Do you love horror, but the film medium always leaves you wanting more? Itching for a 8-hour binge that a 2-hour movie just can’t scratch? Do you have terrible procrastination and impulse control issues? Then this list is for you. In the spirit of the Halloween season, here are my personal Top 5 Horror TV shows.
DISCLAIMER: As much of a travesty as it is, I have not seen Ash vs. Evil Dead. I know, time management is the scariest thing out there. However, I’ve heard it’s awesome and I intend to have watched it and have an opinion on it by next Halloween.
SECOND DISCLAIMER: I’ve designed this list to have shows that are digestible within a reasonable time period. This is why everything recommended is about one season long or less. There are tons of great horror TV shows, but I know time is valuable and with only a month of spooky season, we have to be selective.
5. AHS : Asylum
I have a weird love-hate relationship with AHS. The first season is simply not very good IMO, I was hooked in with the second and third seasons, and no consequent season has ever been able to hold my interest for more than a couple episodes since. However, the bright gem in the weirdness that is AHS is season 2, Asylum. This show literally has something for everyone. You like serial killers? They got enough Ed Gein and Dahmer knock-off’s to keep you happy. You like possession? Prepare to get uncomfortable with the Catholic Church (man, I wish there was a different way to write that sentence). You like psychological horror? Look at the name of the show. What’s that, you like alien horror and kind of moral lessons about racism but not about marital fidelity? Look no further. You like Nazis? Well, you shouldn’t. AHS: Asylum definitely has problems from a character perspective, and some of the storytelling gets a little muddied (a recurring theme in AHS), but it touches on so many different horror elements that you can’t help but be sucked in. Also, as a historical psychiatry nerd, I appreciated that it takes place in one of the rougher times for the field but never uses its setting as a crutch. If you’re gonna watch an AHS series, watch this one.
4. Marianne
This show, produced by Netflix, is a French horror show focusing on the life of a horror author whose horrific past comes back to haunt her. While that hook might seem incredibly cliche, Marianne actually handles its storytelling very well and balances heavy themes with some great visual scares. Out of all the horror shows I have seen, Marianne utilizes pacing and time-based scares the best, setting up situations in which one never really knows whether a scare is coming or, if it does, when it is going to be over. It follows a lot of tropes–Tulpa effect, possession, childhood to adulthood storytelling–but it’s very well-made and asks just enough questions in each episode to keep you watching. It also brings historical witchcraft and religious persecution to the stage, which are horror elements I believe are very underutilized. I personally think the “scariness” of the show is a bit overrated, but if you like visual horror then you’ll probably like Marianne. Best watched with a chill puppy dog to cuddle.
3. The Haunting Of Hill House
I feel as though Haunting of Hill House caught a bad rap for being a slow burn when it first came out. Believe me, it is a slow burn, but it is so incredibly worth the 2-episode wait for it to really find its stride. Haunting of Hill House tells a story that I and many horror fans have wondered about: what happens to kids who grew up in these horror stories after the stories end? This Netflix product depicts a variety of characters struggling with various manifestations of their own trauma from experiencing life in a horror story; throughout the show, we follow each of them through their own personal fears and the struggles of mending a broken, complicated family. While I am personally not a big fan of the ending, Haunting of Hill House has same terrific psychological horror and a few great scares while telling a story with some of the best, most fleshed-out characters horror has to offer.
2. Castlevania
Yet another Netflix title graces our list, and this one is easily the best and most digestible of them all. Castlevania adapts the video game’s lore to a concise, action-packed story about vampires, magic, ridiculously handsome characters. The animation style is beautiful, and the writing tells a coherent story without any background knowledge of Castlevania lore required. I won’t say too much about the show; it really is quite easy to watch in one or two sittings. I will say, however, that my favorite game to play with the Castlevania show is to watch as people argue over who the real villains were as the show goes on. If you want a Dracula story that completely changes the way you think of the character and a video game adaptation that doesn’t totally suck, Castlevania is the show for you.
1. Literally any episode of the X-Files
I know, I cheat a lot with these lists. But honestly, the X-Files is probably the greatest horror TV ever made; it holds up remarkably well and even has received recent new episodes. It’s easy to binge full seasons of the show, but I honestly recommend individual episodes as a way of sprinkling some quality horror into your daily life. Had a busy day and don’t have time to watch a movie or several episodes of a TV show’s narrative? Enjoy a single, self-contained episode of X-Files. Just watched something that was a bit of a letdown and need a palate cleanser? You can always count on Scully and Mulder to take your hand and lead you into something delightfully weird. The X-Files touches on every horror topic imaginable and is great for just a casual watch or an entire universe to immerse oneself. Either way, give it a try. The truth is out there.
