The Creep Factor: Day Five

 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 FIVE: The Head of Judah Zachary (Episode 1117)
In 1840 Desmond Collins returns from a trip to the far east with a gift for his cousin Quentin ... a human head in a glass case! While it might seem like an odd idea for a gift the origin of the head is even stranger: it belonged to Judah Zachary, a warlock and all-around nasty fellow executed in Maine during the 17th century. Like Rasputin, Zachary proved to be very difficult to kill. He was ultimately decapitated and his head shipped off to the farthest corners of the earth.

Hammacher Schlemmer's line of Newspaper Editor Deathmasks is more popular than expected.

If having a prop of a severed head decorating the sets of a television show isn't unnerving enough, Dark Shadows revealed that Zachary's head was still sentient by having it open its eyes. While the storyline had its problems (such as revealing Angelique has been alive since the 17th century?!) Dark Shadows took the opportunity to ramp up its horror elements with the invention of the Zachary character.

The Creep Factor: The 10 Scariest Moments of Dark Shadows:
Day Ten: Joe Haskell Goes Crazy
Day Nine: Barnabas Attacks Carolyn
Day Eight: That's Just Gross
Day Seven: Reach Out and Touch Someone
Day Six: Adam's Ghosts
Day Five:The Head of Judah Zachary
Day Four: The Death of Dr. Woodard
Day Three: Funhouse of Madness
Day Two: Apocalypse at Collinwood
Day One: Adam Attacks