Channel Zero (TV series) explained

Genre:Anthology
Horror
Supernatural
Drama
Creator:Nick Antosca
Composer:Jeff Russo
Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:4
Num Episodes:24
List Episodes:
  1. Episodes
Location:Manitoba, Canada
Camera:Single-camera
Runtime:41–44 minutes

Channel Zero is an American horror anthology television series created by Nick Antosca, who serves as writer, showrunner, and executive producer.[1] The series was greenlit for two 6-episode, self-contained seasons, which aired in late 2016 and late 2017 on Syfy.[2] The storylines for the series are based on popular creepypastas. On February 9, 2017, Syfy renewed the series for a third and fourth season.[3]

The series premiered on October 11, 2016.[4] The first installment, based on Kris Straub's Candle Cove, stars Paul Schneider and Fiona Shaw[5] and was directed by Craig William Macneill.[6] It centers on Kris Straub's story of one man's obsessive recollection of a mysterious children's television program from the 1980s.[7] The second season premiered on September 20, 2017,[8] [9] is based on Brian Russell's The No-End House and was directed by Steven Piet.[10]

The third season, Butcher's Block, premiered on February 7, 2018,[11] is based on Kerry Hammond's "Search and Rescue Woods" and was directed by Arkasha Stevenson.[12] The fourth season, The Dream Door, was broadcast between October 26 and 31, 2018,[13] is based on Charlotte Bywater's "Hidden Door" and was directed by E. L. Katz.[14] On January 16, 2019, Syfy cancelled Channel Zero after four seasons.[15] [7]

Series overview

Plot

Season 1: Candle Cove

A child psychologist returns to his hometown to determine if his brother's disappearance is somehow connected to a series of similar incidents and a bizarre children's television series that aired at the same time.

Season 2: No-End House

A young woman and her group of friends visit a house of horrors only to find themselves questioning whether it is a tourist attraction or something more sinister.

Season 3: Butcher's Block

A young woman and her schizophrenic sister move to a city haunted by a series of disappearances and, after suspecting that they may be connected to a baffling rumor, they must work together to discover what is preying on the city's residents.

Season 4: The Dream Door

Newlyweds Jillian and Tom have each brought secrets into their marriage. When they discover a door in their basement, those secrets start to threaten their relationship — and their lives.

Cast and characters

ActorCapacity and character per season
Candle CoveNo-End HouseButcher's BlockThe Dream Door
Paul Schneider 
Fiona Shaw 
Luisa D'Oliveira 
Natalie Brown 
Shaun Benson 
Luca Villacis 
Abigail Pniowsky 
Marina Stephenson Kerr 
Amy Forsyth   
Aisha Dee   
Jeff Ward   
Seamus Patterson   
Sebastian Pigott   
Jess Salgueiro   
Melanie Nicholls-King   
John Carroll Lynch   
Rutger Hauer   
Holland Roden   
Olivia Luccardi   
Krisha Fairchild   
Brandon Scott 
Maria Sten 
Steven Robertson 
Barbara Crampton 
Gregg Henry 
Greg Bryk 
Troy James 
Diana Bentley 
Steven Weber 

Episodes

Season 4: The Dream Door (2018)

Production

In 2015, Syfy announced that they had greenlit Channel Zero for twelve episodes, which would air as two six-episode seasons.[16] The first season would center upon the popular creepypasta Candle Cove. The second season would focus on a new story, based on the creepypasta The No-End House.[17] [18] Universal Cable Production would serve as the production company for the series, with Max Landis and Nick Antosca both serving as the series' executive producers.[19]

Craig William Macneill was chosen to direct the first season of Channel Zero in February 2016.[20] Paul Schneider and Fiona Shaw were confirmed as starring in Channel Zero's first season in June 2016.[5] Schneider was set to portray Mike Painter, a child psychologist whose twin brother went missing years before and whose mother, portrayed by Shaw, is reluctant to indulge his desire to investigate. Natalie Brown and Shaun Benson were also named as starring in the series. Filming began in Selkirk, Manitoba, Canada during May 2016 and wrapped on July 28, after 46 days of shooting.[21] [22] [23]

Filming for Season 2 was set to start September 13, 2016, in Oakbank, Manitoba.[24] An advance screening of the first episode premiered at San Diego Comic-Con.[25] Creator Nick Antosca revealed on Twitter that season 2 would premiere on September 20, 2017.[9]

Filming for Season 3 took place from July to August 30, 2017, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Filming for Season 4 began in early May 2018 and wrapped that July.

Music score

In season 2, "Bathysphere" by Cat Power plays at the end of the first episode. "Concrete Walls" from Fever Ray's eponymous album plays during the end of the third episode and "Between the Bars" from Madeleine Peyroux's Careless Love plays at the start of the sixth episode.

In season 3, portions of "Koyaanisqatsi" by Philip Glass play during the fifth and sixth episodes. Some of the Kyrie from György Ligeti's Requiem is also heard during the sixth episode. Selections from The Caretaker's An Empty Bliss Beyond This World also recur as motifs throughout all six episodes of the season.

Broadcast

Showcase broadcasts each season in Canada after Syfy has finished airing it within the United States.[26] The horror streaming service Shudder streams all four seasons of the series as of October 10, 2019.[27]

Reception

The first season of Channel Zero received generally favorable reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 86% based on 21 reviews, with an average rating of 6.83/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "Creepy, unsettling, and refreshingly unique, Channel Zero: Candle Cove draws on easily relatable childhood fears while peeling back layers of spine-tingling mystery."[28] On Metacritic it has a rating of 75 out of 100 based on 5 reviews.[29]

The second season received highly favorable reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has an approval rating of 100% based on 14 reviews, with an average rating of 8.4/10. The site's critical consensus reads: "No End Houses central mystery is stronger and scarier than Channel Zero's first, solidifying its status as one of TV's scariest horror offerings."[30]

The third season on Rotten Tomatoes has an approval rating of 100% based on 11 reviews, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Creepier than ever, Channel Zero: Butcher's Block delivers the disturbing elements a good horror demands, with the added bonus of a solid narrative.".[31]

Ratings

Season 3: Butcher's Block (2018)

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)Result
2017Saturn AwardsBest Television PresentationChannel Zero
Fangoria Chainsaw AwardsBest TV SeriesChannel Zero: Candle Cove
Best TV SFXDoug Morrow
Best TV ActorPaul Schneider
Best TV Supporting ActressFiona Shaw
2018Saturn AwardsBest Television PresentationChannel Zero

Notes and References

  1. News: 'Channel Zero' Renewed For Seasons 3 & 4 By Syfy; Creator Nick Antosca Inks Overall Deal With UCP. Andreeva. Nellie. February 9, 2017. Deadline. June 17, 2017. en-US.
  2. Web site: The First "Channel Zero" Will Tell the Tale of 'Candle Cove'. February 18, 2016. Bloody Disgusting!. en-US. August 10, 2016.
  3. Web site: 'Channel Zero' Renewed For Seasons 3 & 4 By Syfy; Creator Nick Antosca Inks Overall Deal With UCP. Andreeva. Nellie. Deadline. February 9, 2017. February 10, 2017.
  4. Syfy sets premiere dates for 'Incorporated,' 'Van Helsing,' more. Abrams. Natalie. August 3, 2016. Entertainment Weekly. August 10, 2016.
  5. Web site: Prudom. Laura. Syfy's 'Channel Zero' to Star Paul Schneider and Fiona Shaw (EXCLUSIVE). Variety.com. June 20, 2016. July 28, 2016.
  6. Web site: Petski. Denise. Craig William Macneill To Direct 'Channel Zero: Candle Cove' On Syfy. Deadline.com. February 18, 2016. July 28, 2016.
  7. Web site: 'Channel Zero' Canceled By Syfy After 4 Seasons. Petski. Nellie Andreeva,Denise. Andreeva. Nellie. January 16, 2019. Deadline. en. September 24, 2019. Petski. Denise.
  8. Web site: SYFY's Channel Zero: No-End House to Premiere on September 20th, Watch New Teaser Videos. August 13, 2017. DailyDead. August 12, 2017.
  9. Web site: SEPTEMBER 20 On Syfy.... Antosca. Nick. August 13, 2017. Twitter. August 12, 2017.
  10. Web site: Amy Forsyth Stirs Up Creepypasta in Channel Zero: The No-End House. August 17, 2016. Dread Central. en-US. August 20, 2016.
  11. Web site: Exclusive: Channel Zero: Butcher's Block Premiere Date Revealed-Get a Sneak Peek. SYFYWIRE. December 31, 2017.
  12. Web site: "Channel Zero: Butcher's Block" Poster a Funhouse of Horrors. Bloody Disgusting. December 3, 2008. December 31, 2017.
  13. Web site: Channel Zero: The Dream Door on Syfy. Syfy. May 3, 2018. July 17, 2018. July 18, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180718030544/http://www.syfy.com/channelzerothedreamdoor. dead.
  14. Web site: 'Channel Zero' Sets Cast, Gets Title For Fourth Installment On Syfy. Deadline. May 6, 2018.
  15. Web site: Ridgely . Charlie . 'Channel Zero' Cancelled by Syfy After Four Seasons . ComicBook.com . January 16, 2019 . en . January 16, 2019.
  16. Web site: 'Channel Zero' Anthology Series Gets Greenlight From Syfy For 2-Season Run. Deadline.com. Hipes. Patrick. November 18, 2015. July 28, 2016.
  17. Web site: Channel Zero Will Be a Creepypasta TV Series. Fischer. Russ. July 1, 2015. Slash Film. en-US. August 10, 2016.
  18. Web site: Syfy Sheds Light on Creepypasta-Based Series Channel Zero: Candle Cove. August 4, 2016. Dread Central. en-US. August 10, 2016.
  19. Web site: Syfy Prepping Anthology Based on Web Horror Phenomenon 'Creepypasta'. Goldberg. Leslie. June 30, 2015. The Hollywood Reporter. August 10, 2016.
  20. Web site: Petski . Denise . Craig William Macneill To Direct 'Channel Zero: Candle Cove' On Syfy . Deadline . February 18, 2016 . January 22, 2018.
  21. News: Horror TV series to be shot in Winnipeg seeks child actors, extras. King. Randall. April 8, 2016. Winnipeg Free Press. August 10, 2016.
  22. Web site: First week of shooting CHANNEL ZERO in Manitoba. Killer cast. Killer crew. Can't believe we get to do this.. Antosca. Nick. May 27, 2016. Twitter. August 10, 2016.
  23. Web site: That's a wrap! Day 46! #candlecove #channelzero. Macneil. Craig. July 28, 2016. Twitter. August 10, 2016.
  24. Web site: ACTRA Manitoba – What's Shooting . ACTRA Manitoba (archived) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160619060958/http://www.actramanitoba.ca/whats-shooting/ . June 19, 2016 . June 19, 2017.
  25. Web site: SYFY ANNOUNCES NEW SHOW PANELS, BSG REUNION, PARTIES AND MORE FOR SDCC. Moore. Trent. July 5, 2017. Syfy Wire. July 9, 2017. July 8, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170708091313/http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/syfy-announces-new-show-panels-bsg-reunion-parties-and-more-for-sdcc. dead.
  26. Web site: Comedy, Drama, Blockbuster Movies, Streaming Video and Blogging - showcase.ca . November 2, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171031053731/http://www.showcase.ca/channelzero . October 31, 2017 . dead .
  27. Web site: Watch Channel Zero on Shudder.
  28. Web site: Channel Zero: Candle Cove . Rotten Tomatoes. July 19, 2018.
  29. Web site: Channel Zero: Season 1 . Metacritic . October 12, 2016.
  30. Web site: Channel Zero: The No-End House. Rotten Tomatoes. May 18, 2020.
  31. Web site: Channel Zero: Butcher's Block. Rotten Tomatoes. May 18, 2020.