Tag Archives: Witches of Salem

Preview: Witches of Salem scares up the historical case on T+E

I can always rely on Blue Ant Media’s T+E to bring me scary stories through Canadian docudrama programs like Haunted Case Files, Scariest Night of My Life and Paranormal Survivor. Now they’re going back in time to bring a frightening story to modern-day.

Produced by Saloon Media in association with Talos Films, Witches of Salem debuts Sunday at 8 p.m. ET/PT as part of “Creep Month” on the specialty channel. The four-parter recalls the Salem witch trials that occurred in colonial Massachusetts between February 1692 and May 1693. More than 200 were accused and 19 were found guilty. Witches of Salem relies on historical documents and court records to tell the story, with help from sociologists, psychologists and cultural historians.

A group of girls sit in church.What sets this apart from other Salem witch trial programming that I’ve seen before is the legwork done setting the scene. While most, if not all, past programs dive right into the screaming and writhing experienced by Betty Parris and Abigail Williams, Witches of Salem describes what life was like at the time both socially and religiously. That goes a long way to explaining why the trials happened in the first place. I’ve been to Salem and read the court documents surrounding the case, and T+E’s project gets it right factually. And, as well-versed in the case as I am, the show is scary as heck. I credit that to an excellent cast led by Nick Biskupek as the creepy Reverend Samuel Parris, eerie camera work, special effects and downright disturbing soundtrack.

Definitely check this out. Preferably with all of the lights on.

Witches of Salem airs Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on T+E.

Images courtesy of Blue Ant Media.

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Channel your fears: T+E conjures up five spooky new shows and resurrects two fan-favourite series this October

From a media release:

Starting Thurs., Oct. 3, T+E offers all treats and no tricks with a spooky “Creep Month” line-up that features five new series and two returning favourites, all in time to embrace the spine-tingling spirit of Halloween. Highlights include the highly-anticipated North American premiere of BBC’s re-telling of The War of the Worlds (Oct. 6 at 10 p.m. ET/PT) starring Rafe Spall, Eleanor Tomlinson, Robert Carlyle and Rupert Graves; the sinister new Canadian series Witches of Salem (Oct. 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT) that exposes the mass hysteria that hit a sleepy New England village in 1692; and Sky Vision’s hit high-octane dystopian series Curfew (Oct. 3 at 10 p.m. ET/PT) which follows Adam Brody, Sean Bean and Billy Zane on the deadliest ride of their lives.  T+E’s “Creep Month” airs from Thurs., Oct. 3 to Thurs., Oct. 31.

Five new series are set to cast a spell over viewers this October. In addition to the previously mentioned series The War of the Worlds (North American premiere), Witches of Salem (Canadian premiere), and Curfew (Canadian premiere), two new series join the Creep Month line-up. Paranormal: Caught on Camera (Canadian premiere) follows the world’s most terrifying apparitions caught on tape and an all-new season of A Haunting (Canadian premiere) follows bone-chilling true stories of possession, exorcism,  and paranormal encounters. (Full descriptions below).

Resurrected returning favourites include Help! My House is Haunted (12×60’) and Haunted Hospitals (13×60’), both of which promise to take viewers on a spine-tingling trip to the other side and back.

HALLOWEEN “CREEP MONTH” HIGHLIGHTS

NEW SERIES & SEASONS

Curfew (Canadian premiere, season one)
Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT, starting October 3
When day becomes night, a strict curfew forces ordinary people to go pedal to the metal in a deadly race for freedom in this action-packed British dystopian drama. Along for the ride in this near-future zombie apocalypse is Adam Brody, Billy Zane and Sean Bean.

Witches of Salem (Canadian premiere, season one)
Sundays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, starting October 6
Witches of Salem tells the tale of history’s most terrifying real-life witch hunt. Drawing on extensive historical documents and court transcripts, the four-part series explores the widespread “satanic panic” that cast a spell over the sleepy village of Salem, Massacuttes and asks what lessons history can teach us about modern day witch hunts and mass hysteria. Produced in Canada by Saloon Media, a Blue Ant company, and in association with Talos Films.

The War of the Worlds (North American premiere, season one)
Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT, starting October 6
This long-awaited three-part drama has been generating massive buzz since the BBC first announced its commission. Based on H.G. Wells’ seminal tale and set in Edwardian England, the story follows a terrifying alien invasion where people must fight for their lives against an enemy beyond their comprehension. Directed by the award-winning Craig Viveiros, the series stars Rafe Spall, Eleanor Tomlinson, Rupert Graves and Robert Carlyle.

Paranormal: Caught on Camera (Canadian premiere, season one)
Fridays at 8 p.m. ET/PT, starting October 11
Watch as eyewitness’ capture amazing, eye-opening and downright scary paranormal videos from around the world while a panel of experts break down the footage and analyze what was captured.

A Haunting (Canadian premiere, season ten)
Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT, starting October 15
Through terrifying first-person accounts and dramatic recreations, A Haunting delves into the true and horrific events that plague innocent people when spirits determined to have a final say invade their lives to inflict unimaginable horrors.

RESURRECTED SERIES AIRING ALL MONTH LONG

Haunted Hospitals
Fridays at 10 p.m. ET/PT
Explores chilling tales of otherworldly activity inside medical institutions. In each episode, doctors, nurses, and patients give first-hand accounts of deceased patients and medical staff who come back from the grave and stalk the corridors to warn of impending danger.

Help! My House is Haunted
Saturdays at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT
Created by Ghost Adventures’ Zak Bagans, Help! My House is Haunted is a ghost-hunting series that leaves no stone unturned when it comes to searching for paranormal entities.

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Saloon Media announces the greenlight of Witches of Salem for Travel Channel and T+E

From a media release:

Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company, announces the greenlight by Travel Channel (US) and T+E (Canada) of The Witches of Salem, a new four-part docudrama series about America’s infamous 17th-century witch trials. The series will be produced by Saloon Media in association with Talos Films, Travel Channel, and T+E.

The Salem witch trials is one of the most gripping real-life dramas in history. It began in February 1692, after a group of young girls in Salem Village, Massachusetts, claimed to be possessed by the devil and accused several local women of witchcraft. In just 220 days, 200 were accused and 20 were executed. It was a period of mass hysteria that opens a window into the darkest side of human nature.

The Witches of Salem (4 x 60’) draws on extensive historical documents and court records to bring this gripping drama to life. Sociologists, psychologists, and cultural historians also illustrate how communities are still susceptible to the same hysteria today.

The Witches of Salem is Executive Produced by Michael Kot, Julie Chang, Julian P. Hobbs and Elli Hakami. Executive in Charge for Travel Channel is Charles Nordlander and the Head of Original Content for T+E is Sam Linton. The series is produced by Saloon Media, a Blue Ant Media company, in association with Talos Films, Travel Channel (US), and T+E (Canada). International content distributor Blue Ant International Ltd has exclusive worldwide rights to the series.

Blue Ant Media is a privately held, international content producer, distributor and channel operator.

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