The Collinsport Historical Society: The Creep Factor: Day Eight

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

The Creep Factor: Day Eight

Welcome to The Creep Factor, a new feature that will scientifically determine which episodes of Dark Shadows are the scariest. The results of this evaluation were arrived at through a process involving the I Ching, no fewer than three seances and several experimental blood transfusions. They are presented in no particular order. Also .... SPOILER ALERT!

Day Eight: That’s Just Gross (Episodes 933/934)

Paul Stoddard was one of the most discussed characters of Dark Shadows. His mysterious disappearance played a role in several of the show’s early stories and was the driving force in Elizabeth’s decision to become a home-bound recluse. When it was revealed that Stoddard was not dead and buried in the basement of Collinwood (as Elizabeth had long believed) it was just a matter of time before he was introduced to the contemporary storyline.

Stoddard, as it turns out, had become associated with the Leviathan cult, a secretive apocalypse cult looking to bring their own anti-messiah to life in Collinsport. When it looked like Stoddard was having a change of heart their creation took matters into his own hands and killed Stoddard.

The “true form” of Jeb Hawkes, the name adopted by the Leviathan leader, was never shown on screen. It’s easy to dismiss this decision as a budgetary problem, but the verbal descriptions were given of Hawkes’ “true form” suggests it was something too disturbing to show on daytime television. He/it leaves a trail of slime in its wake, as well as a foul stench. Anyone familiar with the work of H.P. Lovecraft (one of the inspirations for the story) pretty much knows what Hawkes looks like … and it ain’t pretty.