'Inside No. 9's Supernatural Themed Episode To Watch This Halloween
If you're looking for something to get you in the Halloween mood, 'Inside No. 9' has plenty of episodes that are perfect for spooky season. Created by Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton, the show is known for its dark humour and unexpected twists, but some of its best episodes have a supernatural edge that makes them ideal for Halloween viewing.
While the 2018 live Halloween special 'Dead Line' is an obvious choice, there are other episodes packed with ghostly chills, eerie settings, and psychological scares that are just as perfect for a night of horror.
'The Harrowing'
Series one, episode six
When teenager Katy (Aimee-Ffion Edwards) is hired to house-sit for the strange siblings Hector (Reece Shearsmith) and Tabitha (Helen McCrory), she finds herself alone in a cold, Gothic mansion filled with disturbing paintings of Hell. Katy is told not to disturb their disabled brother, Andras, who is confined to his bedroom upstairs. But the night takes a terrifying turn, and soon she's caught up in something far darker than she ever expected. With its creepy atmosphere and shocking conclusion, 'The Harrowing' is a classic haunted house tale with a disturbing twist.
'The Trial of Elizabeth Gadge'
Series two, episode three
In the 17th century, an elderly woman, Elizabeth Gadge (Ruth Sheen), is accused of witchcraft in the sleepy village of Little Happens. The renowned witch-finders Mr Warren (Shearsmith) and Mr Clarke (Steve Pemberton) are brought in to preside over her trial, which promises to be a spectacle for the villagers. As the absurdity of the accusations grows, the trial takes on an increasingly dark and twisted tone. This episode blends historical horror with the show's dark humour, making it a chilling yet hilarious watch for Halloween.
'Séance Time'
Series two, episode six
Tina (Sophie McShera) arrives at an old Victorian villa to attend a séance led by the eccentric Madam Talbot (Alison Steadman). What starts as a fun attempt to contact the dead quickly spirals out of control when the séance reveals more than just cheap parlour tricks. In true 'Inside No. 9' style, nothing is quite what it seems, and the episode plays on the tropes of ghost hunting and séances with both horror and humour. The scares keep coming, but so do the laughs, making this a great supernatural pick.
'The Devil of Christmas'
Series three, episode one
It might be a Christmas episode, but with the terrifying Krampus at its centre, 'The Devil of Christmas' is packed with supernatural horror. In 1977, an English family heads to an Austrian chalet for a festive holiday, only to hear the sinister local legend of the Krampus, a creature that punishes naughty children. The episode is presented as a film with director's commentary, but as the tale unfolds, it becomes clear that something much more unsettling is going on behind the scenes. This one is a twisted take on both folklore and the Christmas horror genre.
'Tempting Fate'
Series four, episode five
When three council contractors – Keith (Pemberton), Nick (Shearsmith), and Maz (Weruche Opia) – are tasked with clearing out the flat of a deceased hoarder, they stumble upon something strange. In the hoarder's safe, they find a mysterious artefact that seems to bring them bad luck, and soon they're facing a series of bizarre and terrifying events. What starts as an oddball job quickly descends into a supernatural nightmare. With its claustrophobic setting and eerie atmosphere, 'Tempting Fate' is an unsettling exploration of greed and fate.
'Dead Line'
Halloween Special 2018
In this brilliant Halloween special, Arthur Flitwick (Pemberton) finds an old mobile phone in a graveyard and makes the mistake of trying to track down its owner. As Halloween draws near, his attempts lead him into a nightmare where the lines between reality and the supernatural blur. What begins as a standard 'Inside No. 9' story soon descends into chaos, but we can't tell you why. Although originally broadcast live, the episode does lose a little of its charm when watched on demand, but even still it is a clever, terrifying watch, and a Halloween must-see.
'Death Be Not Proud'
Series five, episode two
Beattie (Jenna Coleman) and Sam (Kadiff Kirwan) have just moved into their new flat, delighted to finally be on the property ladder. But their dream home comes with a dark past, and things start to take a sinister turn when they learn about its previous occupant, David Sowerbutts (Pemberton). What follows is a tale of creeping dread, haunted homes, and dark secrets. With nods to 'Psychoville', this episode takes the traditional haunted house story and twists it into something uniquely unsettling.
'The Bones of St Nicholas'
Series eight, episode one
Dr Jasper Parkway (Pemberton) books himself an overnight stay in a reputedly haunted church, hoping for some peace and quiet. But he soon realises he's not alone when a pair of strangers, Pierce (Shearsmith) and Posy (Shobna Gulati), arrive uninvited. Joined by the eccentric church warden Dick (Simon Callow), Jasper's plans quickly unravel as tensions rise and the presence of something supernatural becomes apparent.
'Mother's Ruin'
Series eight, episode two
In this episode, brothers (Pemberton and Shearsmith) return to their family home to uncover the dark secrets left behind by their villainous East End parents, Harry and Annie Blackwood. What starts as a search for buried loot quickly becomes something much more sinister, as the brothers begin to realise that some secrets are best left in the grave. 'Mother's Ruin' is a classic tale of family horrors, packed with twists and eerie discoveries.
'3 By 3'
Series eight, episode five
This seemingly normal quiz show, hosted by Lee Mack, sees three teams of three competing for cash prizes. But as the episode progresses, it becomes clear that not everything is as it seems. The Oakwood family (Saskia Wakefield, Gemma Page, James Tucker) are hiding something dark, and the quiz format quickly takes a turn for the sinister.
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