Almost unbelievably, "Field of Vampires" is not a Halloween horror film but a documentary about the discovery of a female skeleton dating from 1650, buried with a sickle across her neck and giant padlock on her toe - a double protection to keep her from rising from the dead. Hundreds more so-called "deviant burials" soon follow in the same location and elsewhere...
Traveling outside the U.S.? Don't miss the show back home. Simply download a VPN to stream the show from anywhere. We recommend NordVPN.
"Field of Vampires" premiered last year and is still available to watch RIGHT NOW in the U.S. on PBS (until Monday, November 17).
• FREE STREAM — PBS (U.S) / SBS On-Demand (AUS)
• U.K. — Sky History
• Watch PBS anywhere — Try NordVPN 30-day trial
An initial discovery was made by road construction workers near Gliwice, in southern Poland in 2013. It was believed to be a mass grave - and it was - but archeologists soon discovered bizarre evidence that suggested the corpses had received unusual attention that tied in with folklore associated with vampires (sickles across the neck, stones on the throat, no coffins or possessions).
Initial research showed no signs of trauma associated with executions and DNA tests revealed that these people were local to the area (i.e. not invaders). Dated to 17th and 18th centuries, international interest uncovered 'vampire cemeteries' in Poland, Bulgaria and Czech Republic. This PBS/ SKY History doc was commissioned in 2022 and went out in 2024 but the investigation is still on-going today.
Read our guide below for how to watch "Field of Vampires" online now, live and on-demand through PBS.org.
How to watch "Field of Vampires" for FREE in the U.S.
"Field of Vampires" is currently available to watch in the U.S. as part of the "Secrets of the Dead" series on PBS and the PBS app until Monday, November 17.
Don’t have cable? Stream your local PBS channel through the PBS website and app.
Not in the U.S.? Don't worry — as we explain below, you can watch it when you download a VPN. We recommend NordVPN.
How to VPN 'Field of Vampires' from anywhere
Away from home at the moment and blocked from watching "Field of Vampires" on PBS? Luckily, you can still watch the show online thanks to the wonders of a VPN (Virtual Private Network). The software allows your devices to appear to be back in your home country regardless of where you are in the world. So it’s ideal for viewers who may travel a lot and don't want to miss their favorite shows.
Our favourite is NordVPN. It's the best on the market – and you can find out why in our NordVPN review.
Using a VPN is incredibly simple.
1. Install the VPN of your choice. As we've said, NordVPN is our favorite.
2. Choose the location you wish to connect to in the VPN app. For instance if you're in the U.K. and want to view your usual U.S. service, you'd select U.S. from the list.
3. Sit back and enjoy the show. Head to PBS and stream "Field of Vampires" online.
Can I watch 'Field of Vampires' online in Canada?
At the time of writing, "Field of Vampires" has not been picked up by a broadcaster in Canada. If that changes you'll read about it here first.
That said, it should be available on PBS Passport - in most areas. That’ll provide access to a range of the network’s channels, like PBS Life and PBS Masterpiece. Membership costs a suggested donation of CA$5 per month, although prices will alter depending on your local station.
Currently away from Canada? Download a VPN and connect to the services you enjoy free-of-charge back home, without having to register for any additional subscriptions. We recommend NordVPN.
Can I watch 'Field of Vampires' online in the U.K?
Yes, "Field of Vampires" is currently available to watch in the U.K. on both SKY History and, in a two-episode format, on NOW TV.
However, if you’re an American citizen in the U.K. right now and you want to use your usual domestic streaming platform, a VPN will allow you to stream "Field of Vampires" online by unblocking PBS. We recommend NordVPN.
How to watch 'Field of Vampires' in Australia
Yes, "Field of Vampires" is available to stream in Australia right now on free streaming service, SBS On-Demand.
Out of the country? Connect to your home streaming services when you download a VPN and watch TV shows, films and documentaries no matter where you are in the world. We recommend NordVPN.
'Field of Vampires' - Need to Know
'Field of Vampires' - Contributors
- Oscar Nilsson – Sculptor and Forensic Artist
- Dariusz Poliński – Archaeologist
- Magdalena Zagrodzka – “Evolution” Educational Association of Toruń
- Dan Jones – Historian
- Marcin Krasnowolski – Translator
- Alicja Drozd-Lipińska – Anthropologist
- Heather Edgar – Forensic Anthropologist
- Marián Imriška – Historian and Guide, Čachtice Castle
- Maria Cybulska – Textiles Archaeologist
- Paige Lynch – Anthropologist
- Ádám Mézes – Historian
- Wiesław Małkowski – Archaeologist
'Field of Vampires' - Official Trailer
What's with the sickles?
According to Polish folklore, the sickle placed over the throat of a suspected vampire is intended to decapitate it should it decide to rise out of the grave.
How intense was public interest once news of the find got out?
Intense enough for the working title of the documentary to be "Project Nightfield" to make filming easier and avoid crowds disturbing on-going research at the excavation site.
More from Tom's Guide
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