Creepypastas once felt like they’d be the most influential force in horror media. Characters like Slenderman and Jeff the Killer were all over social media, and mainstream adaptations seemed inevitable. They don’t have the same cultural sway today. They’ve only become more niche. Nick Antosca’sChannel Zerowas one of the few TV series to capitalize on the ideas found in forum posts. Pretzel Jack, the antagonist of season 4, was created for the show.
Syfy hascanceledChannel Zeroafterfour seasons. The show had an unenviable existence as a critical darling. The series' viewership numbers were never great, but its Rotten Tomatoes scores were excellent. It was the kind of show glued to the word “underrated.” Fans found the series, but its final season is woefully underreported. There aren’t even episode synopses on its Wikipedia entry five years later. Pretzel Jack and his peers live on as clips and posters.
What isChannel Zero?
Channel Zerois a horror anthology series airing from 2015to 2018 on Syfy. Nick Antosca created the series and wrote several episodes. Antosca previously co-produced and co-wrote episodes of NBC’s well-received horror thrillerHannibal. He had his name on episodes ofTeen WolfandLast Resort. SinceChannel Zero, he wrote thedecent 2021 horror filmAntlersfrom a short story he published in 2019. Syfy handledChannel Zerooddly. They greenlit the series for two six-episode seasons. Both seasons were dealt poor viewership numbers, averaging below a million viewers per episode. Critics loved the series. The first outing enjoyed an 86% positive score on Rotten Tomatoes, while the next two seasons earned perfect 100% ratings. The third and fourth entries were also greenlit simultaneously. Syfy canceled the show after season four, but fans can still find it streaming on Shudder.
Each season ofChannel Zeroloosely adapts an internet creepypasta into a horrific supernatural drama. The first season covers Kris Straub’sCandle Cove. The 2015 horror story is celebrated as one of thefinest examples of the medium, playing on the now well-worn concept of half-remembered children’s programming hiding sinister elements. Season two adapted Brian Russell’sThe No-End House. It featured a haunted house attraction that seemed to know its victims, threatening their lives in each new location. Kerry Hammond’s “Search and Rescue Woods” provides the background for the show’s third season,Butcher’s Block. Critics and fans saw the bizarre, eldritch horror of the outing as a bold new direction for the series. Finally, season four picked up Charlotte Bywater’s “Hidden Door.” It may be the most straightforward of the source material. A suburbanite opens their cellar for the first time in years to discover ahorrible humanoid creature movingunnaturally. They run, call the cops, and realize they’ve unleashed the being on the world. Like every other season,The Dream Dooradds a lot of detail to the story of “Hidden Door.” Pretzel Jack is a new arrival, but so is every other iconic monster from the show.
Who is Pretzel Jack inChannel Zero?
The Dream Doorfollows Jillian and her husband, Tom. They’re a suburban married couple. Early in the series, Jillian goes through the events of “Hidden Door.” She finds an opening in her basement that wasn’t there when she moved in. When she opens the door, instead of the dark-skinnedabomination from the short story, she finds a contortionist clown. She recognizes him as Pretzel Jack, an imaginary friend she created as a young child. Jillian possesses psychic powers that can bring beings from her subconscious into reality.
Jack is linked to Jillian’s psyche. He’s impossibly dangerous and terrifying but only attacks those Jill sees as enemies. Jill’s relationship with her dad leads her to a lifelong distrust of men, creating rocky shores as she catches hints of infidelity from her husband. Pretzel Jack is a living embodiment of childhood trauma and repressed rage. The whole"killer clown" gimmick hasbecome passé, butChannel Zerouses the traditional corrupted childhood angle for the first time lately. He’s not just a clown because grease-painted performers are scary. Troy James lends his skills as a contortionist to Jack to make him move unnaturally, like the monster from “Hidden Door.” Though he is portrayed as the villain, Jack’s connection to Jill makes him less of a character and more of a dark reflection of the protagonist.
Pretzel Jack is a terrifying character achieved through simple makeup and the skills of his portrayer. While he may not be as iconic asCandle Cove’s Tooth Child, Pretzel Jack is a solid antagonist and a fascinating part of the narrative tapestry ofChannel Zero’s final season. Jack will never be the mostfamous of all the killer clownsin modern media, but he’s one of the most visually interesting. Pretzel Jack is a simple idea executed with masterful polish and a strong note forChannel Zeroto sign off with.
