Top Thriller Television Shows to Watch this Halloween
As Halloween growing closer in the next two weeks, there are endless television shows in the horror/thriller, and/or supernatural genres to choose from. Here is a list of some of the most noteworthy television series to consider watching during this haunting season:
- Buffy the Vampire Slayer —> Buffy the Vampire Slayer centers around a 16 year old girl, Buffy Summers. The series shows Buffy’s journey of fulfilling her destiny of slaying vampires, among other creatures; one day at a time, this powerful and witty girl continues to fight and save the world, while trying to survive both life as well as high school. The character of Buffy Summers stands out as a strong female leading figure during the late 1990s. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is an example of a supernatural show during a period when the supernatural genre in television was limited and less explored. It’s a great classic show to consider watching this Halloween.
- Supernatural —> This story centers on two brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester, who were raised into the business of monster hunting by their father, John Winchester. The pilot episode opens with Sam and Dean as young children, when their mother was killed by a monster. After Mary Winchester's death, John decided to take Sam and Dean on the road, hunting down the demon that killed his wife; along the way, John kills monsters while teaching Sam and Dean the trade. The series began in 2005 and continued to pave the way for the supernatural television show genre. Similar to Buffy, Supernatural covers a wide range of supernatural creatures in every episode; as well as overall themes in the fight of good vs. evil in every season. Supernatural is the longest running show of this genre; with 11 seasons available on Netflix, this series is sure to keep you preoccupied throughout October.
- The Walking Dead —> Although I have never experienced more than a few episodes of this series, this well established show dives into the zombie apocalyptic world; it has been a fan favorite since its start in 2010. As is the case with many apocalyptic themes in television shows, the main purpose is survival; we, the audience, get to watch the action unfold through character developments and relationships among these characters that help or hinder their primary need to survive. With an IMDB rating of 8.6, this show appears to be a must watch. You can enjoy binge watching the 6 seasons available of The Walking Dead on Netflix.
- American Horror Story —> American Horror Story is an anthology series that makes every season into an individual story. AHS takes the idea to create a horror movie in television format and to tell that story over the course of 12 to 13 episodes. So far, the show consists of 6 seasons: Murder House, Asylum, Coven, Freak Show, Hotel, and Roanoke. If you’re a fan, you may not like every season and it’s theme; however, it is interesting that every season centers on a new story. If you’re new to American Horror Story and all 6 stories, you may want to check it out this Halloween.
- Bates Motel —> Not all of our top picks need to have supernatural elements. Bates Motel comes from Robert Bloch’s 1960s book "Psycho." But with a twist. In Psycho, the leading character is portrayed by 40 year old Norman Bates, who runs Bates Motel with his mother. The novel depicts Norman’s psychological thoughts and feelings and how his impulses to kill become reality, rooted in action. The series Bates Motel serves as a sort of prequel to Psycho; Bates Motel centers on Norman Bates, a high school student who’s mother, Norma Bates, recently bought a Motel. Bates Motel shows the developing relationship Norman has with his mother, Norman's psyche, and how his mind drives him to become a killer in the town of White Pine Bay. This psychological thriller series will always keep you on your toes and have you wondering what Norman is thinking.
- Stranger Things —> Recently, Netflix launched its a new thriller Stranger Things. This series provides a genuine 80s feel with enhanced cgi features where it is appropriate. The show focuses on a group of friends in middle school, when one of the friends mysteriously disappears. Throughout the course of this 8 episode series, the audience discovers more about the boy vanishing and the complicated factors that play roles in his disappearance. The younger kids in this show, namely played by characters friends Dustin, Mike, Lucas, and Will, present a pure sense of trust, friendship, and promise between kids; it shows how children are not tainted by the secrets of the adult world; for instance, the innocent state of mind these boys have, believing that hitting a supernatural creature with rocks and a slingshot and expecting it to work.
- Furthermore, Stranger Things also shows the interesting different family dynamics of the Wheeler family, who seemingly has the “perfect” nuclear family; vs. the Byers family, with a single mom working long, hard hours at the nearby mini mart. Yet, the Byer’s family members have a closer connection and stronger sense of communication with one another. There are many factors that make this powerful new series to watch. Overall, this series shows a collection of scenes filled with complete suspense, moments of laugh out loud comedic material, unexpected alliances, and friendship. This show will leave you wanting to watch more, despite the perfectly wrapped up season finale.
Do you agree with our list? Let us know in the comments section below.
American Horror Story Season 6 Poorly Executed
The new season of American Horror Story focuses on a Roanoke Theme. While an interesting plot concept, the execution of this season’s formatting and how the story is told is overbearing.
The story opens with characters in present day, speaking in front of a camera crew about their experience in the "roanoke” house. The set up of this story's structure seems planned out, a little too easily planned out. From the beginning, the characters are telling and recounting the scary events that happened to them, rather than showing these events. This idea appears out of the ordinary of the show's structure over the past 5 seasons.
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The first 5 seasons of AHS showed, sometimes in disturbing detail, what the story was about in real time. It depicted the characters’ relationships with one another and their character arcs; it also showed their emotional journeys on their own and in relation to other characters. The psychological adventures that each season put the viewers through allowed us to have a detailed view of each story line; a story of what it looked like to be in the murder house, an insane asylum, in a coven, at a “freak" show in a circus, and in a (haunted) hotel. This was accomplished by characters through showing instead of telling the audience.
The beginning of season 6 narrates what happened to the victims of the roanoke house, followed by showing; which is a jarring idea. The episode flips back and forth between actress Lily Rabe and Sarah Paulson; both supposedly play the character of Shelby Miller. When I noticed this was also the case for the two male actors that played the roll of Matt, I made the connection. Like in most documentaries, stories are depicted by the retelling of what happened from the first person point of view and shown through actors reenacting these true life stories. However, in this case, it is confusing.
Usually, when re-telling a story in a documentary, it alternates between the retelling of these stories by the people that lived through them; this is supplemented in documentaries by short snippets of flashback scenes with actors who play the real life victims. However, these scenes of flashback using actors seemed overly real and detailed, compared to real documentaries. There was no need for both the interviewing of the “true life” survivors and the actors who showed this story. Considering that this is a television series, it seemed excessive here.
Showing these scenarios that make up the story using one set of characters would have been powerful enough to carry the story. It also could've refrained from confusing the audience/viewer.
There was a slow, natural progression of strange event leading up to attack on Shelby’s life, which was well planned. However, right after the attack occurred, the next moment cut to Matt narrating the scene; Matt (the actor) arrives home with police surrounding his house after Shelby’s attack. This then cuts to the aftermath, which also seems like an easy out. Their was a choice between showing how the attack unfolded or easily moving the story into the next scene. The route that is taken neglects Shelby’s thoughts and reactions after she had just been assaulted; it seems as if it were easier for the writer/s to cut to Matt’s reaction. This fails to allow Shelby to assess what just happened to herself.
Half way through the episode, Lee (Matt’s sister) enters the picture. This seems like a normal act, considering Lee is a cop and Matt wants Shelby to be protected. Yet, the flash of scenes showing Lee’s life events over the narrator’s voice, again, seemed too easy. Instead of showing a progression of these details throughout the story line, the writer gives them up too quickly. The scene focusing on Lee abruptly dives into Lee’s story, taking the viewer out of the current story at hand. It disrupts the flow of the story line. This, in turn, extinguishes the build-up and lowers the possible climax the story could have.
In this case, the documentary style of telling a story in past and present in a television show also spoils the ultimate question: the question of whether the character/s is going to live or die during the course of the episode or series. The fact that these characters are alive to re-tell their story means that we, the audience, know they will survive. No matter the actions taken by the perpetrator/s throughout the story line, they will live.
Showing these character arcs are during scenes of action and dialogue is essential and strengthens the story; instead of weakening the story by the simple re-telling of what happened. This plot line had the potential to be powerful standing on its own, without the addition of narration and retelling. All of the details that were told to us, the audience, could have easily been manufactured into scenes that shows what the characters thought and felt.
Overall, while the plot of the Roanoke theme is well formulated and even well executed in scenes, the re-telling of these events in a documentary-styled fashion draws the viewer out of the story and spoils a large piece of the story as well.