Not too long ago, I saw an ad for a show called "Channel Zero" on YouTube, and it turned-out to be advertising only this fourth season of this modern horror classic of a show. I'm so thankful I came across it, because it's now one of my favorite things to watch, and I'm hoping to get my hands on the DVD sometime for it (as well as for the other three seasons, and whatever amount of seasons we get after this fourth one). For anyone who doesn't know what "Channel Zero" is, it's very reminiscent to the set-up "American Horror Story" has, where each season is an isolated horror story. However, it fixes EVERY SINGLE PROBLEM I had with "American Horror Story"! It's also a show that's taking creepypasta horror stories from the internet and blending some together to make a season that usually only has about six episodes. But they also create their own stuff for the show, and I don't see how ANYTHING they've come up with could top this fourth season's main villain-who's called Pretzel Jack. That creature is so horrifying, and so scary, and so threatening, that I'd recommend the entire season to you just based off of that one character.
The acting is absolutely phenomenal, here. Especially with the contortionist they hired to play Pretzel Jack-a creature who was created by the main girl character. That man played Jack in a way that I don't think anyone on earth could have, and he doesn't say a single word. He speaks with his body, and with his eyes, and he's shown us things in his horrifying performance that I'll NEVER unsee. And yet I adored it all, man. He even became likable. Not only iconic, but likable. How often do you see that actually done well, in movies or TV, these days? Both the husband and wife character actors were excellent, and the tension running between the two of them over whether the husband had recently cheated or not was fantastic. It really added an element to the show that I didn't expect to get so interested in. Even though the show is adapting creepypasta stories, they feel more like excellent 80s retro work, from these more mordern years. It's soooooooooo good! The best friend to the husband is also well-acted. Then there's the neighbor, in a house as big as this married couple's house. THAT GUY CAN ACT. HE STOLE THE SHOW SO MANY TIMES! He's such a caring, delightful, sweet guy, and his backstory is so shocking. I couldn't believe it, and I definitely won't be spoiling that, here. It was too damned good to spoil. Overall: every actor this show cast was brilliant, and brought something wonderful to the table that none of the other actors could. Talk about some fine television-this show has it all, my friends! Talent galore!
The score for the show is very retro 80s-inspired, as well. It's also soooooooo good, and I'd buy the CD if they'd release CDs of the soundtrack. It just goes to show how much love and care this season had birthed into it. I appreciate the passion this show was made with tremendously, because I hate modern television of almost every sort for the very reason that they seem so wooden and lifeless. But this is exceptional. It feels a lot like a more wild version of the movie called "You're Next", when it comes to style, so if you enjoyed one of the two, you'll more than likely love the other. Check BOTH out, please!
The cinematography and lighting were brilliant. It's such a dark show, and that added beautifully to the tone it's directors have pulled it to. The show also has a very dreamlike (or nightmarelike) quality about it that really gives you the chills, at times. Especially in the first episode of this fourth season.
Which brings me to another area I must discuss: this show is actually scary. I grew-up on so much horror that most things don't phase me, anymore. This show does. So be weary about watching this at home alone, at nighttime. Because if it scared me, I think it would horrify most people.
The special effects are almost always top-notch. Even if they're forced to use bad CGI to make a rabbit appear on the screen, or a door in a wall, it doesn't ruin the show for me. The show has more practical effects than people seem to realize, and they're used in a wonderful way that really works. Some bad CGI couldn't possibly ruin the greatness of all of the other angles of this show you'd be getting. I must also mention that there are tremendous amounts of gore in the show. Sometimes it's a lot, in one kill. So be ready for that, too.
I absolutely adored "Channel Zero". I can't wait to get my hands on the other seasons, sometime, because I've been looking for a good, new TV show I could devour. This is totally up my alley, dude. I couldn't recommend it enough to you, if you haven't seen it (or even heard about it) before. It was worth every second, and it never felt like the pacing was insufferable. It's pretty close to being perfect for what it's trying to do. I commend these creators for the amount of passion and creativity they had to work into this program. They've really crafted something special, in "Channel Zero".
