6 Scary Doctor Who Stories for Halloween
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| Alice X. Zhang's creepy artwork of a Weeping Angel. Whatever you do, don't blink! |
With Halloween fast approaching, you might be looking forward to a chance to watch some of the scariest and spookiest stories in Doctor Who history. After all, there aren't going to be any Halloween parties or trick-or-treating this year, so this is a perfect opportunity to draw the curtains, grab a big box of popcorn and curl up by the fire and watch some Who that will send shivers down the spine! I've picked three classic series stories and three new series stories that are perfect for this Halloween season, if you want some Doctor Who-shaped scares!
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| The terrifying Yeti menaces Anne Travers! |
1. "The Web of Fear" - Starring Patrick Troughton
While a lot of Doctor Who in black-and-white has an eerie quality, "The Web of Fear" is, as far as this writer is concerned, the scariest story of the 1960s. Featuring what appears to be one of Doctor Who's cuddliest adversaries in the form of the Yeti, the claustrophobic nature of a story set predominantly in the London Underground, combined with the way the Yeti are shot and written, turns something that could have looked abjectly silly into one of the Doctor's most terrifying adventures. The use of shadows, of dark lighting and of some of the creepiest music in the show's history adds to this ratcheting tension, made all the more unnerving by the silence of a deserted London. The Great Intelligence's (who controls the Yeti, and who new series fans may recognise from the second half of Series 7) disembodied presence hangs over the whole story, while the looming Yeti are absolutely terrifying. The Doctor is put on the back foot throughout as well, with Patrick Troughton bringing the Doctor perilously close to feeling genuine fear throughout, especially once the nature of the Intelligence's plan becomes clear. There's some great guest characters too, including the first appearance of Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart, and, despite the budget limitations, the production team realistically create the look of the Underground tunnels, to the point where the London Transport Authority thought that the BBC had filmed on their premises without permission! But, first and foremost, this is absolutely terrifying, thanks to some of the most ruthless monsters in Doctor Who's history, a genuinely successful attempt to create fear and suspense, and some scenes that will make adults scurry behind the sofa, never mind the kids! A stone-cold horror classic.
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| Dr Solon wrestles with his monstrous creation; the resurrected form of Morbius! |
2. "The Brain of Morbius" - Starring Tom Baker
Of course, if you want a classic monster story, its hard to beat Frankenstein. And Doctor Who's take on the classic Mary Shelley novel is a die-hard classic, and a scary tale to boot. Featuring the all-time popular TARDIS team of the Fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith, this tale of dark science, of mystic cults and long-dead Time Lord secrets coming back to life is one of the most obviously 'gothic' stories of the so-called gothic era. The desolate planet of Karn makes for a brutal and eerie setting, which, despite being made in a BBC studio, looks realistic and terrifying. Solon's castle is like a set from a Hammer House of Horror movie: suitably creepy and unsettling, which makes it the place for Morbius' resurrection all the more fitting. The body of the new Morbius is completely unsettling, and its brutal strength means, like the Yeti in "Web of Fear", its strength is utterly terrifying. Unlike a lot of the stories on this list, this one is a little more liberal with its use of blood and gore, and, while there are plenty of grizzly moments, I don't think it ever goes too far, and it just strays the right side of creating the right tone and atmosphere, while not overdoing it. The Doctor's dark mood works perfectly in this story, though his love and dedication to Sarah shines through, particularly in the scenes where Sarah is blinded, and he forces Solon to diagnose and treat her. In terms of Doctor Who mythology, we are also introduced to the Sisterhood of Karn here (who would later feature in the 2013 minisode "The Night of the Doctor" with Paul McGann, and in the series proper in the 2015 episodes "The Magician's Apprentice" and "Hell Bent" with Peter Capaldi), whose arcane rituals are linked with the Time Lord science of regeneration. With lashings of gothic atmosphere, a terrifying foe in the form of Morbius and a stellar Doctor/companion duo, "The Brain of Morbius" is an absolute must for anyone who's a fan of dark horror Doctor Who stories at Halloween.
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| The dark and brooding Seventh Doctor contemplates the mystery of Gabriel Chase. |
Haunted houses are surely a key element of any Halloween celebrations, am I right? Out of all of Doctor Who's many haunted house stories, "Ghost Light" must surely be one of the most successful examples of the genus. While it is an incredibly dense story, it makes for one of the most complex on this list, and its rich texture means it is so much more than just a simple 'spooky old house' story. The setting allows for the character of Ace to confront some home truths about her past, and about her fears, by returning her to a place key to her past. Sophie Aldred is wonderful here, as Ace is pushed by the Doctor to confront her fears, and find the source of the terror she felt when she burnt down Gabriel Chase in 1983. All the while, the Doctor must also deal with the plans of Josiah, Control and Light, all of whom have their own agendas and desires. While not quite as obviously scary as other stories on this list, Ghost Light has an unsettling air, that is no doubt helped by the Addams Family inspired quirky characters and the way the character of the house itself is integrated into the narrative. There's also lots of meta-textual elements to the script as well, that make this well worth more than the one watch, as there's lots to pick up on. There are some obvious horror elements, like the Husks and the grim fate of Police Inspector Mackenzie, but, for the most part, this plays on more psychological horror and the horror resulting from trauma. The result is one of the most sophisticated haunted house stories in Doctor Who history, and, combined with the more enigmatic figure of the Seventh Doctor and the damaged and scarred Ace, this makes for one of the most complex horror stories in the show's history.
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| Sally Sparrow is unaware of the Weeping Angel lurking just behind her... |
Obviously the Weeping Angels had to feature on this list somewhere: after all, they are probably Doctor Who's most terrifying creations, and are based on such a simple concept. And there's no better story to show off how terrifying they are than "Blink", the story that introduced them in the first place. Playing out more like an episode of Tales of the Unexpected or The Twilight Zone, this Doctor-lite story thrusts the character of Sally Sparrow (beautifully played by Carey Mulligan) into the Doctor's world, and forces her to confront a mystery that is slowly, but surely, taking every single person she comes into contact with. The sheer naked terror of the Weeping Angels has never been better exploited than in "Blink": without any gimmicks or time paradoxes, the Angels are fearsome predators, whose modus operandi, while not being out-rightly villainous, is perhaps even more horrific than the Daleks or the Cybermen. Forcing you to live out the rest of your life in the past somehow seems even more horrible than just killing you, or stripping you of everything that you are, and that idea is exploited to the full in "Blink". Like all the best horror movies, this one plays on silence and skilful suspense, rather than blood and guts, and it pays dividends, because, when the jump scares do come in the later half, they're all the more effective. The second half is a horror master class, because, despite the total lack of gore and blood, it is probably one of Doctor Who's scariest fifteen minutes. The simple premise of the Weeping Angels is incredibly effective, and the ending is torn straight from The Twilight Zone. Without the Doctor to save the day, the story takes on more of a sinister air, with Sally Sparrow forced to work out the mystery without a Time Lord to aid her. So many words have been written about how brilliant "Blink" is, and it is hard to argue with any of them. So do yourself a favour, and go back and remind yourself how utterly creepy this story is. You will not regret it.
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| The Tenth Doctor finds the pressure inside the Crusader 50 rising, as the entity gets a hold. But who is the one who is possessed? |
Horror isn't all monsters, haunted houses and blood and gore, you know. Psychological thrillers have skyrocketed in popularity over the past few years, yet Doctor Who's attempt from 2008 still stands as one of the best examples of the genre in any form. Leaving Donna behind on a relaxing spa break, the Doctor is completely on his own in this episode, with no characters who trust him, or will back him up. And, as such, he sounds just like a ranting, raving madman. The claustrophobic tension of the story is absolutely terrifying, probably more so than any other story on this list. Most of the action is set in the passenger section of the bus, and, as such, there's nowhere to really hide, nowhere the characters can get away from everything that is going on. As such, they are forced to confront the problem head on, and the passengers' solutions get ever more drastic as the story goes on. "Midnight" is a perfect example of mob mentality taken way too far, as each passenger gets swept up in the creature's wake. The sense of desperation is potent, as the Doctor seemingly succumbs to the creature's influence, and the persuasive power of Sky takes ahold. There are some great performances here: David Troughton, Rakie Ayola and Ayesha Antoine are all amazing, but the real standouts have to be David Tennant and Lesley Sharp. The chemistry between the two actors is electric, and the pair are very much fighting for dominance throughout. This is one of David's best ever performances in the role, as he slowly but surely loses control of the situation. It's rare to see his Doctor not in command, and I think that's what makes stories like this succeed so much. And the ending is a huge gut-punch. While a lot of scary Doctor Who stories focus on outright horror and spooky settings, "Midnight" takes a very different approach and scores big. A bottle episode like this, during the most popular and, arguably, the most successful period of the 21st Century version of the show, could have set the wrong tone, but this very much doesn't. Simply perfect, "Midnight" is an utterly creepy experience, and is perfect Halloween viewing.
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| The Twelfth Doctor has travelled to the end of time to find the truth. But what he finds will terrify even him, and lead Clara to a shocking discovery... |
6. "Listen" - Starring Peter Capaldi
In previous stories on this list, we've looked at scary monsters, horror classics, haunted houses, everyday objects turned into monsters and psychological terror. "Listen", however, focuses on something even more primal than any of those: fear itself. Over the course of this 45 minute episode, we go from the Doctor's portentous monologues about creatures that can hide in plain sight, to exploring the past and future of Clara's date, Danny Pink. And then, finally, we are thrust back into the past of the Time Lord himself, as Clara uncovers the Doctor's longest and most darkest secret... Back in 2014, when this story first aired, I was blown away by how compelling this was. Steven Moffat's simple premise for this episode instantly hooks you in: what if there was a creature that was perfect at hiding? What if there was something that was always watching you, but you could never see it? Expect... just in that moment, out of the corner of your eye... "Listen" was like no other Doctor Who story in the show's 50 year history: I still struggle to find the words to describe it today, because it was such a shocking and surprising story. It isn't just creepy and disturbing though: there's plenty of laughs, and there's even a story of resilience and hope in there. And, while it has its fair share of creepy moments, it explores the primitive fears we all have: even the Doctor. The bedspread scene is particularly creepy, as you're left never quite knowing what it is under the blanket. Is it a kid? Is it one of these 'perfect hiders' the Doctor is looking for? Or is it something else, even more terrifying? Like all the best horror, it doesn't answer any of the audience's questions; instead, it leaves them hanging, and lets the audience make its mind up. That is the mark of good horror, and its a story that only gets better with time. Yes, there are some things that maybe don't quite work, and maybe needed tightening up. But these tiny flaws cannot overshadow what is, fundamentally, a great Doctor Who story, and one that manages to scare and inspire in equal measure. Horror is often seen purely as unrelentingly grim and nihilistic. "Listen", however, proves that that isn't always the case, and is, perhaps, the best Doctor Who story to watch at Halloween.
Honestly, I could have chosen so many stories to watch at this time of year, I really could have done. "Heaven Sent", "Horror of Fang Rock", "Hide", "The Waters of Mars", "State of Decay", "The Curse of Fenric", "The Greatest Show in the Galaxy", "The Haunting of Villa Diodati" and more nearly made this list, and there's a lot of stories from the early Tom Baker era of gothic horror that are perfect for cuddling up on the sofa and being scared witless. These six, however, perhaps embody the horror spirit of Doctor Who best, and are absolute must watches for any good Doctor Who Halloween marathon. You can find the Classic Series episodes on this list on Britbox (you can get a 30 day free trial here: https://www.britbox.co.uk/), while the New Series episodes can be found on the BBC iPlayer (UK only). Please let me know if you found my list helpful, or if you've indulged in your own Wholloween marathon!
All pictures copyright to the BBC/Big Finish Productions. Thank you very much for reading. You can subscribe by clicking the link at the top of the page.
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