Older readers or horror buffs will recognize that horror-themed anthology shows used to be plentiful. From “Tales From the Crypt” to “Tales From the Darkside,” 30 minute episodes containing the bizarre and the terrifying used to be a way of life for some. Even classic horror movies such as “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” and “Friday the 13th” used to have their own shows, titled “Freddy’s Nightmares” and “Friday the 13th: the Series.”
This trend has seen a significant increase in the last few years, following the success of FX’s “American Horror Story.” It would seem that the anthology series is back in full swing.
The SyFy channel’s “Channel Zero” is one such show. Its first season aired in the fall of 2016. It was perfectly paced. Each season is based on a new creepypasta, amateur horror stories made popular on the internet, but it’s a format that works. The first season was subtitled “Candle Cove,” and was one of the most interesting programs aired in the last year.
“American Horror Story” will soon begin its seventh season. Each new season keeps generally the same cast, but features a new setting and story each time. Fans have loved this series from the start, and it has allowed creators Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk to bring the format to “American Crime Story,” which aired in the spring of 2016. It seems this show will not be slowing down anytime soon.
Recently a teaser for the Hulu original, “Castle Rock,” was released on Youtube. J.J. Abrams and best-selling author Stephen King are teaming up to bring an anthology series that encompasses the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine, a town featured in many of King’s novels and short stories.
The format of anthologies works well for the horror genre simply because each episode or season can be different. It worked so well back in the day because each episode was 30 minutes, reducing any need for significant character development. One could have their campy scares for a half-hour and move on with their day, waiting for that same time next week when the cycle would repeat. However, as writing standards have shifted, so has the formula for these anthologies. Stories are fleshed out more, over a whole season. It gives time for needed character development, as we are spending more time with them. The characters are less disposable and the plots are no longer paper-thin. It is an amazing time for the horror anthology, and the trend seems only to be increasing.
