Essential Insights
- Analog horror films draw inspiration from vintage VHS aesthetics, creating chilling experiences reminiscent of late-night television and news reports.
- This genre surged in popularity during the 2010s, characterized by cryptic messages and surreal visuals.
- Notable analog horror series include “No Through Road,””Ben Drowned,”and “Super Mario 64: CLASSIFIED.”
So, what exactly is analog horror? This genre encompasses horror films, shorts, or videos styled after outdated formats like VHS, Beta, or early camcorder recordings. Often, they evoke the feel of an old news segment or an informational video, similar to what viewers might see on classic television.
Gaining traction particularly in the 2010s, analog horror was influenced by nostalgic horror shows like Ghostwatch and real-life instances like the Max Headroom signal hijacking. The eerie blend of obscure messages, visual distortions, and surreal images can give audiences a spine-chilling experience, especially with standout examples of this genre.
Updated October 26, 2024 by David Heath: Analog horror has firmly established itself as a genre, evolving from mere ARGs and quirky standalone pieces like Local 58 or CH/SS. Now, YouTube users searching for content can easily stumble upon an analog horror video, whether it’s from this compilation, an underground favorite, or a production trying to replicate the genre’s unique essence.
With Halloween approaching, it’s an ideal time to highlight some additional analog horror series worth watching. These include hidden gems that may have gone unnoticed, along with rising series that have gained traction. Regardless of the pick, they promise to deliver an unsettling experience for anyone eager for new frights through the lens of old technology.
1 No Through Road
Making A Poor Choice
- Creator: Steven Chamberlain
- Inspirations: The Blair Witch Project, David Lynch’s films, and the Doctor Who episode ‘Time’
No Through Road began as a standalone short in 2009, but its popularity encouraged Steven Chamberlain to create three additional episodes for YouTube between 2011 and 2012. The premise revolves around the recorded footage of four 17-year-old boys discovered deceased in their vehicle, with their tapes recovered by MI6 before being uploaded online.
The series depicts the group taking a detour down a “no through road”adjacent to an abandoned farm. During a break, they encounter a meticulously intact dead rabbit, setting off a series of increasingly bizarre events, including repeated scenarios and encounters with a shadowy figure. Even though this series predates the formal labeling of the term “analog horror,”its VHS-style visuals and viral success laid the groundwork for the genre’s subsequent emergence in creepypasta culture.
2 Ben Drowned
A Trailblazer in Gaming Horror
- Creator: Alex ‘Jadusable’ Hall
- Inspirations: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask, Slender Man, and various creepypasta tales
Stories featuring cursed items have long captivated audiences, spawning notable works like Koji Suzuki’s Ring, which inspired numerous adaptations. These narratives birthed a variety of horror microfiction dubbed creepypasta, encompassing eerie tales involving cursed cartoon episodes and video games.
Ben Drowned merges a written creepypasta about a bewitched version of The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask with accompanying visual footage. The dissonant soundtrack, glitchy gameplay, and the game’s already unsettling atmosphere distinguished it from other horror narratives. This story wielded a surprising influence, inspiring characters in series like Gravity Falls and Doki Doki Literature Club.
3 Super Mario 64: CLASSIFIED
When All The Urban Legends Hold True
- Creator: Greenio
- Inspirations: Ben Drowned, common rumors surrounding Super Mario 64
Not only does The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask contain creepy elements, but Super Mario 64 has also sparked unusual urban myths, like the idea that each game cartridge is uniquely tuned to its owner. Although largely a humorous notion, the YouTube series Super Mario 64: CLASSIFIED explores what could happen if this theory were accurate.
The series presents itself as VHS recordings from a malfunctioning demo version of Super Mario 64. As the story unfolds, it becomes evident that Nintendo concealed a sinister truth regarding the game’s development, one with potential catastrophic implications. Although light-hearted at times, it delivers a uniquely eerie experience. This series concluded its run in January 2023, now allowing viewers to access the entire narrative on YouTube.
4 Petscop
Turning a Let’s Play into a Horror Experience
- Creator: Tony Domenico
- Inspirations: Marble Hornets, Ben Drowned, and David Lynch’s film Inland Empire
As the trend of edited gaming commentaries or “Let’s Plays” has dwindled with the preference for live streams and extensive content, a unique horror narrative emerged centered around a mysterious PS1 game supposedly produced by the fictional company Garalina.
Petscop features Paul as he navigates through this obscure game, initially appearing to be a simple puzzle-solving adventure revolving around a ‘Guardian’ reclaiming lost pets. Gradually, however, unsettling themes regarding attachment therapy, abuse, and disappearances surface, revealing a deeper and more haunting narrative than just an abnormal game experience.
5 Local 58
The Origin of the Genre’s Name
- Creator: Kris Straub
- Inspirations: Candle Cove, Lovecraftian horror
This series mimics broadcasts from a public access channel in West Virginia, showcasing perplexing messages warning viewers against gazing at the moon and featuring dashcam footage of unsettling encounters. Its fifth episode, titled ‘Station ID’, not only intrigued viewers with its surreal plots but also coined the term ‘ANALOG HORROR’ by directly stating it at 476MHZ.
6 CH/SS
A Blend of Espionage and the Supernatural
- Creator: Turkey Lenin III
- Inspirations: The SCP Foundation, MK-Ultra, and covert Cold War initiatives
CH/SS remains less documented than other entries on this list, emerging around the same time as Local 58, created by the enigmatic figure of ‘Turkey Lenin III’. Despite its obscurity, some claim it to be one of the pioneering analog horror series. It manifests as a collection of instructional videos tied to a government-sponsored mental health initiative in the 1980s.
As the series progresses, it veers into eerie territory, alluding to espionage, manipulation, and supernatural occurrences highlighted by enigmatic Russian dialogue and peculiar creatures. The integration of ARG elements, such as download links and fictional social media accounts, further immerses audiences in its unsettling narrative, even when consumed outside this interactive framework.
7 The Mandela Catalogue
Exploring Alternate Realities
- Creator : Alex Kister
- Inspirations: The Mandela Effect urban legend, CH/SS
Debuting in 2021, The Mandela Catalogue consists of videos mimicking old VHS tapes, presenting events in Mandela County, Wisconsin. The videos illustrate the ominous presence of shapeshifting beings known as ‘Alternates’ who impersonate loved ones before striking.
These creatures can morph into any living form and are capable of corrupting media broadcasts, creating disorienting content that leaves the audience unsettled. Utilizing actual police sketches and haunting visuals, the series gained notable traction online, fostering a fan base eager for more, even amidst the delays resulting from some behind-the-scenes drama.
8 The Smile Tapes
An Eerie Exploration of a Drug’s Influence
- Creator : Patorikku
- Inspirations: The Last of Us, biological horror
Who would have predicted that the fungus ophiocordyceps unilateralis would influence popular culture? The mind-controlling fungus inspired the infected beings in The Last of Us, as well as The Smile Tapes, a 2021 encompassing analog horror series. Set in the 1990s, these tapes delve into the narrative of a new drug named SMILE, intricately linked to a similar yet unknown fungus.
The narrative explores the underground market for the drug, which triggers unpredictable manic episodes, extreme violence, and uncontrollable laughter in its users, culminating in manic, unsettling smiles. The series unfolds in various volumes, detailing the drug’s origins, victim experiences, and escalating dangers as the even deadlier ‘Variant C’ circulates, creating even more formidable ‘Smilers.’
9 Marble Hornets
The Height of Slender Man’s Influence
- Creators: Troy Wagner and Joseph DeLage, based on Eric Knudsen’s original forum post
- Inspiration: The Slender Man phenomenon from the Something Awful forums
The Slender Man mythos may seem overplayed now, but during its peak, it was ubiquitous with Marble Hornets standing out as one of its finest representations. The series spans three seasons and consists of 133 episodes, following Jay Merrick (played by co-creator Troy Wagner) as he investigates the mysterious circumstances surrounding his friend Alex’s disconcerting behavior during the filming of a student project titled “Marble Hornets.”
As Jay sifts through old footage, he uncovers the horrifying truth of Alex’s stalker, a figure he refers to as “The Operator.”As Jay becomes increasingly engrossed in capturing evidence of this entity, the figure also turns its attention toward him. Initially envisioned more as an ARG (augmented reality game) using YouTube to shape its narrative and release strategy, its significant impact on subsequent analog horror series endures, influencing Wagner’s other creative projects.
10 ECKV
The Spiritual Descendant of Marble Hornets
- Creator: Troy Wagner
- Inspirations: Marble Hornets, Clear Lakes 44
Having mastered the Slender Man narrative with Marble Hornets, creator Troy Wagner sought new inspiration following the project’s conclusion in 2014 and the subsequent halt of Clear Lakes 44. In September 2016, Wagner introduced ECKVA, centered around an online investigator known as S. Hawkins who receives perplexing broadcasts from the titular defunct network.
The videos feature unusual images, distorted animations such as ‘Alis Pastry,’ and messages that seem directed towards Hawkins, alongside references to a medication called Preaxin that he previously utilized. Although the videos are available on various platforms, an accompanying website and e-books engage fans further into the narrative’s depth.
11 Hi I’m Mary Mary
Confined at Home
- Creator: K
- Inspirations: Marble Hornets, EverymanHYBRID, among others
Hi I’m Mary Mary is comparable to the cult horror film Skinamarink. It revolves around a character named Mary, who finds herself isolated in her parents’ home. With no means of escape or outside communication, her only companion is a camera, alongside mysteriously replenished food supplies and an internet connection that allows her to upload videos but not receive replies.
Mary documents her experiences in hopes of reaching anyone who might help her, only to face nightmarish situations as shadowy figures and a bizarre masked woman stalk her during the night. Viewers can uncover the unsettling mystery behind Mary’s predicament as the series wrapped up in 2020, culminating in 19 episodes alongside its accompanying Twitter and Blogspot posts.
12 Gemini Home Entertainment
Where Urban Legends Converge with Cosmic Horror
- Creator: Remy Abode
- Inspirations: Alien, The Thing, The Endless, urban legends like the Skinwalker and the Wendigo.
Gemini Home Entertainment has been a staple of the analog horror scene since its inception in 2019. This series epitomizes the genre with its retro presentation akin to Local 58, disseminating disturbing and cryptic messages about possession, monstrosities, and apocalyptic scenarios through a series of clips styled as VHS releases from the 1980s and 1990s.
At first glance, the videos appear mundane, featuring nature documentaries or safety information, yet when viewed as a whole, they unveil ominous elements like shapeshifting Skinwalkers and the lethal ‘Deep Root Disease.’ These clips intertwine with a mystery involving Regnad Computing, a campsite, and a cosmic entity known as ‘The Iris.’ The narrative continues to evolve through its Library subseries, keeping fans engaged in piecing together its overarching plot.
13 Surreal Broadcast
Infiltrating Broadcasting Frequencies
- Creator: Red Diamond
- Inspirations: Local 58
Surreal Broadcast unfolds in the fictional Berksaut County, Maine. Episodes such as “Araneae”transition from a standard nature documentary to a grim warning about unseen dangers lurking in the surrounding woods. In “Radio,” the segment begins with an educational overview about radio wave mechanics that devolves into a menacing disclosure about anomalous broadcasts inciting hallucinations.
The “1989 Incident” segment presents a community news broadcast alerting citizens to a strange affliction caused by animal attacks, with unsettling reports of ‘indescribable eyes’ being cited. The narratives grow increasingly perplexing and sinister as the series progresses, revealing more disturbances in Berksaut and its forests while maintaining an atmosphere rich with unease.
14 Midwest Angelica
Threats from Above
- Creators: Team AQ (Angel Tempo and CuriouQuandary)
- Inspirations: Gemini Home Entertainment, Local 58, various cosmic and biological terror themes
Midwest Angelica stands as one of the few Patreon-supported series, offering exclusive behind-the-scenes insights and early video releases to its backers. The funding contributes to the high-quality editing and effects that elevate its production, moving beyond standard approaches of mere distortion.
The narrative, dubbed AZ-001, follows the retrieval of a body found in Nebraska by government operatives. However, the situation becomes dire as it reveals the entity is not entirely lifeless, posing profound risks to local ecosystems. Both Acts, encompassing its ‘Interlude A’, are currently accessible on YouTube.
15 Dream DreamViewer
Transforming Dreams into Dread
- Creator: Holly Fernwright
- Inspirations: 80s/90s infomercial aesthetics, Local 58
Introduced in January 2022, Holly Fernwright’s Somnium DreamViewer narrates the concept of a device by Somnium Technologies allowing users to print images from their dreams. The technologically advanced apparatus from the 1980s claims to deliver a unique experience, but harbors troubling side effects.
Subsequent videos detail how Somnium Technologies manages operations, recruits staff, and faces legal issues stemming from the violent nightmares induced by its machine. The narrative delves into the murky ethics surrounding its technology and suggests deeper, darker motivations behind the disturbances caused by the device.
16 BLUE_CHANNEL
Pharmaceutical Narratives of Emotion
- Creator: Gooseworx
- Inspirations: Local 58, CH/SS, medical advertisements
Initially, BLUE_CHANNEL may seem unremarkable, starting off with a simple blue screen adorned with text stating ‘BLUE’ and odd music playing in the background. As it evolves, the videos expose hidden subliminal messages (“You don’t belong here”) and reveal unsettling visuals, culminating in the uncovering of a creepy silhouetted figure that lurks at the fringe of the narrative.
The series extends its exploration in BLUE_CHANNEL: THALASIN, which serves as an advertisement for a mood-stabilizing drug named Thalasin. This product intriguingly claims to manage emotional states through a multi-faceted pill system, introducing bizarre terms like ‘Dorcelessness’, ‘Harfam’, and ‘Trantiveness’, transforming the narrative into a mix of fascinating and unsettling content.
17 Archive 81
A Chilling Auditory Experience
- Creators: Dan Powell and Marc Sollinger
- Inspirations: Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds, The X-Files, Twin Peaks, H.P. Lovecraft’s works
Archive 81 distinguishes itself as it originated as a podcast. Each installment follows an archivist named Dan (played by Dan Powell) tasked with restoring old recordings of a woman named Melody, who interviewed residents from the eerie Visser Building.
As Dan digs deeper into the tapes, he uncovers bizarre connections to the building and its occupants, including a haunting melody that lulls the residents into a spell. Dan’s increasing entanglement with the mystery leads him down a dark path, ultimately mirroring Melody’s fate of going missing. It’s a gripping narrative showcasing the profound impact that sound can have on evoking fear, later adapted to Netflix but best experienced in its original audio format.
18 The Walten Files
A Unique Animated Horror Journey
- Creator: Martin Walls
- Inspirations: Five Nights at Freddy’s
The Walten Files draws heavily from the eerie elements of Five Nights at Freddy’s, depicting a fictional eatery similar to Chuck E. Cheese. The storyline revolves around a character named Anthony who discovers a collection of tapes from the now-defunct Bunny Smiles Company, which was behind Bon’s Burgers, a restaurant that mysteriously closed in the 1980s.
What sets this series apart is its animated format, featuring videos that progressively unveil the unsettling lore surrounding Bon’s Burgers, its animatronic characters, and their founders, Jack Walten and Felix Kranken. Its simplistic animation heightens the disturbing ambiance, enriching the dark and gory narrative akin to its video game counterpart.
19 The Man In The Suit
Extreme Immersion in Role
- Creator: Unknown
- Inspirations: Godzilla/Gojira, potentially Shadow of the Vampire
While analog horror remains a prevalent genre today, it still harbors the power to surprise viewers. In light of the resurgence of Godzilla and kaiju films in the Monsterverse, The Man in the Suit takes inspiration from the 1954 classic to tell a terrifying behind-the-scenes narrative that resembles the approach of Shadow of the Vampire, echoing themes of blurred reality and fiction.
In this series, an actor portraying Godzilla becomes increasingly consumed by the role, wearing the rubber suit not only while filming but continuously, ultimately merging with the costume and transforming into a colossal monster. Its consequences extend beyond him, as he can transmit his monstrous condition to others, seeking to rally Godzilla’s allies in a quest to become real beasts.
20 Dog Nightmares
A Disturbing Twist on Familiarity
- Creator: Piggy Soda
- Inspirations: William Wegman’s Sesame Street shorts, Jack Stauber’s song ‘Dog Nightmares.’
William Wegman is recognized for his comedic sketches featuring dogs in human-like scenarios, evoking laughter with their absurdity. However, the oddity experienced by many reflects a sense of discomfort rooted in the Uncanny Valley effect, where the combination of realism and surrealism creates unease.
In response, Piggy Soda crafted Dog Nightmares, which follows Emily, a young woman on a quest to find her lost dog, Bailey. This surreal tale leads her to encounter a menacing dog-human hybrid she once knew as a child. The short series weaves together poignant childhood drawings, clips of Wegman’s work, and eerie footage, building an unsettling atmosphere enriched with layers of trauma and dread.
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