Channel Zero Butcher's Block Episode 1-2 Reviews: The Most Repulsive Installment Yet (And I Totally Mean That As A Compliment)

This season of "Channel Zero" is based on the CreepyPasta "Search and Rescue Woods" by Kerry Hammond. See here for more details. Alice Woods and her older sister Zoe move to a new town. Zoe has schizophrenia (which runs in the family since their mother is currently confined to a mental hospital). Alice worries the same thing will happen to her. People keep disappearing in Butcher's Block. Former-journalist-turned-taxidermy-loving-landlord Louise Lispector thinks it's connected to the abandoned Peaches Meat Factory. She has extra skin in the game because her brother is missing as well.

There have been multiple reports of a mysterious white staircase appearing in the dilapidated park near the plant. Whatever ya do, DONT go up the steps! Peach family Joseph begins to appear to Alice. The whole family disappeared in 1952 following the murders of Joe's two daughters. When Joe resurfaces, he hasn't aged one bit. Freaky! Added bonus: He's played by Rutger Hauer (who I've been afraid of since "Salem's Lot").

Zoe goes missing (but later returns saying she's been cured). Alice and Louise get invites to dinner with the Peaches. There they see Joe, son Robert (we previously saw him eat someone), daughter-in-law Edie (she's Edie's husband, see more about her below), and grandma Evelina and grandpa Aldous. There's also a red hooded little creature known as Smart Mouth.

During dinner Joe (call him "Peachy") saws into Alice's head. A tiny "something" (it looks like part Alice and part SmartMouth) appears in her brain. Joe says it's her bad memories and he can cure her In this episode, we also see images of Izzy (the little girl from Alice's earlier welfare call) on the ground being lathered up by some creature known as the Meat Servant. There's also apparently a Homunculus Child and Pestilence God on the show. I'm not sure if they've already made an appearance and I missed them (or they'll show up later). Anywho, when Alice wakes up she is back in the "real" world at a table with the dismembered body parts of Izzy's mom. Yuck!

Grade: 4 1/2 Monsters (out of 5). It's a mystery as to what is real vs what is fantasy on this show. It doesnt seem to ALL be a dream since Robert Peach is arrested by Luke and taken to prison... where he promptly gets naked and eats a guy. The visual effects in that scene are perfect. Very unsettling! An added bonus is this week's intro. It's a 1950s style commercial staring Edie Peach. If you missed it, check out YouTube here

We havent seen much of Police Officer Luke Vanczyk yet but he apparently plays a more prominent role in later episodes. It's a good thing cause those girls need all the help they can get. After only two episodes (out of six total), it's too early to call the show a "success". But if "Butcher's Block" keeps up this momentum, it may be the best season of "Channel Zero" yet.