I learned something in researching background for today's column. I learned what the heck creepypasta is.
I know all the cool kids are getting a good chortle out of my ignorance, but this job is nothing if not educational. And, no, creepypasta is not some twisted al dente dish from your favorite Italian bistro.
As with many things on the leading edge of pop culture, creepypastas are internet-driven. They are short, user-generated, copied and pasted horror tales, ghost stories, urban legends or other creepy stuff designed to scare the spit out of readers.
The viral sensation began life in 2006 as "copypasta" and splintered into the horror subgenre labeled creepypasta seven or eight years ago.
According to Time magazine, "Creepypasta hit peak popularity with a 2010 New York Times story, but it still lives on. Slender Man, who is arguably the most well-known creepypasta character, is the reason the two Wisconsin 12-year-olds allegedly attempted to fatally stab their friend: in order to pay tribute to him."
That Wisconsin incident was in 2014. The victim, who was stabbed 19 times, lived.
And now, creepypasta has evolved and made the leap from online to TV.
Channel Zero: Candle Cove premieres at 8 p.m. today on Syfy. Created by Nick Antosca, themes for the anthology series will be based on popular creepypastas.
Syfy has given Antosca the green light for two self-contained six-episode seasons and the first arrives in the middle of Syfy's annual homage to all things frightening, "The 31 Days of Halloween."
Channel Zero: Candle Cove is based on Kris Straub's creepypasta "Candle Cove" and stars Paul Schneider (Parks and Recreation) and Fiona Shaw (Harry Potter films). The second season, due out next year, will be based on Brian Russell's "The No-End House."
Candle Cove deals with Mike Painter's (Schneider) obsession with a mysterious children's television program from the 1980s. Child psychologist Painter has growing suspicions that the creepy local access children's puppet show (Candle Cove) may have played a role in a series of unsolved murders from his childhood, including the death of his twin brother, Eddie.
Shaw plays Painter's mother, Marla.
In the pilot, Painter returns to his hometown of Iron Hill, where disturbing memories begin to surface following the disappearance of a child who had been watching Candle Cove.
Things get rather graphic, so hide the kiddies. Example? There's a mystery child made of human teeth. Is that creepy enough?
The series is rated TV-14 for strong language and violence.
SPOOK-A-THON
If Candle Cove gets you in the mood to lock the doors and turn off the lights, then Syfy has you covered with more original Halloween movies. Here's the list.
• Stake Land 2, 8 p.m. Saturday. This is the follow-up (formerly titled The Stakelander) to the 2010 Syfy original film and again stars Nick Damici (Mulberry Street) and Connor Paolo (Gossip Girl) in more vampire apocalypse adventure.
In this offering, the vampire Brotherhood has evolved and has a new overlord.
When the vamps destroy Martin's (Paolo) home of New Eden, he finds himself alone in the badlands and looking for the one man who can help him get revenge -- his mentor and legendary vampire hunter, Mister (Damici).
All sorts of nasty, bloody, terrifying stuff ensues.
• Shadows of the Dead, 8 p.m. Oct. 22. In this chiller, it's spring break and we have teenagers and a creature living in the shadows that is hunting them down one by one. In other words, a familiar horror theme.
• The Night Before Halloween, 8 p.m. Oct. 29. This one stars Bailee Madison (Good Witch) and Anthony Lemke (American Psycho) and also deals with familiar themes.
When a Halloween prank involving a book of incantations goes terribly wrong, an evil, evil creature is unleashed that will hunt down and kill each of the pranksters one by one. Kill them, that is, unless they can figure out how to transfer the curse onto someone else.
Reminder: Only 20 days left until Halloween. Be a neighborhood hero and give out the full-size candy bars.
The TV Column appears Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. Email:
mstorey@arkansasonline.com
Style on 10/11/2016