Horror shows are on the rise of popularity, and we can thank hit shows like The Walking Dead and American Horror Story for that. Maybe it is that – as a society – we are becoming more jaded. Or maybe we just need more horror on our TV in order to help us digest the horrors in our own lives. Whatever the case may be, horror shows are here to stay and that’s good news for anyone feeling like staying up all night on Halloween.
We have compiled and ranked a list of horror shows you can watch with a bowl of Halloween candy.
Into The Dark
The newest season of Into the Dark premiered this month, and while it may not be considered as great as the first season to critics, it is still worth checking out. Only two out of the twelve episodes have come out so far anyway.
The show is a horror anthology that focuses each episode on a certain holiday. That’s right, it is not just about Halloween. It also covers Thanksgiving, April Fools, Valentines, Mother’s Day, Independence Day, and more. Despite covering all the holidays, it is definitely meant for Halloween as they are all pretty scary stories.
The Walking Dead
This big hit garnered a ton of attention throughout the years to the point where it is watched all year round. However, if there is ever a time to start the show for the first time (or re-watch the early episodes), Halloween is that time.
It would definitely not be surprising to see a lot of Halloween costumes of people’s favorite characters from this show such as Rick, Michonne, and Daryl.
Stranger Things
This sci-fi horror is not just for horror or sci-fi fans, but also fans of the 80s. The nostalgia is big and the kids are very fun characters. The creatures and creepy matters that come from the Upside-Down are pretty unforgettable as well. This is another one of those series that inspires many Halloween costumes. All the cool kids will dress as Eleven or the Demogorgon.
If you decide to watch this series on Halloween, get some of the novelty Stranger Things candy.
Castlevania
If you want something animated but also dark and scary, Castlevania has you covered. The story focuses on three people trying to stop Dracula from killing all humans. The show is based on the popular Castlevania video games, but you do not need to play the games to follow the story of this series.
While the monsters and the war that Dracula creates are utterly horrifying, he is actually a somewhat sympathetic villain in this show. How do you make someone trying to kill all humans sympathetic? Well, you’ll have to watch it to find out! His character is one of the best written Draculas out there.
The Terror
This horror drama anthology has two seasons that each tell a story. Rather than telling a different one in each episode, like Into the Dark, it tells a long one per season like American Horror Story. So far, it has two seasons, one being a fictionalized account of the historical disappearance of Captain Sir John Franklin’s lost expedition to the Arctic that took place in the 1800s.
The second season is about also is a fictionalized history, but this time about a Japanese internment camp in World War II.
Black Summer
Black Summer is a more recent addition to the ever-expanding list of zombie franchises, and it has a very unique and quiet style about it. It only has eight episodes and was released this year. It is very skilled at showing and not telling, leaving it up to the viewer to draw their own conclusions about people’s motivations and backstory.
Like the undead in The Walking Dead series, these zombies are scary fast. You don’t see them as much in the show, because – if you do – then your likelihood of survival is scarce unless you’re great at running fast.
The Twilight Zone
This series has aged, but has inspired many of the horror stories we see today. How scary it gets honestly depends on the episode. Some of them are more silly than scary since they combined a lot of different genres.
For the scariest episodes, we recommend “Nightmare At 20,000 Feet”, “The Midnight Sun”, “Shadow Play”, “The Hitch-Hiker”, “Time Enough at Last”, “Nothing in the Dark”, “Stopover in a Quiet Town”, and “Night Call”.
The Haunting of Hill House
Based on the famous book by Shirley Jackson, this Netflix horror drama consists of ten frightening episodes. It is easy to binge, because the characters really draw you in and you want to find out what happens next.
The acting, music, and storytelling are all fantastic. It also shows you what happens to a family after they’ve lived in a haunted house rather than just during, which is a refreshing take on the narrative. There is even the confirmed theory that each child that lived in the house is a symbol of DABDA, the steps of grief which are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance.
Black Mirror
Often called similar to The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror takes a much more cynical approach in its stories about humanity. The real monster is man in this anthology, particularity man with the power to abuse technology. Not all episodes are cynical. “San Junipero” and “Hang the DJ”, for example, take a pretty creative and positive spin on technology and humanity.
If you want to be scared on Halloween though, try watching “White Bear”, “Men Against Fire”, “Playtest”, “White Christmas”, “Hated in the Nation”, “Be Right Back”, “Black Museum”, “Crocodile”, and “Metalhead”.
American Horror Story
American Horror Story has something for every horror fan, as it explores different horror genres in each season. The first season explores a haunted house, the next an insane asylum, the third a witch coven, the fourth a freak show and so on.
You probably could not watch every season this month if you tried, but they are definitely worth checking out for the best horror drama available.
Next: Addams Family: 5 Things The Animated Movie Got Right (And 5 It Got Wrong)
