October 25, 2016
Kyle Guthrie
Everyone has a favorite horror film to watch in October, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop once November starts. Luckily, these series will keep you entertained much longer leading up to Halloween and after.
“Penny Dreadful”
Rating: 5/5
“Penny Dreadful” generated a massive following after its short run, so it is no surprise that Showtime wanted to show all three seasons on Netflix in time for Halloween.
The series follows gothic folk-heroes such as Victor Frankenstein (Harry Treadaway), Dorian Gray (Reeve Carney), Dr. Jekyll (Shazad Latif) and the Wolfman (Josh Harnett) as they investigate strange happenings around Victorian-era London, including their attempt to hunt down Dracula (Christian Camargo).
The characters face obstacles along the way when they have to fight off witches, demons and the devil.
The show is arguably the closest we will ever see to art on television. The show’s design perfectly creates a world that is both haunting and beautiful.
Eva Green, Timothy Dalton and Rory Kinnear add to the impressive production with their superior performances. As an added treat, Harnett’s portrayal of what is arguably the best Wolfman ever seen on film or television.
But be warned: this show is shockingly gory and not for the faint of heart.
“The X-Files”
Rating: 4.5/5
“The X-Files”, one of the most prolific serials in science-fiction history, revolutionized the way television series handles overarching storylines.
The show revolves around two FBI agents, paranormal fanatic Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and skeptic Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), as they investigate a series of unsolvable and bizarre cases deemed the x-files.
The government conspiracy storyline that spanned across the show’s nine seasons and recent six-episode revival is what made the show remarkable for its time.
The show broke new ground for television narratives, and over twenty years later, still holds up as fantastic TV. It also spawned two feature length films: “Fight the Future” and “I Want to Believe,” the former of which deals directly with the series’ mythology.
“Stranger Things”
Rating 4/5
Netflix surprised even their loyal customers with their recent supernatural original series, “Stranger Things.”
Set in the ‘80s, the series focuses on the disappearance of a young boy from a small Indiana town. As more details begin to emerge about the disappearance, the characters are led to a secret military experiment that has torn a hole into an alternate universe.
“Stranger Things” is both rife with mystery and filled with characters that are likeable and relatable. It also features a story that intrigues viewers by creating an emotional connection with them.
Netflix announced a second season that plans to expand on the setting’s alternate universe, so you can binge watch well into next year.
“Fringe”
Rating: 4.5/5
Considered by many to be the true successor series to “The X-Files”, “Fringe” enjoyed a strong five seasons that managed to draw a following with its deep storyline and compelling characters.
The show follows FBI agent Olivia Dunham (Anna Torv) and schizophrenic scientist Walter Bishop (John Noble) as they investigate a series of terrorist attacks involving weapons centered on advanced fringe science.
As the series expanded over the years, the story began to explore elements such as alternate universes, genetically created monstrosities and a race of strangely advanced humanoids known only as the Observers.
The show is easily as compelling as “Lost,” created by JJ Abrams, but with a storyline that ties up mysteries and questions rather than leaving them dangling. While it is seen by many as a fusion of “Lost” and “The X-Files,” it encompasses the strengths of both shows.
“The Walking Dead”
Rating: 4.5/5
“The Walking Dead,” an essential zombie show for the Halloween season, created waves with its revolutionary storytelling of the zombie apocalypse when it premiered in 2010.
The show follows a series of survivors led by sheriff Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln), who are trying to make their way in a world overrun by zombies. As the series progresses, the characters begin to realize that the biggest threat to their survival isn’t zombies, but other survivors who lack their humanity.
The direction is taut, the suspense is palpable and the characters are flawed in a way that makes them endearing.
What makes this show interesting is the fact that it manages to re-invent itself every season, creating what seems to be a completely new show.