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Penny dreadfuls were cheap 19th century British magazines containing sensational tales of bloodsucking ghouls, accursed sarcophagi and other oddities. I imagine they were the print equivalent of Inday Badiday’s old TV program See-True, which in the 90s provided our daily ration of women giving birth to fish, men getting pregnant, and assorted weirdos, mostly of the showbiz variety.

So if a TV series calls itself Penny Dreadful, you know that it is not meant to be a searing analysis of the human condition. It is designed to frighten and disturb you, which is a challenge in these jaded times. The Showtime series created by John Logan (Sam Mendes is one of the executive producers) is only occasionally scary, but it may entertain you out of your wits.

The first two episodes, throbbing with foreboding and full of striking images, are directed by Spanish horror director Juan Antonio Bayona (The Orphanage). We are introduced to the regulars one by one. In late 19th century London Ethan Chandler, an American sharpshooter in a Wild West show, is recruited by Sir Malcolm Murray and his ward Vanessa Ives for a dangerous mission. He becomes their security escort when they enter a lair of pale, fanged, ornery creatures immediately identifiable to us as vampires but entirely new to these Victorians.

Read our TV column The Binge at BusinessWorld.