Top 10 Terrifying TV shows to binge this Halloween
Mystery, mayhem, and things that go bump in the night…From witches, to serial killers, to vampires and monsters you’ll find it all in these amazing horror, sci fi, and psychological thriller series- each and every one of them perfect for a Halloween TV marathon.
Now before the internet trolls get all huffy, there are some “obvious” Halloween TV hits that didn’t make my top 10 list (American Horror Story, The Walking Dead Franchise, The Vampire Diaries, The X-Files…) but I had to draw the line somewhere and my line is: these are my personal favorites. So there. These are MY top 10 TV shows if someone were to ask me what I would recommend watching this Halloween season.
Fair warning, these shows are definitely on the scary/gory side and some of them are made for mature audiences. If scary stuff gives you nightmares, you’d be much better off with my “Top 10 spooky-but-not-scary movies to watch this Halloween” instead. Or if reading is more your thing, check out my Top 10 mysteries and thrillers to read under the covers.
Read on if you dare…
A Discovery of Witches (Sundance)
Witches, Vampires, Daemons…Politics. What could be scarier? Based on the ‘All Souls’ book trilogy by Deborah Harkness, ‘A Discovery of Witches’ is a STUNNINGLY shot series that will magically make you want to book a flight to Europe…and reach for a romance novel.
Absolutely dripping in castles, centuries-old libraries, British accents, and attractive people, this is the perfect blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and romance. This show’s not crazy violent, but has some blood (they are vampires, after all) & a bit of (tasteful) naughty-ness. Historical fiction nerds (guilty), this one’s for you.
Season 1 has just 8 delicious episodes, and Season 2 is set to premiere January 2021. You can watch for free with a 7-day trial of the Sundance streaming app.
Fair warning for anyone with younger viewers in the house… there are some steamy Vampire-on-Witch love scenes.
(You’re welcome.)
2. Stranger Things (Netflix)
Award-winning fan favorite ‘Stranger Things’ is the perfect show to watch (or re-watch!) this Halloween season. Everything about this nostalgia-steeped series is an ode to classic 1980’s sci-fi and horror flicks and we are here for it.
‘Stranger Things’ does an amazing job straddling the line between campy comedy and super scary cinema. Even though the main characters are played by tweens, the addictively entertaining series appeals to all ages and is anything but “kid stuff”.
From the Demogorgon, to the Upside Down, to Russian scientists trying to take over the world, ‘Stranger Things’ has all the monsters and heroes (and 80’s hairdo’s) you could ever want.
3. True Blood (HBO)
I wanna do bad things with you…
Based on “The Southern Vampire Mysteries” books by Charlaine Harris, the ‘True Blood’ series is a total Halloween must-watch (suited for adult audiences only).
The series revolves around telepathic Southern Belle waitress Sookie Stackhouse as she finds herself falling for the charming Vampire Next Door. Sookie lives in a world where Vampires exist alongside humans after “coming out of the coffin” when scientists invent a substitute for blood, thereby eliminating the need to kill humans.
Immerse yourself in the Louisiana town of Bon Temps (translation: “Good Times”), packed to the gills with vampires, werewolves, and even a few faeries. And blood…LOTS and LOTS of blood.
4. The Outsider (HBO)
This cinematic slow burn Horror series blurs the lines between the real world and the supernatural in the best way possible.
Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, ‘The Outsider’ follows a small town cop and his entourage of misfits as they uncover an ancient evil presence and must decide whether to fight it, or to let it continue to go on ruining lives as it has for centuries.
With stellar performances by Ben Mendelson, Cynthia Arivo, and Jason Bateman (who also directs & produces the series), this eerie horror series will have you reaching for the flashlight when things go bump in the night…
5. Sabrina (Netflix)
This dark teen drama follows the half-human, half-witch Sabrina as she straddles the worlds of normal mortal high school and her witchy family’s legacy, The Church of the Night.
This ain’t yo mama’s shiny ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch’ in pink crop tops and glitter, this show gets downright dark.
This creepy coming-of-age story contains many references to the Occult as teen Sabrina Spellman battles the evil forces that are set against her, her family, and her mortal friends. The show is about to end its run with it’s fourth and final season so catch up before the last episodes air!
6. True Detective, Season 1 (HBO)
Home Box Office strikes again…the first season of True Detective is one of the most brilliantly written, acted, and filmed TV shows in the history of ever. Don’t bother with the other seasons- this one stands alone like a mini series.
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson perfectly complement each other in this creepy cop drama set deep in the American Bayou. McConaughey is nearly unrecognizable in his career-making performance as philosophical wild card cop “Taxman” Rust Cohle, spouting quotes so full of insight and pain you’ll want to call his character and tell him he should see a therapist.
The thing that makes True Detective so terrifying isn’t anything supernatural, but rather, what we’re capable of doing to each other right here in the real world.
7. What We Do In The Shadows (FX/ Hulu)
This. Show. KILLS ME.
Fair warning: it contains some mature material that’s not suited for young viewers but OMG this irreverent and clever show is LAUGH OUT LOUD FUNNY.
A spin-off of the cult classic hit “mock-umentary” film, the TV series ‘What We Do in the Shadows’ follows modern day vampires Nandor, Lazlo, Nadja & Colin in their daily- or rather, nightly - escapades as they “live” together in a house on Staten Island.
They’re looked after by their human “familiar” Guillermo who must complete mundane but necessary tasks like finding virgins for the Vamps’ dinners (Crossfit gyms are his favorite hot spot for virgins), making sure the house is boarded up from sunlight, and doing a LOT of laundry (because, blood stains).
8. The Fall (Acorn/Netflix)
I saw this series when it was released back in 2013 and I still get the chills when I think about it.
Jamie Dornan plays a disturbed (and disturbingly likeable) serial killer being hunted down by Gillian Anderson as a whip-smart Detective with a dark past.
The reason this show is so terrifying isn’t because you don’t know who the killer is…it’s terrifying because you do.
If you want a bone-chilling thriller that will have you second guessing everyone from your next door neighbor to the cashier at the grocery store, look no further than ‘The Fall’.
You can watch the first season as a stand-alone, or you can binge all the seasons in one go. Either way, good luck sleeping.
9. Twin Peaks (Showtime/Hulu)
Campy. Creepy. Classic.
Most people think ‘Twin Peaks’ is either a genius cinematic masterpiece, or a weird and pretentious soap opera.
Both are right.
Helmed by famed director-producer David Lynch, the original ‘Twin Peaks’ aired in the early 90’s and became an instant cult classic with it’s soap opera-like story lines and campy horror flick feel. It begins when an idiosyncratic FBI agent investigates the murder of the town Homecoming Queen…
In the 2017 revival of ‘Twin Peaks: The Return’, we pick up 25 years after the original series ends. The avant-garde editing, crazy plot twists, and non-linear timelines are truly one of a kind. If you fancy yourself a “film buff”, you’ll love ‘Twin Peaks’.
10. The 10th Kingdom
I’m always surprised how few people have heard of this amazing fantasy mini-series.
We begin the story in the 10th Kingdom: New York City. (Look closely and you’ll see the twin towers in this 2000 release’s poster). Kimberly Williams (the daughter in ‘Father of the Bride’, now married to country star Brad Paisley) stars as Virginia, a modern day heroine transported from New York into a fairytale adventure via magic mirror. She must help restore the 9 Kingdoms and save them from the Evil Queen before she can return home (but not before falling for the Big Bad Wolf…who as it turns out, ain’t so bad after all).
For fans of fantasy, fun, and all things magical; ‘The 10th Kingdom’ is my favorite little-known Halloween HIT!
Want more amazing Halloween content?
Check out my list of the Top 10 Spooky-but-not-scary movies to watch this October and my Top 10 mysteries and thrillers to read under the covers.