Fear Itself is an American horror/suspense anthology television series created by Mick Garris and produced by Lionsgate in association with IE Indy TV, which is comprised of 13 self-contained horror/thriller stories directed by some of the biggest horror directors working in features today.
Its title is derived from the famous Franklin D. Roosevelt quote The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.
The series premiered in the USA on NBC on 5 June, 2008. Although 13 hour-long episodes were made, only eight aired in the USA before the show was cancelled.
Fear Itself aired in South Africa on DStv's M-Net Action channel from 12 December, 2008 to 6 March, 2009, on Fridays at 20h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. All 13 episodes aired in South Africa.
Repeats
Sundays: 23h00
Mondays: 23h00
Synopsis
Fear Itself is a suspense and horror anthology series set to push the boundaries of this classic genre through a host of provocative talent, both in front of and behind the camera, including the award-winning directors John Landis (An American Werewolf in London), Darren Bousman (Saw II, III and IV) and Ronny Yu (Bride of Chucky).
Guest actors include Brandon Routh (Superman Returns), Shiri Appleby (Charlie Wilson's War), Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men), Cynthia Watros (Lost), Eric Roberts (Heroes) and John Billingsley (Star Trek: Enterprise).
The writing team includes Joe Gangemi (Wind Chill), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) and Dan Knauf (Carnivàle, Supernatural).
Episodes
Sacrifice
Screenplay: Mick Garris (Riding the Bullet, Amazing Stories)
Director: Breck Eisner (Creature from the Black Lagoon)
When four criminals find themselves stranded in an old, snow-covered fort, they slowly discover both the fort and the seductive trio of sirens who reside there are filled with deadly secrets.
Jeffrey Pierce (The Nine), Jesse Plemons (Friday Night Lights), Stephen Martines (Port Charles), Rachel Miner (Californication) and Mircea Monroe (Drive) star.
Spooked
Writer: Matt Venne (White Noise 2: The Light)
Director: Brad Anderson (The Machinist)
While on a stake out in a haunted house, a private eye (Eric Roberts, Heroes) is made to confront the demons of his past. Jack Noseworthy (Judging Amy), Cynthia Watros (Lost) and Larry Gilliard Jr. (The Wire) also star.
Family Man
Writer: Dan Knauf (Carnivàle, Supernatural)
Director: Ronny Yu (Freddy vs. Jason, Bride of Chucky)
This action-charged, psychological thriller focuses on a likeable family man (Colin Ferguson, Eureka) who switches bodies with a serial killer (Clifton Collins Jr., Star Trek) after a near-death experience.
Now, he must fight from behind bars to keep the murderer from adding his wife (Josie Davis, Ghost Whisperer), son (Gig Morton, Psych), and daughter (Nicole Leduc, Kyle XY) to his long list of victims.
In Sickness and in Health
Writer: Victor Salva (Jeepers Creepers)
Director: John Landis (An American Werewolf in London)
On her wedding day, a beautiful bride (Maggie Lawson, Psych) receives a mysterious note that reads: The person you are marrying is a serial killer.
James Roday (Psych) stars as the groom. Christie Laing (The 4400), Sonja Bennett (Eureka) and Marshall Bell (Hamlet 2, Tales from the Crypt) also star.
Something With Bite
Writer: Max Landis (Masters of Horror)
Director: Ernest Dickerson (Heroes)
A reinvention of the classic werewolf story. When a veterinarian (Wendell Pierce, The Wire) gets bitten by a large, strange animal brought into his clinic, he begins to see the world and his stale life differently.
Paula Jai Parker (Side Order of Life, The Proud Family) also stars.
New Year's Day
Story: Steve Niles (30 Days of Night)
Teleplay: Steve Niles and Ben Sokolowski
Director: Darren Bousman (Saw II, III and IV)
Based on the short story entitled Dead Time, written by Paul Kane. A young woman (Briana Evigan, Step Up 2: The Streets) wakes up in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by horrifying zombies.
Eater
Writer: Richard Chizmar & Johnathon Schaech
Director: Stuart Gordon (Re-Animator, Masters of Horror)
A rookie cop (Elisabeth Moss, Mad Men) must spend her first night in the precinct watching over a serial killer, coined The Eater (Stephen R. Hart, Shoot ‘Em Up). When her fellow cops start acting bizarre, she quickly learns that no one is who they seem.
Russell Hornsby (Lincoln Heights), Pablo Schreiber (The Wire) and Stephen Lee (Boston Legal) also star.
Skin & Bones
Writer: Drew McWeeny & Scott Swan (Masters of Horror)
Director: Larry Fessenden (The Last Winter, Wendigo)
When a cattle herder (Doug Jones, Hellboy II: The Golden Army) returns home to his family after being lost in the woods for days, he just doesn't seem the same. Soon, a terrible mortal struggle ensues against the terrifying monster possessing him.
Gordon Tootoosis (Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee) also stars.
The Spirit Box
Writer: Joe Gangemi (Wind Chill, the novel Inamorata)
Director: Rob Schmidt
When two suburban high school girls try to contact a dead classmate via a board game, they receive an unexpected message from beyond the grave - the dead girl, thought to be a teen suicide, was actually killed by a teacher with whom she'd been having an affair and now wants their help in avenging her murder.
Chance
Writer: Lem Dobbs (The Score)
Director: John Dahl (You Kill Me, The Last Seduction)
In the vein of such classic doppelganger stories as Jekyll & Hyde and Poe's William Wilson, the episode explores a dreadful, classic battle that ensues when a man is confronted by his evil self.
Echoes
Writer: Sean Hood (The Crow: Wicked Prayer, Halloween: Resurrection)
Director: Rupert Wainwright (The Fog, Stigmata)
Sam, an affable, good-natured young man, moves into an apartment where he believes he once lived - 88 years ago in a past life.
But as memories appear to him like ghosts, he realises that in this previous life he was a sadistic murderer, and he must keep that past life from bleeding into his present one.
The Circle
Writer: Richard Chizmar & Johnathon Schaech
Director: Eduardo Rodriguez
Based on the short story of the same title written by Lewis Shiner. A group of people meets every Halloween to tell horror stories and suddenly discovers they're living one.