror TV fan, but I’d tend to call the excellent Paranoia Agent something like “weirdness” rather than “horror” so maybe I’m being too narrow. (In that sub-genre, I’d also mention Boogiepop Phantom.)
As far as sound quality goes, my only complaint is that different speakers often come out at quite different volumes. I use a software compressor on my own RPG podcast and it seems to help with this.
RogerBW — I agree about Paranoia Agent being more weird than horrific. I included it mainly because of episode 8, with the attempted suicides. That is one of the darkest pieces of television I’ve seen and it left a hell of an impression on me.
What software compressor do you use?
I shall check out your podcast at once!
The last released version of Chris’ Dynamic Compressor, for Audacity — I’ve tried various others for earlier episodes, but the default settings on that seem to work pretty well for the recordings we’re making.
I would love it if you guys would broadcast some of your games. Point me in the right direction if you have actual play podcast material somewhere.
That’s a nice idea! Admittedly, I haven’t recorded any sessions before, but it sounds like fun 🙂 I’ve got a few playtest sessions coming up for some scenarios I’m working on, but also run games at conventions fairly often. I’ll have to invest in a recorder!
I think it was the section on The Lost Room that triggered me to remember an obscure US TV show I watched for a while: Friday the 13th. Yes, I know that title has been used elsewhere. In this one, some guy had owned a junk/curiosity shop in which all of the objects had been cursed by Satan. (I think.) They’d been dispersed and the three lead characters – pretty much an Investigator group – were trying to track them down. It wasn’t great quality but I think it had its moments. I remember a rather hungry woodchipper…
I’ve heard about Friday the 13th, but I’ve never seen an episode of it. I shall trawl YouTube and see if there are any to be found.
There is a new Television series here in the U.S. which I am not sure if you can get over in the U.K. yet which is in the Horror Genre and I feel is quite well done. I am speaking of Sleepy Hollow. The premise of which as per IMDB: Ichabod Crane is resurrected and pulled two and a half centuries through time to unravel a mystery that dates all the way back to the founding fathers.
Ichabod comes back because in the first episode of the series Ichabod Crane cut off the head of one of the 4 Horseman of the Apocalypse (Hence the Headless Horseman.) and the Headless Horseman has come to modern day Sleepy Hollow to summon the other 3 Horseman as it is the time of the Apocalypse.
Worth checking out: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2647544/?ref_=nv_sr_1
David — I’ve seen the first few episodes, and I’m still on the fence about it. It hasn’t entirely grabbed me yet, but it’s still off to a stronger start than most TV programmes, so it may have potential.
I remember being freaked out by “Knock Three Times”, a kids TV show from the late 60s starring Hattie Jacques and Jack Wild (before HR Pufnstuf). The monster is a giant pumpkin. I had a pumpkin lamp next to my bed and my brother used to have nightmares that it came to life at night.
I’ve never even heard of Knock Three Times before, but it sounds marvellous. I possibly would have been just to young to see it, as I was three when it came out. I’ll go hunting on YouTube.