Creeped Out
Creeped Out is a BAFTA winning British-Canadian anthology horror television series created by Bede Blake and Robert Butler as a co-production between CBBC Productions and DHX Media. It premiered in the United Kingdom on CBBC on 31 October 2017 (Halloween),[4] and in Canada on the Family Channel on 5 October 2018.[5] In the United States, the show was announced as a Netflix original series.
| Creeped Out! | |
|---|---|
 Title card | |
| Genre | |
| Created by |
|
| Written by | Bede Blake Robert Butler Patrick Whistler Emma Campbell |
| Directed by |
|
| Narrated by | Aurora (Series 1) Hedvig Becke (Series 2)[2] |
| Composer | Joe Kraemer |
| Country of origin | |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 23 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | |
| Producers | Juliet Charlesworth Angela Boudreault |
| Running time | 25 minutes |
| Production companies | |
| Distributor | Netflix (streaming) |
| Release | |
| Original network | |
| Picture format | 16:9 1080i |
| Audio format | Stereo |
| Original release | 31 October 2017 – 4 October 2019 |
Each episode has an individual story and all are linked together by 'The Curious', a mysterious story collector who appears at the beginning and end of each episode. According to the creators Bede Blake and Robert Butler, inspiration was drawn from Steven Spielberg and Amazing Stories in particular.[6]
Format
Creeped Out is an anthology, with each episode featuring a new setting, story and new characters, although some details connect the stories together. This concept is quite similar to the American television show "Amazing Stories", in the sense that almost every episode, major details will shift and change. Each episode begins and ends with an appearance from The Curious (played by William Romain), a mysterious man whose face is always concealed by a mask. His self-stated purpose is to be a collecter of stories. The setting of Karter Bay appears in the episodes "Slapstick" and "The Call", and Zucco's Pizzeria is mentioned in "Trolled", “‘’No Filter”’’, "Marti" and "Kindlesticks".
Talking about The Curious, co-creator Bede Blake said: "It's designed to be an evolving urban legend. You don't know what's under that mask... Story-wise, he's not a threat to the children. He has his name because he is naturally curious. He's not somebody out to do harm. He's an observer."[6]
Production
Creeped Out was first announced by the BBC on 28 March 2017, saying "the stories combine sci-fi, horror, adventure, suspense, fantasy and mystery to thrill young viewers."[7]
Talking about the show for a Den of Geek interview, co-creator Robert Butler said that both CBBC and DHX gave the creators a long leash and "freedom to pitch whatever the hell we liked," but also provided buffers and steering when required.[6]
According to Syfy Wire, this was a great plan, and said Blake and Butler's plan was to make Amazing Stories mixed in with The Twilight Zone, but aimed at a younger, modernized audience.[8]
After the airing of "The Call", "Creeped Out" took a month-long hiatus. The first episode airing after the hiatus was "Bravery Badge".
On 9 August 2018, it was announced that "Creeped Out" had been commissioned for a second series by two channels, CBBC and Family Channel. The second series was released on 24 April 2019.[9][10]
Episodes
| Series | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First aired | Last aired | ||||
| 1 | 13 | 31 October 2017 | 20 February 2018 | ||
| 2 | 10 | 24 April 2019 | 4 October 2019 | ||
Series 1 (2017–18)
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Director | Writer(s) | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Slapstick" | Steve Hughes | Robert Butler | 31 October 2017 | |
|
Jessie is constantly embarrassed by her parents' behaviour. She comes across a puppet show on the beach and tells the puppet everything, with unexpected consequences: the next morning, Jessie's parents are transformed into living puppets. But she quickly realizes how much she misses her real mum and dad and must try to change them back. Cast : Sydney Wade, Daniel Ryan, Jennifer James, Robert Styles, Caitlan Barret-Ward, Stephanie Dooley, Noah Valentine and Simon Naylor. Filmed in New Brighton, The Wirral | ||||||
| 2 | 2 | "Cat Food" | Steve Hughes | Bede Blake & Robert Butler | 7 November 2017 | |
|
Stu cheats his mum into getting a day off sick from school – but he finds out the hard way what the creepy old lady in the house across the road is up to. Cast : Rhys Gannon, Maeve Larkin, Katie Rose Proctor and Margaret Jackman | ||||||
| 3 | 3 | "Trolled" | Steve Hughes | Bede Blake | 14 November 2017 | |
|
When Sam starts posting cruel messages anonymously on the school social media site, he soon understands the true meaning of being a troll. Cast : Jonathan Blake, Maximus Evans, Anya Lawrence, Rachel McGuinness, Phil Corbitt, Andrew Readman and Marcus Taylor | ||||||
| 4 | 4 | "Marti" | Bruce McDonald | Bede Blake & Robert Butler | 21 November 2017 | |
|
All Kim wants is to be accepted by the popular gang at school. The arrival of her perfect new phone gives her a helping hand, but soon everything starts to unravel. Is it a glitch in the technology or something stranger? Cast : Tiffany Elefano, Diya Kittur, Berkley Silverman, Sam Ashe Arnold, Steven Cooke and Helene Robbie | ||||||
| 5 | 5 | "A Boy Called Red" | Steve Hughes | Bede Blake & Robert Butler | 28 November 2017 | |
|
Vincent takes a trip back to his father's family home, but as he checks out the house he finds there is something unexplained lurking in the cellar. Cast : Malen Clarkson, Jason Done, Rosina Carbone, Boris Burnell-Anderson and Macey Howarth | ||||||
| 6 | 6 | "The Call" | Steve Hughes | Bede Blake & Robert Butler | 5 December 2017 | |
|
Pearl feels uncomfortable in her own skin, and when a mysterious call draws her to the sea, she embarks on a journey of discovery that she may come to regret. Cast : Rebecca Hanssen, William Haresceugh, Chris Jack, Zita Sattar and Acushla-Tara Kupe. Partly filmed in New Brighton, The Wirral | ||||||
| 7 | 7 | "Bravery Badge" | Steve Hughes | Bede Blake & Robert Butler | 9 January 2018 | |
|
On a girl scout trip to woodland, Dent really wishes she could call a cab home. Cast : Tillie Amartey, Isabella Pinto, Bella Band, Lola Ogunyemi and Elizabeth Bower | ||||||
| 8 | 8 | "Spaceman" | Steve Hughes | Bede Blake & Robert Butler | 16 January 2018 | |
|
Spud and Thomas go for a ramble through the woods looking for a den, and find much more than they bargained for. Cast : William Romain, Amelia Curtis, Gianluca Gallucci and Jacob Henshaw | ||||||
| 9 | 9 | "Kindlesticks" | Bruce McDonald | Bede Blake & Robert Butler | 23 January 2018 | |
|
Esme, the 'world's worst babysitter', takes a job with a nice new family, but finds herself outfoxed. Cast : Romy Weltman, Justin Kelly, Jesse Adam Lowell, Beatriz Yuste, Robin Archer, Andrea Grant, Aliya Anthony, Aria Anthony and Gracie Mchendry | ||||||
| 10 | 10 | "Shed No Fear" | Bruce McDonald | Denis McGrath | 30 January 2018 | |
|
Greg has a hunch all is not well with his friend Dave. When he follows him to his aunt's shed, the adventure is only just beginning Cast : Jordan Poole, Thamela Mpumlwana, Jake Sim, Darlene Cooke, Andrew Moodie and Jaiden Cannatelli | ||||||
| 11 | 11 | "The Traveller" | Steve Hughes | Bede Blake & Robert Butler | 6 February 2018 | |
|
Jodie and Brandon find themselves stuck in between times – and they are not alone. Cast : Leah Choudhry, Daniel Ogbeide-John and Andonis Anthony | ||||||
| 12 | 12 | "Side Show Part 1" | Bruce McDonald | Bede Blake & Robert Butler | 13 February 2018 | |
| Ace is an amazing aromaologist in an old fashion circus, but how exactly did he get there and where does he really belong? | ||||||
| 13 | 13 | "Side Show Part 2" | Bruce McDonald | Bede Blake and Robert Butler | 20 February 2018 | |
| As Ace starts to make sense of his few memories of his past, a plan comes together to get him home, but plans don't always go to plan. | ||||||
Series 2 (2019)
| No. in series |
No. in season |
Title | Director | Writer(s) | Original air date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 1 | "One More Minute" | Bruce McDonald | Patrick Whistler | 24 April 2019 | |
| Jack loves to play video games. But when he starts playing with a mysterious new kid online, he starts to notice gaps in his memory. He wakes up not knowing how long it’s been. Where did the time go and how much worse can this get? | ||||||
| 15 | 2 | "Itchy" | Gareth Tunley | Robert Butler | 1 May 2019 | |
| Gabe is not known for his bravery. He’s never been the hero. But when head lice begin to infest his small town and everyone is in a panic, he may be the only person who can stop it. | ||||||
| 16 | 3 | "Help" | Bruce McDonald | Robert Butler | 8 May 2019 | |
| Artificial intelligence can be helpful around the house. But does it have access to too much information? What if it knows everything about your family? What if you’ve unknowingly given it – complete control. | ||||||
| 17 | 4 | "The Many Place" | Lucy Campbell | Bede Blake | 15 May 2019 | |
| Three siblings, on a rainy vacation in Australia, are stuck killing time in the hotel. But the more they explore, the more questions they have. Where does one hallway end and another begin? And what lies behind that next door? | ||||||
| 18 | 5 | "The Unfortunate Five" | Bruce McDonald | Emma Campbell | 22 May 2019 | |
| The ‘unfortunate five are stuck in detention. Though instead of punishment, they get mindfulness exercises. But by the time they piece everything together, will it be too late? | ||||||
| 19 | 6 | "No Filter" | Simon Hynd | Robert Butler | 6 September 2019 | |
| A selfie-obsessed young girl downloads a new app that promises to make her flaws fade away, only to find it comes with dire consequences. | ||||||
| 20 | 7 | "Only Child" | Bruce McDonald | Bede Blake, Robert Butler & Christina Ray | 13 September 2019 | |
| When Mia's baby brother comes home from the hospital, strange things begin to happen around the house, and Mia gets all the blame. | ||||||
| 21 | 8 | "The Takedown" | Bruce McDonald | Emma Campbell | 20 September 2019 | |
| Alexa, a girl on the school’s wrestling team, wants to be able to beat her opponents in the ring, however feels as if she is not strong enough to take them down. When a mysterious identity called “iAmTrUdI” begins promising Alexa a “gift” in order to win, Alexa becomes invincible and begins to win, unaware that the “gift” she has taken comes from others. | ||||||
| 22 | 9 | "Tilly Bone" | Simon Hynd | Bede Blake | 27 September 2019 | |
| Told in reverse, a mysterious new friend helps a teenager exact supernatural revenge on her bullies at her birthday party. | ||||||
| 23 | 10 | "Splinta Claws" | Gareth Tunley | Bede Blake | 26 December 2018 | |
| Two boys get locked in a department store overnight at Christmas. | ||||||
Reception
Critical response
The popular television magazine "TVTimes" gave the series four stars, comparing it to Tales of the Unexpected, and called it a "series of eerie and mysterious stories, ending with a moral."[11]
Chris Bennion for The Times said, "the stories are pleasingly macabre and inventive."[12] Den of Geek called the series "unmissable"[6] and "brilliantly chilling."[4]
Accolades
Creeped Out won a BAFTA for Best Drama at the Children’s BAFTAS 2019. It has been nominated for numerous other awards, including the Royal Television Society North Award for Best Drama, and the Kidscreen Award for Best New Series. It has also been nominated for three Canadian Screen Awards 2020, including one for Best Youth Show. For writing it has been nominated for a Writers Guild Of Great Britain Award and a British Screenwriters Award. In the acting department it has been nominated for a Young Artist Award for Berkley Silverman, Young Entertainer Award for Jordan Poole, and Young Artists Awards for both Jordan Poole and Justin Kelly, who also won a Joey Award for his role in episode "Kindlesticks."
References
- Taylor, Cheryl. "Spooky Tales from CBBC and DHX Media in a major new co-production". BBC. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- Becke, Hedvig. "Hedvig Becke on Instagram". Instagram. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- "CBBC orders spooky drama". Broadcastnow.co.uk. Retrieved 29 March 2017.
- Mellor, Louisa (26 October 2017). "Creeped Out: ace first trailer for new CBBC horror anthology". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on 26 January 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- Joanna Landsberg (27 September 2018). "Series Debuts October 5; Sneak Peek Available on the App October 1". DHX Media. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
- Mellor, Louisa (5 October 2018). "Creeped Out: unmissable horror anthology launches worldwide". Den of Geek. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
- "BBC – Spooky Tales from CBBC and DHX Media in a major new co-production – Creeped Out – Media Centre". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- Caron, Nathalie (26 October 2017). "First trailer for Creeped Out is basically Are You Afraid of the Dark? for the modern-day". Syfy.com. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- Butler, Robert (18 March 2019). "Robert Butler on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 11 April 2019.
- Mossberg, Walter S. Hastings, Reed. Rose, Charlie. Jay, Mike. Vega, Yvette (2005), The Charlie Rose Show, [Charlie Rose, Inc.], OCLC 63171102CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
- "Instagram post by James Stack • Nov 1, 2017 at 10:55pm UTC". Instagram.com. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
- "Photographic image of review" (JPG). Pbs.twimg.com. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
