With Halloween right around the corner, now is the perfect time to lose yourself in a good, scary show. But given the wealth of horror-themed television, where do you start? Rest easy, friends. Because Geek Vibes Nation has a list of the best horror shows available to watch right now!
Hulu
American Horror Story
At this point, American Horror Story needs little introduction. Perhaps the best-known modern anthology series, Ryan Murphy’s long-running series delves into a new American horror story each season. Often leaning more towards camp than out-and-out horror, it’s hard not to be enticed by some of the devilishly creative ideas introduced in every season of this show. While each season’s plot often leaves something to be desired, simply watching Murphy’s ever-expanding stable of actors wholly commit to these larger-than-life roles offers a great deal of entertainment. Plus, the sheer variety between each season’s theme means there’s a good chance you’ll find something to like. Whether it’s witches, vampires, ghosts, cults, or even the apocalypse itself, American Horror Story embraces the absurdity of each premise and delivers an unforgettable experience each season.
American Horror Stories
Like its older sibling, American Horror Stories falls into the same middle ground between camp and horror. Where it differs, though, is in the fact that each episode explores a wholly different story. While this does result in a wider variety of good and bad stories – the first truly good episode isn’t until episode four – it also makes room for the kind of experimentation the main series can’t deliver. Featuring a murderous Santa Claus, strange creatures in the woods, a fertility demon, or even more journeys to the Murder House, there’s a good chance at least one episode will strike your fancy. So, if you’re looking for a quick hit of campy horror, American Horror Stories just might hit the spot.
Hannibal
Bryan Fuller’s critically acclaimed series, based on Thomas Harris’s Hannibal Lector novels, is beloved for a reason. To put it simply, Hannibal is one of the most gorgeous, haunting, and psychologically disturbing television shows I’ve seen in a long time. Hannibal explores the cat-and-mouse relationship between Dr. Hannibal Lector (Mads Mikkelsen) and FBI agent Will Graham (Hugh Dancy). While the first season feels too similar to other network procedurals, subsequent seasons really dive into the psychology of these characters. And it makes for some unforgettable horror. Striking an enticing balance between beauty and horror, Hannibal is one of those shows that works on every level. And its influence can be felt throughout the industry – for example, both Don Mancini (creator of Chucky) and Nick Antosca (Channel Zero) worked on the series. If you’re looking for good character-driven, psychological horror, you can’t do much better than Hannibal.
What We Do in the Shadows
Based on Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement’s film of the same name, What We Do in the Shadows follows a group of vampires living in Staten Island as they adjust to life in the 21st Century. This is more of a sitcom than an out-and-out horror series. But there are still a host of cool creatures and horror plotlines. They’re just all played for laughs. What We Do in the Shadows is easily one of the funniest shows to air on TV in a long time. It embraces the utter absurdity of its premise. And mostly mines its humor from the fish-out-of-water aspect of centuries-old vampires living in the modern world. The humor’s a bit dry, but the jokes are never-ending and often gut-bustingly funny. If you’ve never met Jackie Daytona, human bartender, then you’re really missing out.
Shudder
Creepshow
Based on Stephen King and George A. Romero’s cult-classic, Creepshow features a new pair of horror vignettes every episode. Each vignette explores the darker side of humanity, often acting as a sort of morality play for the characters and the audience. While the quality of any given story may vary from week to week, there’s always something to enjoy about every story – whether it’s the story itself, the cast, or the visual effects. And speaking of those effects, showrunner Greg Nicotero’s dedication to classic, physical effects will delight horror fans as often as they’ll fright. It’s beyond impressive what his team accomplishes in-camera. If you’re looking for a quick horror fix, Creepshow might just scratch that itch. And with the show’s third season ending this week, now is the perfect time to join the party.
Channel Zero
Originally premiering a few years after Ryan Murphy’s American Horror Story swept the world by storm, Channel Zero follows a similar pattern. Every season explores a new horror tale – in Channel Zero‘s case, though, each story is based on a popular internet creepypasta. Whether you’re interested in unsettling children’s shows, a strange and horrific traveling house, or an unexpected door in one’s basement, the stories of Channel Zero are a masterclass in tension, character development, and skin-crawling horror. After all, who among us can forget the first time we saw that tooth monster?
Netflix
Any Mike Flanagan Show
You can’t go wrong with any of Mike Flanagan’s shows on Netflix. If you’re into more traditional ghost stories, then The Haunting of Hill House has you covered. If you’re more of a gothic romance person, then The Haunting of Bly Manor is right up your wheelhouse. And if you’re more into religious-themed horror, then Midnight Mass might be your cup of tea. Either way, Flannagan is a big name in the horror industry, having also helmed Doctor Sleep, Ouija: Origin of Evil, and Hush. And all of his Netflix shows more than live up to his film work. You really can’t go wrong with any of them.
Santa Clarita Diet
If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, though still scary, Santa Clarita Diet is well worth a try. Starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, Santa Clarita Diet is a sitcom revolving around a mother who accidentally becomes a zombie – and all of the hijinks that ensue. Like many Netflix shows, Santa Clarita Diet ended before it could properly wrap up its story. But the three seasons that did get made make for an excellent watch. It’s a perfect blend of slapstick comedy and gory. And there’s simply nothing else quite like this. It’s a unique twist on the zombie genre, with a lot of expansive, well-explored lore. And the jokes are outrageously funny, carried by an extremely game cast. In my opinion, Santa Clarita Diet was slept on when it aired, and it deserves all the love it can get now.
SYFY/USA Network
Chucky
While Chucky isn’t technically on any streaming services (yet), you can watch it via the USA and SYFY channel websites. And you absolutely should. If you’ve ever enjoyed a single Chucky movie, then you’re gonna adore the show. Created by Don Mancini (the writer of the original Child’s Play, and of every Chucky movie since), the Chucky TV series continues the films’ story while opening the franchise up to new viewers. Whether you’re an old fan or a new one, there’s something to like about Chucky. Whether it’s the well-explored characters or the boundless creative and gruesome kills, Chucky is a horror fan’s dream (or, perhaps, nightmare). Only a few episodes have aired so far, so now might be the best time to jump onto the Chucky train and see what all of the fuss is about.
Part-time writer, part-time theatre nerd, full-time dork.
