With the first season of its Syfy horror anthology Channel Zero now underway, it seems the network has finally found a horror show it can call its own. Channel Zero is a smart and effective adaptation of modern urban legends, transforming them from half-remembered childhood fears into raw nightmare fuel. This year’s six-episode opening chapter, Candle Cove, is a prime example of how the series works.
It is based on the creepypasta “Candle Cove,” a story that was written and posted in 2009 on horror fiction site Ichor Falls. The narrative takes the form of a forum discussion, with users reminiscing about a local children’s TV show called Candle Cove that aired briefly in the ‘70s. As the recollections are traded back and forth, it becomes clear that there is something far darker under the surface of this cutesy, low-budget children’s program.
The characters recall a host of marionette pirates that appeared in the show’s episodes, including the cowardly pirate Captain Percy and his pet skeleton, the Laughingstock. The show also featured a girl named Janice, who imagined herself to be friends with the puppet pirates and was terrorized by the skeleton villain, the Skin Taker.
Despite being fictional, Candle Cove has gained an astonishing following over the years. It has its own Wiki, where fans have fleshed out the story’s mythology with breakdowns of episodes and descriptions of the sets used on the show. It has even made it into a couple of memes.