Exclusive: Channel Zero’s Creator Nick Antosca Talks Candle Cove & The Future Of The Series

October 13, 2016

TV

Written by Kelli Marchman McNeely

Kelli Marchman McNeely is the owner of HorrorFuel.com. She is an Executive Producer of "13 Slays Till Christmas" which is out on Digital and DVD and now streaming on Tubi. She has several other films in the works. Kelli is an animal lover and a true horror addict since the age of 9 when she saw Friday the 13th. Email: horrorfuelinfo@gmail.com

Tuesday night Syfy’s new six-part series ‘Channel Zero: Candle Cove’ made its debut. The anthology series, inspired by Kris Straub’s creepypasta story ‘Candle Cove’, is directed by independent filmmaker Craig William Macbell. The first episode, penned by the series’ creator and showrunner Nick Antosca (Hannibal) serves as executive producer along side Max Landis (Victor Frankenstein).

 

 

This dark series centers around child psychologist Mike Painter, played by Paul Schnider. When Painter returns to his hometown he learns that the murders of children have started again. His brother Eddie (Luca Villacis) was thought to be one of the victims as a child. Now it has all started again. Mike believes it is connected to a show called ‘Candle Cove’, a show that only kids can see. ‘Candle Cove’, a pirate puppet show, only shows up on dead channels, but Mike’s childhood friends remember the show. When the police chief’s daughter goes missing people look at Mike and believe he has something to do with it. When he finds the child and returns her to her parents more questions rise. During the girl’s rescue the creepy creature, “The Tooth Child”, from the trailers reveals itself and it is disturbing.

 

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Schneider stars alongside Fiona Shaw, Shaun Benson, Natalie Brown, Luisa D’Oliveira, Abigail Pniowsky. Cassandra Consiglio plays the role of “The Tooth Child”.

 

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In episode two, truths come to light that will shake the town itself and bring one mother to her knees. In this episode we will get a better look at the nasty creature made of teeth and the puppets of ‘Candle Cove’. Katie, the young girl, is still in danger and so are the other children, but will Mike be able to save them?

 

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Today, during an interview Nick Antosca revealed to me that “The Tooth Child” is straight out of one of his own nightmares and that Greg Nicotero (The Walking Dead) help design it. He told me, “It’s hard to stand close to The Tooth Child. Your body wants to recoil from it.”

He also said that we will learn more about the creature in episodes to come. I asked if we will learn who or what is behind ‘Candle Cove’. His response, “Yes, but some mysteries will remain.”

Each season of ‘Channel Zero’ will based on a different creepypasta story. When Antosca was asked about season two, which has already begun filming in Winnipeg, he stated that next season will be based on Brian Rusell’s “No End House”. The season will be set in a “haunted fun house that has a series of increasingly frightening rooms. When people exit the house they will wonder if they are still in it. A kind of a horror version of  Solace.”

Unlike in ‘American Horror Story’, which Antosca is a fan of, they won’t be planing for the same stars to return for every season. He explained that each season will be written and filmed like a movie then broken up into episodes. That they will be featuring different creepypasta stories from different authors, and are determined that the authors will be featured and involved in the season. I did get one interesting piece of casting news, John Carroll Lynch, who played “Twisty the Clown” on ‘American Horror Story: Freak Show’, has joined the cast for next season.

Even though ‘Channel Zero’ is a small budget series, they have create an amazing series that will take horror television to a new. While relying on mostly practical effects, they are keeping costs low, but quality high. The tension, dread and fear that the series stirs has a huge impact and the story is fresh. I won’t lie, I had a nightmare after watching it. The show is going to have a huge impact on viewers and I think the series is only going to blossom and gain momentum from here. I can see ‘Candle Cove’ running for many seasons, let’s hope Syfy feels the same.

 

CHANNEL ZERO: CANDLE COVE -- "You Have To Go Inside" Episode 101 -- Pictured: Paul Schneider as Mike Painter -- (Photo by: Allen Fraser/Syfy)

 

Tune in to Syfy on Tuesday nights at 9/8c.

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