Lost Tapes (Animal Planet)

Simultaneously scintillating and bone-chilling, this intense series beckons to thrill-seekers and (yes, even though it’s totally fake) may be too much for anyone with a low tolerance for fright. It’s true that the subpar acting is a dead giveaway of the show’s real nature, but that doesn’t automatically erase every shred of uncertainty when it comes to some people’s fears of things that go bump in the night. What’s more, each episode includes some data -- including photos, video, and brief eyewitness accounts -- that raise legitimate questions about the possibility of mysterious creatures.

As for families, this series is a classic example of a parental judgment call. The ambiguity between fact and fiction, the lasting images of violence, and the implications of death rule it out for kids and tweens, but if your teens can handle some goosebumpy thrills and aren’t prone to nightmares, they’ll probably be fine.