The Paranormalist’s 13 creepiest title sequences from television series.
Tonight I watched some episodes of Dexter with my husband. It’s been a couple of years since I checked in with the show, and I had forgotten how much I like its opening title sequence. Of course, the experience sent me down the rabbit-hole otherwise known as youtube. I’m resurfacing at four o’clock in the morning, happily creeped out by a combination of real and remembered thrills inspired by my trip through TV’s horror-world. ‘Thought I’d share.
13. The Addams Famiy – a favorite childhood memory. 
12. Kolchak: The Night Stalker.
11. Forever Knight.
10. Fringe – short but effective.
09. Millenium – does anyone besides me remember this show?
08. The X-Files – in truth, the sequence isn’t very creepy … but that music!
07. American Gothic – this is the “series trailer” which isn’t quite the same as the opening sequence I recall, but it’s got the right flavor.
06. American Horror Story – season one. Presumably season two will have a different opening, matched to the new story.
05. Carnivale – beautiful work here, but the real eeriness was in the show itself.
04. Dexter.
03. Tales From the Darkside – this one still gets me right in the creepy spot every time I hear it.
02. True Blood – Some graphic stuff here, kids.
01. The Twilight Zone – nothing will ever take its place in my heart.
Signing off now. Good night all.
When I was a kid, I watched Kolchak: the Night Stalker, every week. What I love about the theme song is its change from typical 70′s easy listening, to the more dramatic score. I used to watch millenium faithfully and remember that it was a very serious show with brooding atmosphere (I’m a big fan of Henricksen). I would probably have the intro sequence of Masters of Horror in my list.
May 16, 2012 at 1:16 pm
I somehow missed Masters of Horror entirely. Didn’t know it existed until I was looking at best horror TV sites last night. I’m going to see if I can find it playing somewhere.
May 16, 2012 at 1:24 pm
It was originally aired on Showtime, i believe, but I didn’t see them until they were released on DVD.
May 16, 2012 at 3:55 pm
This is one of the greatest posts of all time!! I have to send it to my husband.
I do remember Millenium… saw every one. And Carnivale still haunts my memories from time to time.
May 20, 2012 at 11:03 am
I swear I will someday own Carnivale. It took years, but I finally found American Gothic (at a time when I could afford it
) so I have faith that Carnivale will be mine too. I’m going to try to find Millenium through Netflix or Hulu or something … I have forgotten most of the storyline, but I do remember loving the series.
May 21, 2012 at 2:12 am