16 November 2022
Chapelwaite dials up the creepiness in these 7 terrifying ways
The creators of Chapelwaite have managed to take a Stephen King short story and miraculously expanded it into a 10-part series. Although the ending seems conclusive, it has been renewed for a second season.
If you have read King’s second published novel, Salem’s Lot (1975), you’ll know the horror involves vampires. The short story Jerusalem’s Lot, a prequel, appeared in his collection, Night Shift, published in 1978. It’s also worked into the 2005 illustrated and weighty tome Salem’s Lot, as a series of letters that grow increasingly sinister and disturbing. That’s King for you – Jerusalem’s Lot is a fictional town in Maine where he sets many of his stories, and the Constant Readers, as he calls us, will often discover crossovers, both in place and characters.

At the centre of Chapelwaite, which is set in the 1850s, is Captain Charles Boone (Adrien Brody), whose wife dies and is buried at sea, leaving the widower with three children, Honor (Jennifer Ens), Loa (Sirena Gulamgaus) and little Tane (Ian Ho).
No sooner has the unnamed woman been dispatched to the deep than Charles receives a letter from his late cousin Stephen (Steven McCarthy), who has bequeathed to him his house, Chapelwaite, near the muddy grey town of Preacher’s Corner. The sun rarely shines, which adds to the sombre mood of this cursed part of the world.
The grieving family duly arrives to find the house dilapidated and vandalised, the housekeeper saying, no, thank you very much, I will not be staying on, and whatever you do, keep the cellar door locked (spoiler: they don’t). an almost complete reluctance of anyone willing to take on the job of being live-in governess for the children. Plus, there are strange sounds in the walls.

In town, Charles finds himself ostracised, and forbidden to attend church, mainly on account of his mixed-race children, who are also bullied at school. The sawmill he inherited along with the house is staffed by recalcitrant men. Any of this should be reason enough to abandon the house and get the heck out of Dodge but then we wouldn’t have this series.
Here are some creepy moments, in no particular order, to make your skin crawl
- The worms. There are a lot of worms in the first few episodes – in the bath, dropping through the ceiling, and inside Charles’s nose. Their significance becomes apparent later, although they themselves disappear from the narrative.
- When Charles was a boy, his father, apparently mad as a hatter, tried to kill him and bury him in the back garden. This has understandably left him with some trauma.
- The 19th-Century asylum is terrifying. Charles visits it to try to understand what made his cousin – and Stephen’s father, Phillip (Julian Richings) – tick because it’s clear they were not normal.
- “Treatments” like ice baths are being carried out on inmates, the likes of which we would consider torture today. The boss of the asylum, having drawn some information out of Charles, suggests it would be a good idea to check himself in as his particular mental disorder is hereditary.
- A young woman in the town gives birth to a monstrosity of a baby. It’s deemed to be her fault on account of being out of wedlock and refusing to name the father. Stick around, this is going to come out later and has shocking consequences for all parties.
- There is a strange “sickness” in the town; the afflicted cannot abide the light of day, and take to wandering around at night. For some reason, the folk are convinced it came from the deceased Boones (they’re not entirely wrong), and all their prejudices are projected onto the current Boones.
- Mysterious murders take place, carried out by a shadowy man in a flapping coat and top hat.
As part of his investigation, Charles digs up his cousin’s grave. Surprise, the coffin is empty. Is – gasp! – Stephen in fact alive? You’ll have to watch to find out.
Untied, coming to Showmax
The Real Housewives of Durban S5, now streaming
More Mzansi gold

Sparky Xulu channels real emotion as Zenzele in Empini Season 2
Sparky Xulu talks about his role as Zenzele in the Showmax Original series Empini S2, a role he says is shaped by personal loss. Catch new episodes every Tuesday on Showmax.

Youngins stars tease the final season at Showmax Youth Day event
Youngins stars Kealeboga Masango and Toka Mtabane recently confirmed that Season 3 will be coming to Showmax. They reflect on its cultural impact and teased what viewers can expect in the upcoming season.

Minnie Ntuli talks about joining The Real Housewives of Durban S5
Minnie opens up about joining Season 5 of The Real Housewives of Durban, and where things stand with Londie. New episodes land Friday on Showmax.

Where to see the cast of Shaka iLembe S1-2 on Showmax
From Nomzamo Mbatha as Queen Nandi to Lemogang Tsipa as King Shaka Zulu and Thembinkosi Mthembu as King Dingiswayo, see the cast of Shaka iLembe in some of their other acclaimed roles on Showmax.