Currently 2011’s The Fades is listed on IMDb as a mini-series, which hurts. The Fades should not be a mini-series (though admittedly compared to the average length of US show’s runs, basically all British TV shows, even the ones that go for years, are mini-series). Jack Thorne’s acclaimed horror drama should have at least three beautiful runs of episodes plus a movie and a Christmas special. The British viewing public though, or at least those in BBC Three’s sought-after demographic, were too late to the party and this unique horror with a stellar young cast was cut off in its prime.
The Fades is the story of Paul (Iain de Caestecker), a teenager who can see dead people. A fracture in the ascension process between life and death has left Earth populated by wandering wraiths, who are growing angrier and more vengeful with every passing year. When the Fades discover a way to take revenge on the living, a group called the Angelics has to stop them. It’s witty, human, touching, thrilling and soaked in horror, from its creature designs to its chilling tension. And what a cast! Daniel Kaluuya! Natalie Dormer! Tom ‘Lucifer’ Ellis! Joe ‘Gendry’ Dempsie! It’s such a well-drawn series that even with the premature ending, it’s still very much worth the watch.
8. Hannibal (2013 – 2015)
‘When the fox hears the rabbit scream, he comes running. But not to help.’
Since this list is being written by an American and a Brit (“Hi Louisa!” – ❤️Alec), I’m suddenly very conscious of the differences in content restrictions between the two Anglo-speaking countries. In the United States, sex scenes are infamously frowned upon when it comes to network television – and even oftentimes even cable. And yet, acts of unspeakable violence are often able to sneak their way through. Case in point is NBC’s brilliant horror series Hannibal. Hannibal is one of the most ludicrously violent, grotesque, and horrifying shows to ever grace television. Somehow it aired at 10 p.m. ET on NBC, presumably after a rousing episode of The Voice. Like yeah, it’s a school night and the kids are asleep but they’re not that asleep.
Hannibal borrows its concept and characters from Thomas Harris’s series of books about serial killing. Mads Mikkelsen stars as the titular character and somehow makes a role that Anthony Hopkins already won an Oscar for his own. The show was and remains a big online fandom hit, thanks to the crackling chemistry between Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy as criminal profiler Will Graham. That shiny fandom sheen, however, shouldn’t distract from the fact that this is a truly terrifying show featuring eviscerated bodies, Colombian neckties, and human totem poles at every turn.
7. Tales From The Crypt (1989 – 1996)
‘Fasten your drool cups, and ready your vomit bags! We’re going to the movies! Frights, camera, action!’
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