Television--despite popular belief, won’t melt your mind.
Well, that’s unless you accidentally tune into David Cronenberg’s Videodrome--but
that’s a different story entirely.
The thing is, although we’re often wound up in the comings and goings of horror cinema
on the silver screen--more often than not, that small little box known as a T.V is the
better vessel for long form horror stories.
You see, instead of just 2 or so hours to get terrified--we have an entire seasons worth,
perhaps even several.
Thankfully for us, we’re living in the Golden Age of Television, and horror--certainly hasn’t
been left behind.
Let’s take a look.
Hello horror fans, what’s going on--and once again welcome back to the scariest channel
on YouTube--Top 5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch--as today, we curiously take a look
at the Top 5 Most Terrifying Modern Horror Series.
Roll the clip.
For the curious amongst you, that clip was from the resounding British anthology series,
Black Mirror--created by the genius that is Charlie Brooker.
That particular clip was from the awesome Season 4 entry, Metalhead--which indeed is
very much a horror episode.
However, I wouldn’t ever say that Black Mirror is consistently horror--and so, today,
it ends up as our most honorable of honorable mentions.
Also it’s important to note that by Modern--we mean anything released after 2000--as we’ve
already got a best TV series list of the 20th century, so if you haven’t seen that--go
watch it!
Kicking off at Number 5--Dead Set, 2008
Because--talking about Charlie Brooker and horror--he certainly already has that feather
well and truly tucked within his cap.
Listen, I’m not gonna stand here and fanboy over Charlie Brooker for an entire video,
although I certainly could--but it’s important to note that the man is a genius--and one
of his finest attempts in the horror genre as a whole, was with 2008’s Dead Set--and
for a series that was only five episodes long--it certainly earned its place on this list.
Yeah, whilst it’s coming in at Number 5, down to the short length of its span--don’t
let that dissuade you, because this is one of the finest zombie horror series ever created.
You know, over in the United Kingdom--we like to poke fun at things, but more importantly--we
like to poke fun at ourselves.
What better way to do that than to take one of our already existing shows--Big Brother--and
then turn it into a horrifying satire of cannibalistic zombies.
And really, it’s a perfect equation--because as the series initially sets out, what better
place to try and survive the zombie apocalypse than within the Big Brother house.
The show itself, beginning with Episode 1: Outbreak--takes place primarily on the actual
set of the Big Brother Series.
The five episodes--which were aired over five consecutive nights--slowly unravelled everyone’s
biggest fear--and no, it wasn’t the renewal of another Big Brother season--but instead,
the arrival of a zombie outbreak.
Listen, the actual mechanics of the apocalypse don’t need any kind of wider explanation--although,
in classic Danny Boyle-esque fashion, it’s origin is touched on--because it doesn’t
matter.
The fear behind this series was within it’s simplistic approach--and it works, so, so
well.
I mean, to even lay on the authenticity--Davina McCall herself appears in this series, alongside
Krishnan Guru-Murthy--and a whole host of actual Big Brother contestants.
I can’t say anymore--Dead Set.
It’s short and sweet--and it’s one of the finest modern horror series ever created.
Swinging in at Number 4--Scream Queens, 2015
Alright guys.
Okay.
Listen.
Calm down.
I get it, I know that I’m going to pick up some flack for featuring this particular
entry, but hear me out--because one thing that we’ve been lacking in our healthy,
balanced horror diet--is horror comedy, and if you’re asking me--this show is one of
the finest demonstrations of that in recent memory.
Also--listen, this one goes without saying, but no, this show is not scary--at all, so
consider this a 4 out of 5 kind of list on the terror scale.
But now that’s out of the way--we can firmly establish that Scream Queens--is frickin’
fantastic.
I loved this show, and I myself was actually surprised as to how much I found myself adoring
it.
We often talk about the function of horror comedy--which is to take all of the tropes
and styles of the horror genre and then poke fun at them--and that’s exactly what this
series does.
And whilst you might think the other series by the same creators, American Horror Story,
should have featured on this list--I just don’t think it’s consistent enough to
stand up to some of the other traditionally more terrifying entries on this Top 5.
Scream Queens though--is horror comedy--and it only gets better.
Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan, the first season of Scream Queens
tells the tale of the Kappa Kappa Tau sorority as they’re threatened by the reemergence
of a serial killer known as the Red Devil.
The sorority is led by the one and only Chanel Oberlin, played by the remarkable Emma Roberts--who
carries this show in the palm of her hand.
Honestly, she is phenomenal in this series--and alongside her fellow Channels, Numbers 2,
3 and 5 played by Ariana Grande, Billie Lourd and Abigail Breslin--the show descends into
chaos in classic 90s slasher style.
This show is Mean Girls meets every slasher movie made--and because of that, it’s brilliant.
I don’t care what anyone says--Scream Queens is great.
Next up at Number 3--The Strain, 2014
Okay.
Now we can get between the meat and bones of the television terror that plagues this
list.
The Strain--a show which many of you may know, one of the most inventive and genuinely terrifying
pieces of vampire fiction in recent times.
And who better to deliver that, than the main man himself--Guillermo del Toro, alongside
the awesome horror novelist, Chuck Hogan.
And you know what?
The production history behind this TV series just makes me admire del Toro even more as
an uncompromising champion of the screen.
Initially, back in 2006--after pitching the concept of this series to Fox--del Toro outright
refused, as a number of Fox Executives wanted to turn into a comedy.
Imagine that?!
Imagine one of the most inventive and forward thinking pieces of vampire literature being
turned into a comedy.
Yeah, thankfully for us though--del Toro instead teamed up with novelist Chuck Hogan, outlined
the incredible depth of his story--and then a few years later, networks were begging the
duo to pick it up.
The Strain, spanning over four awesome seasons--the quality of which admittedly dips a little
in Season 3, but comes back for a phenomenal final season--was released way back when on
July 13th 2014.
The show centers around a man named Dr. Ephraim Goodweather, played by Corey Stoll, the head
of a special CDC Unit down as the Canary Project--as they attempt to unravel a particularly precarious
event.
An airplane has landed at JFK airport--and everyone on board is dead, afflicted with
an ancient strain of vampirism--passed from person to person by a species of strange,
parasitic worms.
I won’t say anymore regarding the Strigoi, because the premise of the show itself is
reason enough to dive into it--but really, some of the twists and turns this series takes--whilst
also fleshing out one of the most intriguing concepts of vampires in a long time--makes
it a must see for any horror fan.
Also, there are more than enough genuinely terrifying moments in this series--I mean,
it’s Guillermo del Toro guys.
Coming in at Number 2--The Terror, 2018
Okay.
Now we’re talking--because what better way to depict the Most Terrifying Modern Horror
Series--than with The Terror itself.
Literally, that’s what it’s called--what did you expect, guys?
Now all jokes aside, this show is phenomenal, it really is--and it was such an undiscovered
gem at the time of its release in March of last year, but now--still--I’m not entirely
sure whether it’s receiving the recognition that it deserves.
So what are we waiting for, go and watch it--and Season 2 is already mid way through, so you’re
not missing out too much.
Initially created by David Kajganich, the man responsible for the 2018 remake of Dario
Argento’s Suspiria--The Terror is an anthology series--and it’s first season, based upon
the Dan Simmons novel of the same name, tells a particularly terrifying historical tale
that occured in the icy wilderness of the Arctic Circle.
One that you may be familiar with.
The Franklin Expedition.
Where both HMS Terror and HMS Erebus, were frozen in ice in their attempt to seek the
elusive Northwest Passage--but, this tale--is a little different.
I won’t say anything, because it’s well worth your own discovery--but Season One is
phenomenal.
The pacing is fantastic--it’s filled to the brim with anxiety inducing set pieces
as things fall from bad to worse--and also, the performances in season one are absolutely
brilliant.
Jared Harris, Tobias Menzies, Ciaran Hinds--all deliver some remarkable acting--and genuinely,
most importantly, this show is terrifying.
And the less you know about the horror that lurks in the arctic, the better.
Now, if that sounds awesome--Season 2, titled as The Terror: Infamy, takes place on the
west coast of the US during World War 2--and centers on a Japanese-American community being
haunted by an ancient specter--the bakemono.
I haven’t yet seen it, because I’m waiting for the show to finish in its entirety so
I can binge it--but if Season One is anything to go by, we’re all in for a treat.
And finally, coming in at our Number 1 spot--The Haunting Of Hill House
Ahhhh.
Guys.
It just has to be.
Honestly, I don’t say this lightly--Mike Flannagan’s The Haunting Of Hill House is
one of the finest pieces of television of the past few decades--and that’s not just
including horror.
I hate to bound about the term too loosely--but Hill House truly is a masterpiece.
Watching this series, and keep in mind I binged the whole thing in two days--I knew that I
was witnessing something special.
I love this show.
So much so, that I created a rundown for this channel detailing just exactly why it was
so special to horror as a genre--and if you’d like more information, go and check that out
now--but put it this way.
How many horror series have you seen--movies included--that can bring you to tears in it’s
finale?
Yeah, maybe I’d had too many beers--but holy moly this show got to me.
Stephen King claimed that this series was close to a work of genius, and for a series
based upon an already pre existing classic of horror--that’s really saying something.
Written and directed by Mike Flanagan, the man responsible for 2013’s Oculus and 2016’s
Hush, The Haunting of Hill House tells the tale of the Crain Family, their lives split
by two opposing timelines--them as adults, following the effects of their childhood--and
them as children as they move into the notorious Hill House.
Based upon the definitive 1959 novel of the same name by Shirley Jackson, Flanagan takes
all of the key components that make up an iconic haunted house story story--and yet
expertly rearranges them for a modern audience.
Part of the horror laid out in this series, isn’t *just* the paranormal--but instead,
the very physical.
The very personal--and the emotional trauma presented in this series is just as effective
as the spirits that linger in Hill House.
This film covers addiction.
Obsession--the dangers of isolation, and the breakdown of the family unit.
Really, I could talk about this show for days--and all of the small details that make it so remarkable
are worth discovering on your own.
Also, the second season--The Haunting of Bly Manor--based on the Turn of the Screw by Henry
James--is set to be released in 2020.
So--there’s something to look forward to--but until then, just watch this masterpiece of
horror on repeat.
Well, there we have it horror fans--our list for the Top 5 Most Terrifying Modern Horror
Series.
What do you guys think?
Do you agree?
Disagree?
Have any more to add to this list?
Then let us know your thoughts down in the comment section below, as well as any choice
picks of your own.
Before we depart from today’s video though, let’s first take a quick look at some of
your more resounding remarks from over the past few days.
Rebecca Howell says--
When will you be making your movie?
If you had an opportunity, what would you make a horror movie about?
Great videos, you’ve got another subscriber from Michigan USA.
--Hey Rebecca, welcome aboard and thank you very much.
You know what?
That’s a great question.
If I was to make a horror movie right now, I think I’d make something about ghost towns--or,
a Lovecraftian Cult mystery set in the Outer Hebrides.
Yeah--actually, that’s what I’d make.
Stay tuned for more I guess.
Well, on that note--unfortunately, that’s all we’ve got time for in todays video--cheers
for sticking around all the way until the end.
If you were a fan of this video, or just Top 5 Scary Videos in general, then please--be
a dear and hit that thumbs up button, as well as that subscribe bell, and I’ll be seeing
you in the next one.