# American Gothic (1995)

> A small-town supernatural drama in which strange events expose the dark secrets beneath a quiet community.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/294

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 18
- Episode runtime: 45 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, horror, mystery
- Created by: Shaun Cassidy
- Network: CBS
- Cast: Gary Cole, Lucas Black, Paige Turco, Brenda Bakke, Sarah Paulson, Nick Searcy, Jake Weber, John Mese
- TMDB rating: 8.1/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111880/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: brooding, unsettling, melancholic

## What critics say

Critics and viewers broadly agree the series is a dark, atmospheric small-town supernatural drama with a strong lead performance, though its abrupt cancellation leaves it unfinished.

## Synopsis

This dark, unsettling supernatural drama is set in a quiet small town where ordinary routines conceal something wrong. Strange occurrences, unexplained disappearances, and whispered rumors gradually draw attention from residents and outsiders alike. The tone is measured and heavy, favoring atmosphere, silence, and unease over constant spectacle. Character dramas unfold alongside the mysteries, exploring grief, guilt, and the pressure of keeping up appearances in a close-knit place. Its horror is psychological and creeping rather than relentlessly gory, with frequent moments of disquiet that linger after each episode. Viewers drawn to brooding, character-focused mysteries with a supernatural edge will find much to engage them, though the series deliberately withholds easy answers and rewards patience with its slowly deepening atmosphere and mood.

## Shows like American Gothic

- [Outcast (2016)](https://ember.film/tv/56980)
- [Haven (2010)](https://ember.film/tv/30366)
- [Carnivàle (2003)](https://ember.film/tv/169)
- [Stephen King's Kingdom Hospital (2004)](https://ember.film/tv/1521)
- [Haunted (2002)](https://ember.film/tv/3644)
- [Poltergeist: The Legacy (1996)](https://ember.film/tv/10411)
- [Rose Red (2002)](https://ember.film/tv/18153)
- [Ghost Wars (2017)](https://ember.film/tv/63409)
- [Point Pleasant (2005)](https://ember.film/tv/324)
- [FROM (2022)](https://ember.film/tv/103271)

---

Site overview: https://ember.film/llms.txt