Horror is a very big deal on TV these days, with an abundance of shows vying for the attention of the discerning gore-hound. These shows all vary wildly in tone, story and quality, but with the likes of The Walking Dead, American Horror Story, The Strain and Hannibal all on the air, the options are plentiful. However, in our estimation, Penny Dreadful is the pick of the bunch. Co-produced by Showtime and Sky Atlantic, Penny Dreadful was created by John Logan, acclaimed writer of Skyfall, who acts as executive producer along with Sam Mendes (American Beauty). Starring Josh Hartnett, Eva Green and Timothy Dalton, it features an intelligent mixture of monsters from turn of the century literature such as Victor Frankenstein and his monster from Mary Shelley's masterwork, Dorian Gray from Oscar Wilde's writing and Mina Harker and Abraham Van Helsing from Bram Stoker's Dracula. These characters all exist in turn of the century London alongside Hartnett's mysterious Ethan Chandler, Green's haunted Vanessa Ives and Dalton's explorer, Sir Malcolm Murray. Penny Dreadful is a sumptuous watch for any horror fan, featuring a plethora of blood and guts alongside terrifying supernatural elements and dramatic, graceful writing from Logan. It tugs at the heartstrings as much as it turns the stomach and features some outstanding acting, particularly from Eva Green, who should win all the awards going for her multi-faceted and layered portrayal of Vanessa.
