The Halloween season is best known for its nightmare-inducing horror movies, but there are also worthwhile TV shows. With the TV horror genre on the rise, you can now be scared weekly or watch a horror series in a weekend.
Keep in mind that most series are still limited by the restrictions of television, so don't wait for the next Texas Chainsaw Massacre or Hereditary. But TV can be annoying in other ways, so sit back and enjoy hours of terror with these horror-themed TV shows.
With a name like American Horror Story, this is clearly a show made for Halloween. Each season of American Horror Story explores a stand-alone story, so you can watch each season as a kind of miniseries.
This works great for the horror format because it can be difficult to stretch the horror out over dozens of episodes. Some shows handle it well (see Hannibal below) but American Horror Story makes good use of its standalone design to maximize thrills.
You can stream American Horror Story on:Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video
Be warned:this show is incredibly graphic and gruesome. Raw skin, lots of blood, piles of corpses, psychological and physical torture, and other forms of disturbing imagery abound in this horrific spectacle.
Hannibal's characters, direction and storytelling are top notch and award winning. However, there's a reason Hannibal had such a small audience during his run:he's often hard to watch. I watched most of this series looking through my fingers and had to take frequent breaks due to how dark it could get.
Not much more to say. Everyone knows Hannibal. This series is basically a reimagined crime drama that is loosely based on the source material.
You can stream Hannibal on:Amazon Prime Video
The X-Files is a long-running and recently rebooted series beloved by fans and critics alike. It was one of the first shows to successfully mix standalone episodes with serial storylines, allowing it to deliver deep character development while also ending each episode as a standalone story.
Some of the episodes can be a bit hit and miss, but it's still a thoroughly entertaining ride, especially if you love mystery.
If you like The X-Files, you should also watch Fringe. Unfortunately, Fringe isn't available on any streaming services right now, but you can always buy the entire Fringe series on Blu-ray.
You can stream the X files on:Hulu
A Halloween without zombies wouldn't be Halloween at all, and we'd be remiss if we left out the most popular zombie show The 7 Best Zombie Shows To Watch On Netflix This Halloween The 7 Best Zombie Shows To Watch On Netflix This Halloween Zombie Shows Not Always It's all about blood, guts, and gore. There's a wide range of zombie shows available to watch on Netflix this Halloween, and here are the best of the bunch... Read More The first season started with 5 million viewers, but by season 5, 17 million viewers were tuning in. It's a must see for zombie lovers.
Keep one thing in mind though:Even though The Walking Dead is full of violence and zombies, this is not a zombie survival story. It is a drama that happens in a zombie apocalypse. If that sounds good to you, then you'll enjoy the show, especially if you speed through the slower parts.
You can stream The Walking Dead on:Netflix
Fear the Walking Dead is a spin-off of The Walking Dead, and while it doesn't bring anything new to the genre, it's definitely notable for its artistic and atmospheric merits. It's also perfect for getting into the Halloween spirit.
You can stream Fear the Walking Dead on:Hulu
I fell in love with Stranger Things in its first 15 minutes. Few shows have managed to do what they did:develop a deep cast of kids and adults and take them on an epic journey in just eight episodes, all wrapped up in a satisfying ending but open to possibility.
There is a monster in this show, and it can be quite moody and dark at times. It might even scare you if you see it alone at night with the lights off. But there's a poignant human story at its core that resonates, plus an abundance of 1980s nostalgia.!
You can stream Stranger Things on:Netflix
Carnivale is an underappreciated gem, and one of the many shows that make an HBO Now subscription worthwhile. The 15 Best HBO Shows That Make HBO Worth Watching. The 15 Best HBO Shows That Make HBO Worth Watching Right Now. HBO NOW, you can watch it. HBO even without cable TV. Here are the best HBO shows that make HBO NOW worth the price of admission. Read more . It's only two short seasons, which makes it the perfect show for a Halloween binge.
Carnivale is a dark fantasy tale about a traveling carnival, and things are not what they seem on the surface. It's an older show that feels dated at times, but if you can look past it, the story will suck.
You can stream Carnivale on:Amazon Prime Video, HBO now
The name of this stylized horror show refers to the “junior novel” stories produced in the 19th century UK printed short stories that involved a great deal of sensational, supernatural and pulpy content. Penny Dreadful follows suit, but in much smarter ways.
It is based on many characters in the public domain, including Dracula, Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll, and more. But the stories are unique, fascinating and macabre. The end result is convincing, to say the least.
As a Showtime series, keep in mind that you will find a lot of mature content in many scenes. Naked corpses and grotesque images are par for the course.
You can stream Penny Dreadful on:Netflix, Showtime
From the original creator of The Walking Dead comes another horror series with a lot more character development than its more famous counterpart. It's dark, creepy, but rooted in human relationships and community. That said, it's an exciting ride that really gets better with each episode.
You can stream Outcast on:Cinemax
The Exorcist is a television series based on the cult classic film of the same name. And while it's not nightmarish like the source material, it will leave an impact on you even after the first episode. It's a lot scarier than primetime TV should be, so viewers had better watch out.
You can stream The Exorcist on:Amazon Prime Video
If you don't already have a Hulu subscription, you may want to sign up soon, at least until you can finish the first season of Wayward Pines. This series is based on the eponymous trilogy of books and faithfully adapts the material into a slow-burn mystery that gets more engaging with every twist. (Skip the second season, which involves a messy gender swap and a significant drop in writing quality.)
You can stream Wayward Pines on:Hulu
There aren't many shows that come close to the number of episodes in Supernatural, and we're talking hour-long episodes here. It's true that there are some things that suck along the way, but Supernatural is impressive because it managed to stay consistent and on course for most of its run.
In a nutshell, this fantasy/horror series centers on two brothers who investigate paranormal events and end up having all kinds of run-ins with ghosts, vampires, witches, angels, and demons. Supernatural's massive mythology is its strongest aspect, so if you like that kind of storytelling, you'll love this show.
You can stream Supernatural on:Netflix
Like Hannibal, Bates Motel is a reimagined TV movie that tells the previous story of Norman Bates, the notorious serial killer from Psycho. While the show doesn't reach the same award-winning heights as Hannibal, the overall experience is solid.
Leaning more towards thriller than outright horror, Bates Motel can still produce a ton of suspense and make you feel extremely uncomfortable when firing on all cylinders. Is it worth a watch? Sure.
You can stream Bates Motel on:Netflix
Hemlock Grove centers on the fictional town of Hemlock Grove, which becomes enraged when strange events begin to occur, including a series of brutal murders. Although it debuted to mixed reviews, Netflix gave it three full seasons to bring its story to a somewhat satisfying conclusion.
You can stream Hemlock Grove on:Netflix
Don't be put off by the fact that Attack on Titan is an anime. This show is very adult, particularly in the themes it tackles. Attack on Titan tells the horrific story of a city being attacked by cataclysmic titans, all supported by a beautiful art style and slick animations.
You'll be in for a shock the first time you see one of these massive titans grab an innocent human and chew them in half. Dark, scary, but driven by strong characters, the trifecta of great horror. Not to mention all the great plot twists along the way. A fun but depressing ride for sure..
You can stream Attack on Titan on:Hulu
We do not recommend that you binge-watch each of these shows. Instead, pick one or two that appeal to you and book a few nights to get the full experience. My personal must-see recommendations are Hannibal (for adults who want truly terrifying horror) and Stranger Things (for something more on the family side).
If you want to supplement these shows with something more traditional, you should check out these classic horror movies on Netflix. The 10 best horror movies to watch on Netflix. The 10 best horror movies to watch on Netflix. There are some horror movies on Netflix. So here are the best horror movies to watch when you want to be scared. Read more.
