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"Fear Itself" on NBC

#1
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Did anyone else hear anything about this new show that begins June 5th. Seems like a Twilight Zone/Outer Limits type of show. Could be good...

Here is the synopsis from NBC...

Quote:
"Fear Itself" is a provocative, new 13-episode suspense and horror anthology series set to push the boundaries of this classic genre through a host of provocative talent, both in front of and behind the camera, including award-winning, sought-after directors John Landis ("An American Werewolf in London"), Darren Bousman ("Saw II, III and IV") and Ronny Yu ("Bride of Chucky"); actors Brandon Routh ("Superman Returns"), Shiri Appleby ("Charlie Wilson’s War"), Elisabeth Moss ("Mad Men"), Cynthia Watros ("Lost"), Eric Roberts (NBC’s “Heroes”) and John Billingsley ("Star Trek: Enterprise"); and writers, including Joe Gangemi ("Wind Chill," the novel "Inamorata"), Steve Niles ("30 Days of Night") and Dan Knauf ("Carnivàle," "Supernatural").

Bring back John Doe! Or at least resolve the cliff-hanger with a 2hr movie or as an extra on a dvd release.

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#2
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Quote:
"Fear Itself" is a provocative, new 13-episode suspense and horror anthology series set to push the boundaries of this classic genre through a host of provocative talent,

Sounds provocative. Did they run out of adjectives?

It does sound interesting though.
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#3
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

This is basically Masters Of Horror under a new name (and without executive producer Mick Garris). There's nothing else on so I'm sure I'll be watching but I'd imagine that it'll be like MOH and have some episodes that are fairly good and some that are just terrible.
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#4
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

This looks potentially good enough to be cancelled after 2 weeks.

When was the last time a true anthology series lasted on network TV.
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#5
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR
This is basically Masters Of Horror under a new name (and without executive producer Mick Garris). There's nothing else on so I'm sure I'll be watching but I'd imagine that it'll be like MOH and have some episodes that are fairly good and some that are just terrible.
That's what I was thinking. Re-heated MOH with less bad language & violence.

Uncle Joe: I'll never marry you, Selma Plout!  You may as well take off that wedding dress and put it back in your Hopeless Chest!

--Petticoat Junction--

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#6
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

As a long time fan of shows like these, particularly Tales from the Darkside (guys voice in the beginning of each episode still gives me the creeps) and Tales from the Crypt, i'm looking foreward to this.
"You have no idea how far i'm willing to go to acquire your cooperation." - Jack Bauer
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#7
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

I thought the first one was well done. I hope this lasts since there's not much else worth watching in the summer.

Also, who was the girl that played the main sister? I have just seen her in something else and I can't remember what it was. IMDB doesn't have cast info up/

\"and no one seems to understand the glory of guitar, when out of tune, the off timing, the singers who can't sing, - the beauty of flaw!\"

"I apologize if there is anyone in this room I have not offended" - Brahms

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#8
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkMel
Also, who was the girl that played the main sister? I have just seen her in something else and I can't remember what it was. IMDB doesn't have cast info up/

Rachel Miner.
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#9
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

MarkMel wrote (post #7):

Quote:
I thought the first one was well done. I hope this lasts since there's not much else worth watching in the summer.

The episode "Sacrifice" was pretty "warmed-over" stuff, in my opinion. Nothing innovative in plot or subject matter, the double entendre reference of its title being the only "food for thought" about it.

Nevertheless, the good supernatural horror is always worth a watch. The program does have potential.

For more info on the production, see here.
"Delenda est . . . . "
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#10
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Ahh, man, I missed it! I completely forgot this was coming on.
"You have no idea how far i'm willing to go to acquire your cooperation." - Jack Bauer
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#11
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Eventhough it has a new name and network, I still think of this as Masters Of Horror so I think it's fair to make comparisons between the two. On the plus side, it still looked like a (low budget) movie rather than a TV show. It was good to see that the show didn't seem to suffer from holding back on graphic violence and profanity. On the negative side, like alot of MOHs, I thought this was a forgettable and predictable episode. And on an odder note, the theme song made me laugh outloud.

The good thing is that with a different writer and director each week, I can hold out hope that each episode will be good. I thought Brad Anderson's episode last season (Sounds Like) was one of the best of the entire series so I'm hoping he can deliver with the next episode.

EDIT: ^John, check out NBC.com, they put up alot of their TV shows online.
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#12
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Didn't care for the first episode, it was ok. I'll watch a few more though.

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#13
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

The show is a lot like the short lived series "Night Vision". Which like "Fear Itself" seems to always have a downer ending.

Bring back John Doe! Or at least resolve the cliff-hanger with a 2hr movie or as an extra on a dvd release.

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#14
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Quote:
Originally Posted by Inspector Hammer!
Ahh, man, I missed it! I completely forgot this was coming on.
Me too. This was the night I finally decided to go see the new "Indiana Jones" and forgot to set the recorder for "Fear Itself".

Uncle Joe: I'll never marry you, Selma Plout!  You may as well take off that wedding dress and put it back in your Hopeless Chest!

--Petticoat Junction--

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#15
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Much better episode this week.

I'm a fan of character actors so I enjoyed seeing Eric Roberts. While I haven't seen them in many things, I like Larry Gilliard (having seen him in The Wire and Cecil B. Demented) and Cynthia Watros (having seen her only in Lost).
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#16
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

The episode "Family Man" airing last week (June 19) was pretty well done. And pulled no punches. I can't believe a broadcast network (NBC) is airing something so dark, but I'm not complaining. This story of the family man and the serial killer suspect switching bodies reminded me of the episode on The Outer Limits called "The Human Factor," but this version had a more shocking and decidely unhappy ending. But appropriately uncompromised for a horror anthology series.

Anyone know how many episodes are running? I'm on board for the remainder.
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#17
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hollywoodaholic
but this version had a more shocking and decidely unhappy ending. But appropriately uncompromised for a horror anthology series.

As I stated earlier. This is similar to the show "Night Visions". But, I see its going to make the same mistake. Every ending is unhappy. What made the Twilight Zone so great is that you never knew how it would end. It could be bad or good. For example the episode with William Shatner where he was obsessed with the fortune telling amusement machine. If it was one of the shows above. He would have been stuck there. But, in the TZ you didn't know. And in the end he got out. And on the other side. You have the episode "Talking Tina"(Still the creepiest episode). Where you see what happened to Kojack.

Bring back John Doe! Or at least resolve the cliff-hanger with a 2hr movie or as an extra on a dvd release.

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#18
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hollywoodaholic
Anyone know how many episodes are running?
They shot 13 episodes and this week will be the fourth one to air.

EDIT: From the current issue of Fangoria, the episodes are

Eater written by Richard Chizmar and Johnathon Schaech, directed by Stuart Gordon
Spooked w: Matt Venne d: Brad Anderson
Community w: Kelly Kennemer d: Mary Harron
The Sacrifice w:Mick Garris d: Breck Eisner
In Sickness & In Health w: Victor Salva d: John Landis
New Year's Day w: Steve Niles d: Darren Lynn Bousman
Family Man w: Dan Kanuf d: Ronny Yu
Skin And Bones w: Drew McWeeny and Scott Swan d: Larry Fessenden
Something With Bite w: Max Landis d: Ernest Dickerson
Chance w: Lem Dobbs d: TBA
Oujia w: Joe Gangemi d: TBA
Echoes w: Sean Hood d: Rob Bowman
The Circle w: Richard Chizmar and Johnathon Schaech d: Eduardo Rodriguez

SEE POST 22 FOR MORE UPDATES TO THIS LIST

Since the episodes haven't aired in that order, I'm assuming that's just the production order and NBC will run them how they want.
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#19
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Quote:
Originally Posted by TravisR
They shot 13 episodes and this week will be the fourth one to air.

EDIT: From the current issue of Fangoria, the episodes are

Eater written by Richard Chizmar and Johnathon Schaech, directed by Stuart Gordon
Spooked w: Matt Venne d: Brad Anderson
Community w: Kelly Kennemer d: Mary Harron
The Sacrifice w:Mick Garris d: Breck Eisner
In Sickness & In Health w: Victor Salva d: John Landis
New Year's Day w: Steve Niles d: Darren Lynn Bousman
Family Man w: Dan Kanuf d: Ronny Yu
Skin And Bones w: Drew McWeeny and Scott Swan d: Larry Fessenden
Something With Bite w: Max Landis d: Ernest Dickerson
Chance w: Lem Dobbs d: TBA
Oujia w: Joe Gangemi d: TBA
Echoes w: Sean Hood d: Rob Bowman
The Circle w: Richard Chizmar and Johnathon Schaech d: Eduardo Rodriguez

Since the episodes haven't aired in that order, I'm assuming that's just the production order and NBC will run them how they want.

Thanks. I saw the John Landis-directed episode last night and while it was very well acted and directed (lots of close ups of Jesus statuettes, for some reason), the "twist" ending was obvious to any TZ veteran within the first five minutes. A bride gets a note just before her wedding that reads: "the person you are marrying is a serial killer." Naturally, paranoia and lots of cat and mouse ensues. But the moment you see the note reads "person," and not 'groom' or 'man,' you know the deal. So you just wait for an entire hour to be confirmed right.

Still, it's a better show than Swingtown, even for those of us who partied hearty in the 70s.
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#20
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hollywoodaholic
Thanks. I saw the John Landis-directed episode last night and while it was very well acted and directed (lots of close ups of Jesus statuettes, for some reason), the "twist" ending was obvious to any TZ veteran within the first five minutes. A bride gets a note just before her wedding that reads: "the person you are marrying is a serial killer." Naturally, paranoia and lots of cat and mouse ensues. But the moment you see the note reads "person," and not 'groom' or 'man,' you know the deal. So you just wait for an entire hour to be confirmed right.

Still, it's a better show than Swingtown, even for those of us who partied hearty in the 70s.
I watched it last night for the first time and was kind of disappointed. I was hoping for more, but the twist was kind of generic. The episode itself was pretty boring but I held out hope for a cool ending and then was kind of let down.
I guess these will be hit or miss due to the nature of the show, but I really thought Salva (Jeepers Creepers) and Landis would be able to put together something better than that.
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#21
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

"Eater" was fantastic....really loved that episode.

I'm looking forward to next weeks "New Year's Day" even more, though - sounds all kinds of awesome. I do hope NBC will keep this around for a second season.
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#22
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Primarily due to the lack of a happy ending, I really dug this week's episode too.

And from NBC's website, updates to the writer/director info:
Chance w: Lem Dobbs d: John Dahl
Echoes w: Sean Hood d: Rupert Wainwright (apparently replacing Rob Bowman)
The Spirit Box (retitled from Oujia) w: Joe Gangemi d: TBA
and the episode Community isn't listed on NBC's site but I guess that could mean anything from that NBC just hasn't updated their info all the way to that they dropped the episode.

Quote:
Originally Posted by AlexSchwarz
I'm looking forward to next weeks "New Year's Day"...
NBC is playing Last Comic Standing on Thursday so it won't air until July 17. I'm looking forward to that episode too.
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#23
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Which upcoming episode has Brandon Routh in it?

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#24
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Sun
Which upcoming episode has Brandon Routh in it?
According to the IMDB, it's "Community".
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#25
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Sun
Which upcoming episode has Brandon Routh in it?
Just a heads up, that episode is on Thursday the 24th.
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#26
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

I thought last night zombie episode would take a twist and have it that she was doing all the killing in an ambian and booze induced haze and the zombie part was in her head.

But alas, it was just a typical zombie theme.

\"and no one seems to understand the glory of guitar, when out of tune, the off timing, the singers who can't sing, - the beauty of flaw!\"

"I apologize if there is anyone in this room I have not offended" - Brahms

My Band - The Bailout Plan

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#27
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

I thought it was a cool twist. I spent the most of the episode yelling at the tv for her stupidity. Not taking a weapon from her apartment or not grabbing the gun, etc.

With regards to her intelligence. I think that killing herself and not getting infected by attack. Allowed some of her intelligence to linger. Thus the things we saw her do.

Bring back John Doe! Or at least resolve the cliff-hanger with a 2hr movie or as an extra on a dvd release.

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#28
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

I already liked "Eater" a lot, but this week's episode was simply awesome.

So far, the majority of this show's first season has been very enjoyable and I'm looking forward to the rest of it. I hope it will be renewed, but I guess it doesn't look like it - or is there a fair chance?
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#29
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Re: "Fear Itself" on NBC

I found this weeks episode particularly creepy. They really made the character Grady look incredibly scary and evil.
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