Reacher's breakout star got their first big break with this horror series, which is best described as Backrooms meets Twin Peaks. With Obsession becoming the highest-grossing original horror of the 21st Century and Backrooms becoming a runaway hit, it's fair to say YouTube content creators are having a moment in 2026. Naturally, Hollywood will take the wrong lessons from this current movement - as studios have already rushed to greenlight more "viral" horror shorts - but it's still nice to see fresh blood arriving to the genre.
In particular, audiences should expect more of the liminal, uncanny style that Backrooms is a perfect example of. This dreamy brand of chills was previously pioneered by David Lynch movies like Eraserhead or Lost Highway, with the late, great filmmaker having a unique talent for tapping into nightmare logic. For horror fans who want a series that blends Backrooms and the works of David Lynch together, Channel Zero comes highly recommended.
This four-season anthology adapted a new "creepypasta" story each season. The first series, for example, adapted "Candle Cove," about a group of adults linked by a creepy kids' show that seemingly never existed. Despite being well-reviewed and giving actors like Reacher star Maria Sten their first big roles, the show never got the attention it deserved.
Channel Zero Is The 2010s Most Underrated Horror Show
Channel Zero was produced by the Syfy Channel from 2016 to 2018, and while it may have lacked the budget of something like American Horror Story, it more than made up for that in imagination. Each season had its own distinct look and themes, and in a rare move, all six episodes of a given year were directed by the same filmmaker. For instance, Arkasha Stevenson (The First Omen) helmed every episode of season three, Butcher's Block.
Channel Zero was always focused on building a sense of dread and atmosphere, as opposed to jump scares or gore. It certainly had its moments of both though, with Butcher's Block featuring some wince-inducing instances of bloodshed. That said, the show was more likely to induce a chill with its visuals, from the repulsive Tooth Child - a monster comprised entirely of teeth - to an impossible staircase leading to a doorway suspended in midair.
Channel Zero always felt like it was designed with a niche audience in mind, and that particular audience adored it. It deserved a wider viewer base though, and if it had aired around the time Backrooms was coming out, it may have broken through in a bigger way. All four seasons can currently be found streaming on Shudder, and at six episodes per series, it's bingeable.
Backrooms Fans Will Adore Channel Zero's Second Season
Arguably the best season of Channel Zero is the second, No-End House. This follows a grieving teenager who enters the titular haunted house and is soon sucked into a strange, parallel dimension where a copy of her late father exists. While every season has some eerie example of liminal horror, No-End House almost feels like a prototype for Backrooms.
Both are horror tales born from the internet age dealing with alternate realities that look like our own, but just slightly off. The "memory eating" in No-End House somewhat mirrors the unnerving dinner scene from Backrooms too. Channel Zero showrunner Nick Antosca also cited It Follows and John Carpenter movies like Halloween as stylistic influences on the second season, which can be seen in its abandoned suburban settings.
In conclusion, Backrooms fans looking for some more liminal chills whilst waiting around for a (potential) sequel should definitely seek out Channel Zero's No-End House. After finishing that, they may as well give the rest of the show a try, especially the Maria Sten-fronted final season, The Dream Door, which has Backrooms influences of its own.
Alan Ritchson Effectively Seals Reacher’s Long-Term Fate On Prime Video
A surprise move from Alan Ritchson effectively seals the long-term fate of Reacher on Prime Video. Following its successful debut in 2022, the action-adventure series immediately became a hit for the streamer. This is despite being burdened by the previous big-screen adaptation of Lee Child's novels. Tom Cruise's movie take on Jack Reacher had its fans, and it remain enjoyable upon rewatch now. That said, it's safe to say that Ritchson's portrayal as the former military-turned-wanderer is widely regarded as its definitive version, especially after three seasons of Reacher.
While its sophomore year wasn't able to be as universally beloved as its freshman year, it never really impacted the public's interest in the Prime Video series. Reacher season 3 posted the highest viewership for the show in its history and considering the hype surrounding what's next for the character, the wait for season 4 has been frustrating for some. Based on "Gone Tomorrow," the next installment of the Prime Video project has long finished production, with a release date supposedly sometime this year. Beyond that, however, Ritchson has effectively confirmed Reacher's long-term fate thanks to a new update.
Alan Ritchson's First-Look Deal With Prime Video Solidifies Reacher's Future
Proof of Prime Video's confidence in the series is the fact that it has already renewed for Reacher season 5 before it could even come back with new episodes this year. Admittedly, that's unsurprising, considering the show's popularity. Looking after that, however, the fate of the project is still uncertain. That said, Ritchson's new three-year first-look television deal with the studio via his production company, Dancing Skeleton (via Deadline), effectively solidifies Reacher's return throughout the terms of that new agreement.
This means that if the show maintains its yearly release, it can run for two to three more seasons after Reacher season 5. Obviously, that doesn't factor in the possibility that Prime Video and Ritchson will extend their current deal, or that the streamer will renew the show even after the first-look agreement is done. However, considering that there are about 30 books in Child's novels, Reacher can definitely stay on the air for more years to come.
Why Reacher Has Resonated With The Public
Reacher is arguably the biggest breakout hit of the last few years. Granted that it had built-in fans, thanks to Child's novels and Cruise's films, it would be hard-pressed to find anyone who could have predicted just how big it was going to be. Streaming and traditional broadcasters have their respective action-adventure book adaptation shows, but very few come close to the success of the Prime Video series. The project has been so popular, the streamer has started to expand the franchise via its very first offshoot, Neagley.
What sets Reacher apart from its peers is how it has been able to perfectly balance being faithful to its source material while also offering viewers something new. This way, fans of the books can still enjoy them without being able to predict every single twist that's coming their way. Beyond that, the fact that Reacher has also made sure to have a yearly release despite being on streaming somehow helps in keeping it relevant amid an influx of other shows in the genre.
Be the first to comment on this article!