John Doe’s 15 Favourite Horror TV Shows : Part 2
November 9th 2009 22:02
Part 2: John Doe's Favourite Horror TV Anthologies.
Read Part 1- John Doe's favourite Horror Series by clicking HERE
Now that you have read Part One, which was JD’s favourite horror TV series, continuing sagas told chapter by chapter, episode by episode. Now comes the staple of the small screen genre. Compilations of short stories, only linked by their common intent, these are the Anthologies where each episode is a stand alone tale.
The Anthologies
Masters of Horror (2005)
With episodes Directed by John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), John Carpenter (Halloween), Takashi Miike (Audition), Mick Garris, Lucky McKee (May), Dario Argento (Suspiria), Joe Dante (The Howling), Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator) and Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre) do I need to waste anymore words in telling you this a terror treat of the top tier?
Here are trailers for John Doe's two favourite episodes:
John Carpenters Cigarette Burns
Takishi Miike's Imprint
Rod Serling’s Twilight Zone (1959) and Night Gallery (1970)
Few series have ever had as much longevity as this pair of brain mutating, social commentary laden exercises in intellectual potpourri. Every week a new mystery, every 7 days a revelation and all episodes ranged from good to classic with numerous unforgettable episodes feeding the imagination. Need I say a trip to The Outer Limits was equally enjoyable?
Cast Included: Lee Marvin, Cliff Robertson, Martin Landau
Directors included: Stuart Rosenberg (Cool hand Luke), Don Siegel (Invasion of the Body Snatchers), and Richard Donner (The Omen).
Alfred Hitchcock presents (1955)
That rotund refiner of tension and suspense Alfred Hitchcock hosted this quality selection of macabre short stories with his trademarked dark wit. Hitch also Directed 17 episodes himself and like other anthologies listed AHP contained a slew of memorable guest stars.
Cast Included: Charles Bronson and Walter Matthau
Directors Included: Steven Spielberg (Jaws), Robert Altman (The Long Goodbye)
Writers Included: Ray Bradbury, Roald Dahl
Tales from the Darkside (1984) & Tales from the Crypt (1989)
Inspired by the 1950’s comic books, forever entwined by their similar format and distinctly 80’s nostalgia, who can forget the extroverted Crypt Keepers cackle opening. Piled high with grotesque and maniacal intent this duo balanced wrongful giggles and genuine frights to ensure its destiny of warping a generation of young minds.
Crypt Writers Included: Frank Darabont (The Mist) and Walter Hill (The Warriors)
Crypt Directors Included; Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future), Russell Mulcahy (Highlander), Richard Donner (The Omen)
Darkside Directors Included: Tom Savini
Darkside Writers Included: Stephen King
Richard Matheson’s The Night Stalker (1972), Trilogy of Terror (1975) & Dead of Night (1977)
After cross pollinating with Rod Serling on The Twilight Zone and Night Gallery writer Richard Matheson (I Am Legend, The Box) was the major creative force behind the vampire TV movie The Night Stalker and its sequel The Night Strangler. Matheson then contributed to the quality anthology series Trilogy of Terror and Dead of Night.
The Hitchhiker (1983)
Edgy, erotic and graphic, all served with a slice of cheese and a side of imaginative beef. The thrilling, sometimes demented show The Hitchhiker is a perfect example of how HBO changed the television landscape forever challenging what was acceptable by thumbing a ride on the horror express.
Directors include – Phillip Noyce (Backroads) and Mike Hodges (Get Carter)
Dark Shadows (1966)
Vampires, Ghosts and other supernatural characters populate the story of the wealthy Collins family from Collinport Maine. Directed by Dan Curtis (Trilogy of Terror, Night Stalker) this gothic horror soap opera had the vibe of live theatre often filmed on the fly, there has been nothing quite like since.
Here is the opening to the Dark Shadows pilot, gnaw on the juicey overt seriousness
Click HERE for Part 1 of John Does Favourite Horror Series
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